1
Samuel 17 is perhaps the most famous story in the entire Bible. The
continuous lesson of the book has been to remind us that when we take
on God’s perspective, we can see past the flesh. The scene is set:
the camp of Israel is on one hill and the camp of the Philistines is
on the other with the large valley in between. The champion from
Philly came out and challenged the Israelites. “Choose
a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill
me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him,
you will become our subjects and serve us.”
This would not be so intimidating except we read, “He
was over nine feet tall“.
This enemy’s size and strength was all the army of Israel could
see. “Saul
and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified… For forty days
the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his
stand“.
This how we are so frequently when we have a giant problem or fear
before us; we just hesitate to do anything.
On
the other hand, David (who was still too young to be in the army) is
sent from his father’s flocks to bring some supplies to his
brothers. “See
how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them.”
At David’s arrival to the front lines, “Goliath,
the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and
shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it“.
David correctly perceived a mere man challenging God Almighty. Note
David’s reaction; “Who
is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of
the living God?”
When David pointed out the proper perspective, his oldest brother
reacted with anger, “Why
have you come down here? I know how conceited you are and how wicked
your heart is“.
How wrong we can be when we judge someone else’s motivation!
David could not stand the situation and told the king, “Let
no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go
and fight him“.
King Saul replied, “You
are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are
only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth“.
With little convincing needed, Saul said to David, “Go,
and the Lord be with you“.
Next
we see how we foolishly try to make others fit into our own image of
righteousness. “Then
Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him
and a bronze helmet on his head…”
But David correctly realized, “I
cannot go in these because I am not used to them“.
David used the simple tools God had equipped him with. “He
took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream,
put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in
his hand, approached the Philistine.”
Again, David rightly explained the situation, “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… All those gathered here will know
that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle
is the Lord’s“.
Everyone knows the story, “David
ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his
bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on
the forehead… So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling
and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the
Philistine and killed him“.
One person’s confidence in God changed the entire battle; “When
the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and
pursued them“.
In the exact same way, we take courage when we remember that Jesus
defeated Satan on the cross. Our confidence will always encourage
those around us. What simple tools has God given you to use in the
spiritual battle you face today?