David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 1 Samuel 17:45 NIV
Read 1 Samuel 17.
What challenge are you facing in your life right now? An illness, financial struggle, broken relationship, loss of a loved one, depression, insecurity, a major life transition, a difficulty in the work place, a child with a physical or mental challenge, etc.? Often, we may feel overwhelmed or completely stressed out by the enormity of our trials, and it can seem as if we can barely keep our heads above water.
Satan likes to use these as opportunities to mess with our minds. He will magnify our struggles and try to intimidate us. His goal is to cause us to be so focused on our problems that we fail to seek God for strength and victory. He hopes that we will forget that we have the power to overcome, and we have a limitless source of peace and strength available to us through the Holy Spirit. We are overcomers in the name of Jesus!
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. Romans 8:11
If there is one lesson I want you to grasp from today’s reading is that the giants in your life must fall!
When we left off at the end of chapter 16, David was a mere boy, and he had just been anointed king. However, it would be years before he would assume the throne. In the meantime, God had orchestrated events impeccably to get David’s foot in the door of the palace. As Saul was tortured by an evil spirit, David would play his harp and soothe Saul’s troubled soul.
The time came for battle against the Philistines again. This was a constant cycle for Israel during Saul’s lifetime. At this particular time, the Philistines were gathered on one hill, and Israel was assembled on another hill facing them. A valley stood between the two enemies.
Day after day, Israel was bullied by a mean, ugly, 9-foot tall giant named Goliath. Every day for 40 days straight, he would pace in front of the Israeli army and challenge them to fight him one on one. If someone could kill him, the Philistines would be their slaves. But if he kills one of them, they would all be slaves to the Philistines.
The men of Israel were terrified and trembled with intimidation. They were at a standstill and were at a loss as to what to do.
Meanwhile, David had been sent to deliver food for his brothers on the front line. When he saw the giant, Goliath, threatening his people, he was filled with indignation. Who was this filthy Philistine to threaten and intimidate the people of God? Why were the people of God so full of fear?
David asked his brothers what kind of reward would be offered to anyone who was willing to fight. Of course, his brothers didn’t want their younger brother stealing the glory or making them look like wimps. David, however, had no fear. He was completely confident in the power of the living God!
He tried to convince Saul to allow him to fight the giant, but Saul was reluctant to allow David to put himself in such danger. David told him of the bear and the lion he had fought with his own hands, and how God had been with him.
The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!” 1 Samuel 17:37
Saul insisted, however, that David wear his armor. Can you imagine? Young, not-quite-developed David trying to fit into and get used to the might warrior Saul’s armor? He must have looked like a clown just trying to walk in the heavy and bulky outfit! This will not do!
David had another plan. Armed only with his shepherd’s staff, a sling, and a sack with five smooth stones, he was ready to defeat this evil enemy of the Lord.
Goliath was insulted and roared his verbal sewage at David. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. 1 Samuel 17:43-44
I probably would have passed out with fear! But, this only infuriated David all the more! How dare this uncircumcised jerk threaten God’s chosen people? David was about to show him a thing or two!
David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” 1 Samuel 17:45-47
May we take this same stance against the enemy in every area of our lives! Let us not be intimidated and allow the devil anymore ground! Let us go on the offense and claim the victory that belongs to us by the power and authority of the name of Jesus!
David picked up one of the small stones, placed it in his sling, swung it around, and flung it into the air. In a perfect arch, it reached the middle of Goliath’s forehead, right between the eyes! What a miracle that it reached one of the only exposed spots on the giant that wasn’t covered in armor!
Down he came with a massive thud!
David ran up to Goliath, pulled his sword from its sheath, and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw their hero dead on the ground, they took off running! I can picture them like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs! The Israelites then chased and plundered the Philistines all the way to their camp.
Israel had won a great victory that day because of a young boy who put his faith in God.
Just like Goliath, the trials that try to intimidate us or hold us down also have to come down! We do not have to be defeated!
Even in the midst of our trials, we can experience God’s peace, courage, strength, and joy! We will still face trials, but instead of being defeated by them, these become opportunities for victory and growth in our lives! These trials are transformed into tools that perfect us and form us more into the character of Christ.
May this one bless you, and may all your giants fall!
Giants do die! The bigger they are, the harder they fall!
Giants! They die! Just walk around your Jericho wall.
Now we come in Your name, and we stand on Your Word,
What is loosed in the heavens will be loosed in the earth!
Let God arise! Giants, die!
Your praise,
Will bring down strongholds.
When you praise,
You will see miracles.
Just praise,
When things
Seem impossible.
And the King of Glory
Will show his glory.
Let God Arise-
Giants
Die…
by Donald L. Lawrence
