I Samuel 17:47 “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.”
The Philistines were twice as tall as the people of Israel. Even with King Saul head and shoulders above everyone else in Israel, he was small beside a Philistine. The enemy was set to crush them. The Philistine charge was for each camp to send out a champion to fight, and the winner would take the loser as slaves. The Philistines sent Goliath. We know his size. We know about his armor. The people of Israel heard his roars and taunts every day. None would make a move. They all felt weak and small.
There are struggles in life and then there are outright battles. We face battles for truth and right, for holiness and love. All things of God are under attack. Since we’ve been saved most of our troubles are attacks of Satan on our prayer life, our Bible study, and our daily walk. We read that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives, but it seems we only find trouble. The devil always interrupts. He dares us into the valley just as Goliath and the Philistines dared Israel. He tells us we might as well. We’re far from finished off. Goliath put down Israel’s warriors and her God. Society tries to shake our faith. Eastern religions tell us we can worship ourselves. Astrology and meditation is the popular way. They seem to work. They make fun of Jesus. They say there is no hell and all people go to heaven. We need David’s view.
The battle was not Goliath’s. It was not David’s. It was the Lord’s. Because we face our Goliaths in Jesus’ name, the battle is the Lord’s. It won’t be won with the sword and spear. Our victory…or defeat…hinges on our knowledge and belief in this. David’s weapons weren’t comparable to Goliath’s. David was physically small next to the giant. He was unafraid for himself because of his surety in God. All around him, Israel lost faith. Everyone thought David was crazy. David didn’t pick this battle. The devil forces our battles on us, but the Lord says “trust me.” Was Goliath in charge? No. Was David in charge? No. God was in charge! David was sure of his God and knew there was no such thing as the god the Philistines boasted about. He didn’t have to outsmart the devil. The battle was the Lord’s. There would be the victory.
David hit Goliath in the weakest part of his armor. He cut his head off. He showed it to his enemy. Use God’s tactics not those of the devil. The Lord told David to get five smooth stones and get out his sling. Be obedient in the counter offensive against the devil. Imagine how Israel felt seeing David pull out his sling. Imagine how the Philistines laughed! God uses slings and stones, little old you, and little old me. Our God is bigger. He took a little stone and hit Goliath’s head dead center.
We have to fight. Our choice comes in how we do it—by ourselves or like little David. The means may seem unorthodox. The outcome is decided. It is won when we remember the battle is the Lord’s.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 