David was willing to have faith and take some smart actions.
Are you willing? What will you do -- do ya currently have a giant that you're facing?
Perhaps someone reading says, Man, I know that my Goliath is my creepy boss -- he's a total pagan. And I really don't like anything about him. In fact tomorrow morning I'm going to march right in to rebuke him in the name of the Lord! A then I'm going to watch God judge him. Well, your boss might decide to evaluate and judge you instead, but God might not judge him at all. Might not be his time.
Many people have faced very difficult circumstances in life, or something at least ten times their own size. Maybe it is a bankruptcy, maybe it's a failed marriage or close relationship, maybe it's some bad health or a serious diagnosis that you had hoped to God, that you'd never have to hear. Maybe it is some other type of tragedy going on? Do you have some personnel difficulty now, or have you been laid off from your job? Do you have an addiction-prob, some idol that seems to have grown gigantic in size because it now dominates your mind? How do you combat it?
Hey, you together with the Lord have got this, believer. Here's how to overcome all of the giants you'll face.
Have a sanctified God-sized imagination of sorts.. to see from His perspective. Pray and obey (with smart actions only). Believe in your Really Big God1 See all that He wants you to see. Yes, early on seeing is much better than later on having His accurate perspective. Obey Him step by step in wisely addressing what needs to be addressed. His way.
So SO many people have heard of King David regarding defeating Goliath (some 9 feet tall) as "a little boy"—but was he really a little boy? Nope. David was likely about 17 to 19 years old as a skilled slingsman at the time, and there’s more to his story.
It wasn't merely a matter of defying the odds for "David as some underdog" here.
"Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." 1 Sam. 17:36, 37
"David had lived with God. Throughout many a solitary day he had kept his father’s flock among the lone hills of Judah, and had worshipped the Unseen but Ever-present Lord. He had grown into an adoring familiarity with the Most High, so that to him the name of the one only living and true God was a deep and solemn joy! As you may have spied far up among the ramparts of the mountains a solitary lake, whose one office it is to mirror the face of heaven, so had David’s hallowed life become the reflection of the light and glory of the Lord of hosts. It had not occurred to him in his meditations that base men would dare to challenge the infinite majesty of God, or that proud adversaries would come forward and defy the chosen people of the Most High; and now that he hears the defiance and beholds the challenge, all his blood is up. He starts! A holy rage is upon him! Yes, it is true; he hears Jehovah blasphemed! How can it be? The youth’s holy soul is undergoing a new experience, he is bringing his whole life to bear upon it; he reaches the conclusion that as bears and lions die when they meddle with sheep, so must Goliath fall now that he dares to attack the Lord and his people." ~ C.H. Spurgeon
David absolutely knew that when he went out to face the giant Goliath, he was going to kill him. David had no doubt or sword.
If we think of this victory as "an underdog" story, then we've missed the point completely, David wasn't merely defying the odds to beat Goliath. He was the only mere human who could possibly have pulled it all off. David is a picture of Jesus Christ.
Yes, God through David gave us this clear picture of His Son Jesus who would come after king David.
Dave was the substitute who delivered the Israelites from certain defeat at the hands of their real enemies (the Philistines). Just as Christ is the one substitute who has delivered us believers from all demons and their hell, from the fleshly nature, from the corrupt world system and from the wages of sin! Yay!
David, a l'il confident boy? No. The Bible teaches us that David was a confident man of valor, of faith, a man of war. He was prudent in his speech, was Saul's "armor bearer" good looking too, but more importantly.. "the Lord is with Him."
David went on to become Israel's greatest king, but the entire Bible OT and NT points to Christ our far greater King of all kings.
There are keys truths behind David’s triumph that we need to see--that we must see to win against the giants that approach each of us.
Why? So that we can use them when confronted by our own giants in life!
Obviously, in this fallen world you and I can face all kinds of different giants and win but not totally alone:
Are Your Problems Kinda Like Giants? There's The So Called Giant of Fear. The Giant of Financial Strain or Debt. The Giant of Lust. The Giant of Personal Sin. The Giant Of Emotions After Loss. The Giant of Addiction (Different Types To Beat, Not By Mere Willpower). The Giant of Threats that Often Taunt You. All These Are Small Issues Before a Big God. (Perhaps You'd Like To Add In Some More Here?)
A giant is anyone or anything that seeks to take control of you, that seeks to hurt or destroy, or bully, or torment you in this life.
Listen to God's Word and wisely apply His truths. Remember His good Promises. You do not need to believe the promises or the threats of giants!
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| Photos by Jonathan Kemper & Rick Holland |
Remember These Five Things.
1.) We all have our enemy-giants and need to make some decisions in advance. Like who we'll depend upon. While it is true, we all have giants; it is also true that every enemy-giant we face is totally defeatable by faith in the Living Word.
Giants can be a bit different in every era. The truth never changes, but our approach and the application of the principles of truth can.
Goliath was not always a 9 foot tall giant. He was once an ugly little baby.. but then he started to eat and devour until abnormally he grew into one.
2.) Before you faint or get tempted, take time out alone with the Lord in worship, in praise, in prayer. Listen up. The shepherd David benefited from praising the Lord. So many of us tend to hyper-focus on the big problems of this life. We believers tend to focus on the hard trials and the cruel circumstances of life when we should be wiser and look away.. primarily focusing on our BIG God. Early on David, by faith focused on God more so.. as that giant Goliath approached to kill him. While his brothers and other Israelites around David only saw the Big and dangerous giant.
Later on David had tougher giants to face and deal with.. like religious disobedient Saul who for 10 long years sought to kill him. Then there was David's visitor called lust. Do you recall how the Prophet Nathan explained things to him after David covered up his adultery by the murder Uriah? Seriously flawed David saw the battle from God's perspective. David, a checkered person, was directed into victory by the Lord against Goliath! He won great victories in his early life, yet later there were some serious battles that he lost. We can learn from it all.
It can be said of so many guys even in our day: He saw, he lusted, he coveted, he took. Sure, David did that. Perhaps he should have been off fighting with his men instead of lounging around inside or outside his home in leisure? David saw the beauty of Bathsheba’s body outside one day, but he didn’t see that dark chasm he was about to fall into. He failed to see the repercussions – those years of hard consequences (including the disintegration of his family).
We’ve all been created with strong desires for righteous sexual intimacy--that's so normal. That's human. But when those are left uncontrolled and un-prayed about then guess what.. our passions can easily destroy us. Any of us! Do you actually want your family life destroyed.. really? No! Think and prayer about it. What do you really want your future to be like? Nobody wants to see the destruction happen, so we need to see more than most people see before we fall into sin. God alone can help us as we turn to Him.
3.) Ultimately that battle before you belongs to the Lord, believer. Only through God’s strength can we win spiritual battles and defeat our giants. We pray, we hear His word, we trust Him, we obey Him step by step. His power is given for a world-changing purpose!
4.) Don't keep running from them. Get with God and then wisely attack your giants! If you tolerate a Goliath, it will take over your territory.
5.) Finish the enemy-giant off! Do like David did. Saw off his head so to speak, before he does that to you. Jesus’ victory on the Cross is our victory because we now are in Christ. If you are not in Christ today or are not sure of this.. then you can be. Wait no longer. Repent and believe in Jesus. Turn, trust, fully confess, forsake sins -- just come to him as you are today with a willingness inside to cooperate with His Spirit and be changed by Him into what He desires for you. We are to remain willing to follow Christ where He leads us. He works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure (in that order. See Philippians 2:13 and the context), and He's a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him too (See Hebrews 11:6). You'll become more you than you've ever been before. A unique individual--MORE YOU, than ever before.
We do not fight for victory as much as we fight from it.
And we face our giants in Christ's power if we want to win!
The Lord Jesus is the greater One inside of us and He is the wisdom of God the Father.
Do not look at God in the light of your giant; look at your giant in the light of God!
Big GOD, little giant. Little God, BIG GIANT!
Does victory rest upon what size faith you can muster up or upon Him who is bigger than all and Almighty? So how big is your God really? (there're two kinds of Christians -- are you a BIG-Goder type, or a lil-Goder type?)
"Jesus told them (His disciples). 'I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.'” Matthew 17:20 (nlt see context)
Do you see Him as small and weak, or like He really is.. greater and more powerful than every enemy -- all else or everyone else? Flee from sinning.. even from the temptations to sin! Doubt your dumb-doubts today, and believe all your biblical beliefs! The Bible says...
"Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have already overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world if sinful mankind." 1 John 4:4 amp
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [a]bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 nkjv
“All God's (spiritual) giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them.” ― J. Hudson Taylor
Got faith and a God-sized imagination to see as you should see? Some have a giant within. Are you saved? Got a demon inside? A Christian can't have one. Is your sin or addiction your giant? Have you ever even prayed or confessed sins before God -- perhaps you have never received Christ as Savior and Lord? You can right now.
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| Photo by Hasan Almasi |
1.) Realize that most believers will have at least one giant to conquer. There might be several for you. One tactic of the enemy is to convince us we are weak, a failure, and worthless in the sight of God (and others). Fellowship upwards and outwards. Remember, everyone has trials and different battles to fight. Everyone faces giants. “Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.” (I Peter 4:12 csb).
2.) Believer, know that the battle is ultimately the Lord’s – you’re not your own or alone. Satan tries to distract us by hurling accusations that we’ve sinned too much to win.. that we are defenseless and will never overcome him. Don’t allow the enemy’s whispers or rants to distract or drown out the voice of God. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Don’t listen to Satan’s (now like a toothless lion's) roar. God is with us!
3,) Remember past victories, answers to prayer, blessings and just encourage yourself in the living Word. David remembered the times he fought the lion and the bear in the past (verses 34-36). When down he encouraged and edified himself. “The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine” (verse 37). Encouraged by past wins, David knew God would help him gain victory again. You and I keeping a record of past victories can help give us confidence when facing new battles.
4.) Speak God’s words of faith in prayer. Pray earnestly and biblically believe. Expect! David told Goliath exactly how he would be defeated (verses 45-47). “Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 csb). Boldly speak to your giant. Boldly quote Scripture showing and wisely act by God’s power!
5.) Give God all the glory. As a faithful Rep, let how you think, live (holy with right motives) and speak clearly point to Jesus. The victory is God’s, so praise Him for what He will do and has done in your life. “For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4 csb).
Look NOT at the size of the giant. See what's going on, but primarily focus on God and His size! None are bigger or more powerful.
Satan is like a strong man guarding his goods (masses of people are under his control), and Christ is the Stronger Man who overcomes him. Christ invaded Satan’s so called kingdom, overcame his power, took his armor, and now is dividing his spoils by saving lost souls and is transforming lost sinners into disciples of God. This is what David did that day: he overcame the strong man and allowed Israel to divide the spoils (vv. 52–54). We Christians do not simply fight for victory, we fight from victory, the victory won at the cross (Col. 2:15). Greater is He that is in you.
“Be of good cheer,” said Jesus, “I have overcome" (John 16:33).
Prayer: Living God, I thank You that I can face my giants through the power of Your name and win. Thanks for that bloody Cross at Calvary and thanks for that empty tomb as well. Nothing that comes against me is ever too big for You to handle. I've decided to listen up, follow close, and totally depend up you Jesus!
Let God do His part and you just obediently do yours. Samuel anointed David to be king and then departed from Bethlehem, for his work there was done. How would a teenage shepherd get from the fields to the throne? Good question huh. God had a plan and that was not Samuel’s personal responsibility; God would indeed see to it for His Son Jesus would come from David's line.
Saul was feelin' quite oppressed. Had made some bad choices, but God used David’s musical skill to bring him into the king’s presence. Empowered by the Spirit who sees it all (v. 13), David had nothing to fear. (The ominous statement in v. 14 should be compared with David’s prayer in Ps. 51:11)
Man constantly sees what's outward. God not only sees our minds and hearts, but He thoroughly searches them (1 Chron. 28:9). Yes, He knows our thoughts and our good or bad motives too (Heb. 4:12–13). So many people today think they have good hearts inside – remember how our school teachers drilled that idea into us for years?
We can evaluate the facts before us and we can be fruit inspectors. We think we know our own hearts, but we do not (Jer. 17:9), so we had better accept God’s verdict. And we should always be careful not to judge others since we cannot see or know their hearts (John 7:24; 1 Cor. 4:5).
"So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries. Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers. As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel. As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. “Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!” David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.” But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!” “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!" (See 1 Sam. 17 nlt)
"You’ve come down here to see the sights (David), hoping for a ringside seat at a bloody battle!" ~ Eliab (msg. Forget never the rally in the valley)
Hey Mr. Fearful Passive Eliab, it didn't really look like much battle was going on? Zero fight was actually happening. Yikes, that’s embarrassing for a big brother. No wonder you’re mad when you’re little bro sees this!
There Were Real Opportunities Before David (See 1 Sam. 17).
What opportunities has God in His love set before you today? He delights to bless you. God had prepared David for this occasion. It’s the private victories that make possible those public victories (vv. 34–37). A seemingly trivial pizza-run (of sorts) errand led to a challenging fight or flight type of situation that ended up bringing glory to God as David acted in faith. Please be spiritually prepared; you never know when your opportunity will show up before you.
Saul kept losing strength due to his sins, but David was growing in power as he obeyed God. And King Saul’s decent.. his diminishment would continue until his own tragic death. Saul stood head and shoulders above everybody else, but he was not big enough to see as he should see, or to meet Goliath in battle.
David wasn’t egotistically in it to promote himself to the top as boss over everyone. He knew the kingdom was God's not his, but Saul thought it was his own.
David wasn't about selfish-ambition, power-grabs or fleshly factions. He wasn’t a presumptuous or selfish control-freak. He was a man of biblical faith and simple obedience. Therefore it’s obvious how God gave him spiritual wisdom, insight, and stature. Great faith helps people see God for who He really is, it also helps us clearly understand what’s going on around us ..as we should. And God is the one who makes men and women great in this life. He’s the One that gives grace and growth. It’ll never happen independent from His living Word and wise application. David’s only desire was to praise, worship and glorify the great God of Israel (vv. 45–47).
There Were Obstacles Before David.
What giants and obstacles are before you today? What has He allowed into your experience for you to spiritually grow and mature with? Whenever you step out by faith to obey God, other people will often put obstacles in your way. You will have some spiritual opposition. Some will mock and scoff. David’s brother ridiculed him (v. 28) and King Saul bluntly told David, “You are not able!” (v. 33). Then Saul said, “If you must do it, do it my way,” and then he tried to encumber David with his heavy armor. David wouldn’t have it. He had to ignore all the obstacles and keep his faith in the Lord to protect him. He wasn’t in it for personal safety-sake. He had to do God’s work in the way God wanted him to do it.. with God’s timing and Holy Spirit directives.
David is “a type” or a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David. Humanly speaking Jesus was a son of David, but divinely speaking Jesus had David’s life in mind long before David was even born.
David too was born in Bethlehem and misunderstood by his family that he was an obedient son and a conquering hero. The name David means “beloved,” and Jesus is the Father’s “beloved Son” (Matt. 3:17). David was anointed king long before he took the throne and ruled on earth, and our Lord is King of all kings even though He is not yet reigning on this earth (post rapture and Second Advent in the millennium). Like David, our Lord has had to experience rejection and exile before his reigning as the king. Read more.. KurtwVs.medium.com
1 & 2 Sam. Outline
- Samuel: Prophet and Judge to Israel (1:1–7:17)
- Saul: First King Over Israel (8:1–15:35)
- The Rise of Saul to the Kingship (8:1–12:25)
- The demand of Israel for a king (8:1–22)
- The process of Saul becoming king (9:1–11:13)
- The exhortation of Samuel to Israel concerning the king (11:14–12:25)
- The Decline of Saul in the Kingship (13:1–15:35)
- The rebuke of Saul (13:1–15)
- The wars of Saul (13:16–14:52)
- The rejection of Saul (15:1–35)
- The Rise of Saul to the Kingship (8:1–12:25)
- David and Saul: Transfer of the Kingship in Israel (16:1–31:13)
- The Introduction of David (16:1–17:58)
- David Driven from the Court of Saul (18:1–20:42)
- The anger and fear of Saul toward David (18:1–30)
- The defense of David by Jonathan and Michal (19:1–20:42)
- David’s Flight from Saul’s Pursuit (21:1–28:2)
- Saul’s killing of the priests at Nob (21:1–22:23)
- Saul’s life spared twice by David (23:1–26:25)
- David’s despair and Philistine refuge (27:1–28:2)
- The Death of Saul (28:3–31:13)
