David and Goliath

Facing the Giant

What is a giant? This Philistine warrior who was by every description massive and a deadly warrior had single handedly brought victory for his people because of his great size and fierceness. Rumored to be the descendant of the Nephilim, Gen. 6.

“By the time of David rolls around, Goliath is one of four remaining descendent of Nephilim, who appear”-- Samuel Giere

This understanding of lineage helps us to to see the representative battle that is taking place. 1 Cor. 10:11. Paul writes this to the church, that in the Old Testament stories happened to the Israelites for us.

This is a battle of good and evil between God and the enemy. The Nephilim disobeyed God and fell from divine heights. David’s kingship begins with facing the cosmic enemy of the anointed people. It is interesting though that at the end of David’s reign another battle takes place with the brother of Goliath 2 Sam.21:15-22, with Ishbe-benob “one of the descendants of the giants”

Joshua ran out the Anakim people (Giants) they settled in Gath.

This is not only a battle between warriors, not only a battle between the chosen people of God, it is a battle depicting God’s war against sin and death— the devil himself.

The giant caused the whole army and the King of Israel to stagger and freeze. A great multitude of warriors of which none were willing to stand and fight.

1 Enoch 1-36

The Giants we face can freeze us in our place. The israelites refused to fight. Saul even offered a great reward and future in his house. but their fear was stronger than their knowledge:

If we let them: giants can silence the truth we know and the promise we hold.

The giants we face are the people, circumstances, or decisions in our lives that give us pause and make us consider calling the whole thing off and running the other direction.

David faces the taunts

Not looked at by his family when Samuel came to anoint a new king over Israel.

1 Samuel 16:11 “Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.””

1 Samuel 17:28 “His eldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David. He said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart; for you have come down just to see the battle.””

1 Samuel 17:33“Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.””

1 Samuel 17:43 “The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”

Standing on the Promises

David brushes off the taunts. David, as he spoke with Saul reminded him that he has been protecting his fathers sheep for a long time. He has slain bear and lion. David, the youngest was left alone with his father’s sheep and each day in isolation from his family witnessed the miracles of God’s provision. A shepherd wasn’t home every night for dinner around the table with the family. Days at a time they were off wandering the fields tending the flocks.

David was called into his father’s house and the prophet Samuel anointed him king of Israel. Now matter how many days Saul was on the throne, David knew those days were numbered. God had given David a promise.

David knew God, trusted God, and stood knowing God was with him.

You can’t be ready to take on a giant in battle if you don’t trust who's behind you.

Knowledge and promise. What we know and what we hold.

David and Goliath is a story of holding on to God’s provision and salvation.

Ephesians 1:3–14 NRSV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Blessed, chosen, destined, bestowed, lavished, known, gathered,inherited, hope, truth, pledge.

Stepping into the fight

A shepherds sling against a Giant Warrior’s Armor.

Bronze Helmet

Ahead of the world in metallurgy

scale armor coat 125 Ibs

Bronze shin guards

Huge spear shaft with a tip weighing 15 Ibs

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzZMjpoLcCn/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&fbclid=IwAR0MhZeZrU05ABjMRPPcXBkqA2xLEqPoq19dZTD558UqpZJwVUMqQtGwrNM

David wasn’t concerned about being outgunned. David trusted in what he knew. His God and the weapon he knew. It wasn’t about the human element but Divine Power!

David spent years defending his sheep and practicing slinging. The hours he spent able to focus on God’s provision and guidance

This giant defied God and God was going to answer.

David wasn’t in a battle for himself with this giant, this was a battle of the supernatural. Who’s would win?

Standing over the victory

David stood over his enemy and with Goliath’s own sword took the ultimate swipe. He decapitated Goliath.

The Philistines were beaten because their greatest warrior was destroyed. The enemy of Israel was no more.

This representative victory is also what Jesus would accomplish over death. Jesus used death’s own weapon against. Christ threw down his enemy Satan and cut the head off of the snake so to speak.

When we see Jesus who conquers the destroyer, conquers the enemy and defiler, conquers the impossible we should respond in a triumphal following of Christ. Christ is the KING! God’s kingdom is here in and through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ!

The giants in our lives will remain but the ultimate giant has been slain!

Giants that cause us pause in our decisions and activity. The boss, the coworker, the family member, the friends, the neighbor, the school bully, group members.

Those who want to see you cave to fear and sacrifice your integrity, your dependability, goodness, kindness, compassion, self control, and ultimately your faithfulness to God and who God calls you to be. The world and the people who serve the enemy want to see your life destroyed so that they can look upon their own and feel good.

“God expects the taunts of those who do not believe in Him, and we should not be overly anxious about those in our culture who deride followers of Christ for their faith. This may insult God, but what grieves Him more than their taunts is the church’s failure to take God at His word. We must take our eyes off the size of the giant, stop listening to unbelieving “believers,” and think instead about the size of the love and power of God. Until we do, we remain fearfully in the tents of Israel—hiding from risk but also from the work of God.” --J. D. Greear and Heath A. Thomas, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), 135.

Romans 8:38–39 NRSV

38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Stand over your enemy victorius. Christ has won for you. Christ has empowered you. Christ has never left you. It is not about your power but the power of Christ within you!! Do not waiver. Do not back down. Do not give in but face this world know that you are backed by the Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth, and that you have freedom, promise, hope, and a future!