When you get into the spiritual principles that are involved and the back story, you’re going to be blessed and strengthened in your faith. Plus, you’ll know just WHY it is that the enemy has been fighting you for so long and so hard. Not only that, you’ll know how to handle him from now on.
First Samuel, chapter 17 is where we find David and Goliath. What’s going on is that the Philistines, who were enemies of Israel, were gathered to do battle against the Israelites. They had this big muscular who was at least 6 feet nine inches tall, and some scholars say he was as tall as nearly 9 feet tall. Either way, he was bigger, more muscular and stronger than any of the soldiers in the Israelite army.
Every day, both morning and evening, Goliath would come out between the front lines of the Philistines and the front lines of the Israelites and make fun of them. He’s mocking them, mocking their God, insulting them and God and doing everything he can to provoke them.
Goliath would challenge them to send out one of their own soldiers, whomever they chose, to come out and fight Goliath. It would be a single combat that would decide the outcome – so that way the two countries wouldn’t have to get into a blood-soaking battle.
Israel’s king, King Saul knew he couldn’t beat Goliath, and none of the other soldiers would fight Goliath either. Then David who was the little brother of some of the soldiers, came down to bring some food to his brothers. David hears what’s going on, and he’s wondering why nobody was doing anything about it. He’s asking around and trying to find ANYBODY who would take a stand for God and His people against Goliath.
Then David said, basically, “I’m not going to just sit here and let this guy come against us like this. I'm gonna do something, even though it will be something I’ve never done before. I’m just gonna have to trust God and do whatever He leads me to do!
Goliath was a trained killer and was ready and able to kill anyone who came against him. Plus, he was heavily armed. And we’re here in 2 Samuel chapter 17, verses 44 through 47 where Goliath says, “44“Come here,” he calls to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” 45 But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with the sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. Today I’m going to strike you down, I’m going to cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.…
Goliath is threatening to feed David to the birds, and David’s like, “NO! I'm gonna cut off YOUR head today. I’m going to feed the bodies of your entire army to the birds and the wild animals. Everybody’s going to know that it is the Lord who saves!
Instead of going directly to war with Israel, Goliath wanted to make a deal. Let one of God’s people come out and fight him singlehandedly. If the Israelite could beat Goliath, all the Philistines would be slaves for Israel. If Goliath beat the Israelite, then Israel would be slaves to the Philistines.
That’s just the way it is with the devil. He comes every day, belittling you, daring you to overcome him. Telling you that you might as well just give up and be his slave . . . without even a fight. He’s too strong for you to beat. He points out your weakness and your lack of power with God! He tells you it’s just a matter of time, so you might as well give up!
Even the strongest and most experienced of God’s people were scared of Goliath. In the churches today, even some of the leader, and the strongest of God’s people seem have lost their authority and power. They speak well, and are able to come off as though everything is just fine. Like the generals in God’s army back there in second Samuel, chapter 17, they get the people all set in battle array, but when the enemy comes and starts defying our God, they run in terror! It seems like a lot of the leaders have lost their power and ability to have victory over the devil! Almost every week, there are news stories about some Christian leader or another who has fallen into sin or hypocrisy.
Then, in verse 15, David, the teenaged shepherd came onto the scene. David wasn’t very impressive in the natural. He wasn’t well educated and wasn’t experienced in the ways of the professional armies and their leaders. He had no military or strategic training or experience. He was just a shepherd, whose dad had asked him to take food to his brothers who were on the scene of the battle.
There are eight traits that David possessed that enabled him to be used by God to destroy the giant that had come against him and God’s people.
First of all, David was able to be used by God because he had been “faithful in the small things,” like Jesus talks about in Luke 16:10. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. He had been faithful in looking out for the well-being of his father’s sheep. That prepared him so could be trusted with the well-being of God’s people.
Secondly, David was willing and obedient (Isaiah 1:19). God says, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land…” When his father told him to go, David responded without delay. He didn’t lay down conditions and moan and gripe about it. He knew to do what his father commanded him to do. David was willing to do what his father asked him to do, and more importantly, he actually did it! A lot of Christians are neither willing nor obedient – and then they wonder why God isn’t blessing them like they want!
Third, David was spiritually minded. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12, “We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” In other words, David knew that the problem had to first be dealt with and overcome in the spirit realm, in prayer!
Fourth, David knew that Goliath wasn’t just coming against God’s people - he was coming against God! In verse 26, David asked, “Who is this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Like when Saul, in the Book of Acts, Acts 9:4, was coming against God’s people, the resurrected Jesus appeared to him and said, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" When the enemy comes against YOU, he is coming against Jesus! And Jesus takes it personally! That is your spiritual right to Holy Spirit protection!
Fifth. David was spiritually prepared. David had been obedient and faithful even when all he was given to do was watch sheep. He took his walk with God seriously, and didn’t wait until a crisis came to draw close to God. And many people miss it right here.
When things are going smoothly, they put the things of God on the back burner. Then when a problem comes, they suddenly start seeking God like it’s the end of the world! David knew that his strength, confidence and very life came from God. There is no “down time” in God! When things are going smoothly, or when it feels like nothing is happening, that is the time to be preparing for the next assignment from the Lord! David has used his time out there watching his father’s sheep to prepare himself for whatever God had prepared for him. In verse32, David could say, “Don’t anyone be overcome by fear because of the enemy. I will go and fight with him.”
Sixth, David openly testified about the power of God in his life. He had a history with God and made sure that people knew what God had done for him. Just like the saints in Revelation, David knew that you overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Revelation 12:11 says. “They triumphed over the devil by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
David gave his testimony to King Saul. In verses 34-36, “. . . David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock. I went out after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth. I killed 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.”
Seventh, David knew that God would fight for him. The battle is the Lord’s, not ours. He said in verse 37, “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.” You don’t have to fight your battles in your own strength. “The Lord is the strength of my life. I will not fear what man shall do to me. That’s Psalm 27 verse 1.
Eighth, David acted boldly in faith. He approached Goliath and said in v. 45 - 47, “You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied . . . and all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”
Then, David activated the Word of God he had hidden in his heart. He reached into his bag and pulled one of the five stones he had there and hurled it at the enemy! That Spirit-directed stone struck Goliath in the head and it sunk into his skull, dropping him on the spot! David came against the enemy in the strength and power of the Spirit of God! He assaulted the enemy in the authority of the Name! Man’s devices shall never be able to prevail against the Name of Jesus! No weapon that is formed against YOU, Christian, shall prosper!
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD (Isaiah 54:17, NKJV).
In Hebrew, weapon refers to anything that is used against a person. A weapon is anything that could be used against you for evil intent.
The reason no weapon formed against you shall prosper is not because you are strong, mighty or powerful but because your God is. God says in Joshua 23:10, “One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, just as he promised you.” You couldn’t chase a thousand soldiers away, but God can—will chase away those enemy forces that come against you.
Not only will their weapons not be successful, neither will their words: “And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.” Have you ever been a target for hateful people? Have you been held back on the job or made fun of at work because of your walk with God? Have you experienced ridicule in your workplace or home because of your loyalty to the Lord?
Romans 16:20 tells us that what the devil had planned for is, is what is going to happen to him! “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Goliath had boasted about what he was going to do to David. Instead of Goliath killing David, David killed Goliath, and chopped off the giant’s head with his own sword. “What you’ve planned for ME, devil, will be done unto YOU, for the glory of God!” “It’s a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you! 2 Thessalonians 1: 6 says that!
In the same way that David overcame the enemy by the power of God, YOU can overcome. God is no respecter of persons.
I want to remind you that Someone has already come in and has not only saved the day, but He has saved our souls, and the souls of all who come to Him. He died on a cross for the sins of the world, and is still saving the lost and healing those who are hurting. I don't know why even Christians keep getting pulled in to looking to the Government to step in and save the country and the economy and to purify our culture. We DO pray for whoever is in office, but I'm not waiting for the government to bring the changes and the justice and the hope that we need across our land. I’m not expecting the President or the people in power in the government to get out and promote the work of God. We don’t expect that that!
Jesus has given us His instructions to go into all the world and preach the gospel. He gave us His word, the Bible. He gave us the Holy Spirit to direct and lead us. God chose for His people to be the salt of the earth, and to be the lights that are shining in the darkness. That’s God’s will, that’s God’s answer to the problems and situations in the world – the people of God being led and guided by the Spirit of God to bring the love of God to this lost and wounded world.
Maybe you feel defeated and downcast today. But, even though the enemy comes against you, you can acknowledge the greater power of GOD! If you love Him with all your heart, and come to Him in obedience, He’ll give you that same power from on high, and like David, what the devil planned for you shall be done unto HIM! Because “greater is He that is within you, then he that is in the world!