Are There Giants in Your Life?

“I come to you in the name of the LORD of host, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.” (I Samuel 17:45 NASB)

Are there giants in your life?

Today’s story is from the life of David. It is recorded for us in I Samuel 17-18.

As a child, the story of David and Goliath was intriguing especially to little boys. It seems they love the idea of conquering giants and slaying them.  You probably remember the Sunday School song about how the “5 little stones went up in the air and the giant came tumbling down.”

Children always love acting these wonderful stories out.

But in our lives, as adults we are looking for a deeper still adventure in the stories we learned as children.  I  believe the Word of God is simple enough that a child can understand but deep enough to challenge even the most educated man or woman.

David was the youngest of Jesse’s sons.  His brothers had gone to war with Saul to fight the Philistines. The armies were gathered in the valley of Elah with the Philistines on one mountain and Saul’s army on the other. David was sent by his father Jesse back and forth from his flock with supplies for his brothers.  David went to Israel’s camp to deliver the supplies and found the army “going out in battle array shouting the war cry.” (I Samuel 17:20 NASB)  David went to find his brothers and Goliath showed up in all his armor glory.  The Israelites saw Goliath and fear overtook them and they fled. For forty days these Philistines had met this way taunting them.  Aren’t you going to fight?  You are dressed for fighting!  Common on, let’s go!  Send someone down, “Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.” (I Samuel 17:8-9 NASB)

“When Saul and all Israel heard the words of the Philistines they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” (I Samuel 17:11 NASB)  Did you catch that Saul, the king of Israel, supposed to be mighty warrior was as afraid as all of his men.

David the teenage boy asks the question, What are you going to do about this “uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26 NASB)  The question angers his oldest brother Eliab. Eliab rebukes him, “Why have you come down here?  And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?  I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.” (I Samuel 17: 28 NASB)  You have to love David’s response!  “What have I done now?”  Sound familiar?  If you have an older sibling, you’ve probably said those words too. One little side note, the prophet Samuel has already anointed David to be king and Eliab being the oldest would have been first in line.  Jesse thought of Eliab, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him.” (I Samuel 16:6)  Do suppose there was a little jealousy between them?

Now, of course, there is always a tale-bearer that is trying to get in the good graces of the King.  Someone goes to King Saul and tells him what David has said. Saul then sends for David.  David had played his harp for Saul when he was tormented by evil spirit’s after God’s anointing left him.  Saul knew David. David had become his armor-bearer and “Saul loved him greatly.” (I Samuel 16:21) Saul tries to give David his armor but David refuses it. “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. (I Samuel 17:37 NASB)

David went out to Goliath that day without armor, with only a stick and five smooth stones from the brook.  Goliath taunted him, cursed him and with a loud voice told David what he was going to do to him.  The Spirit of the LORD must have fallen on the “youth, ruddy with a handsome appearance.” (I Samuel 17:42 NASB)  David cries out to this 9 foot beast of a man, ”You come to me with a sword, a spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beast of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give you into our hands.  (I Samuel 17:48 NASB)

Life Lessons

1. David arose early in the morning. He left the flock with a keeper. He took the supplies as Jesse commanded. (I Samuel 17:20 NASB)  David took care of his responsibilities. He didn’t go off without preparing.  Remember Eliab’s taunt?  With whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness?  No matter what your task or job in life, even if it seems to be menial.  It is important to the LORD.  “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16: 10 NKJV)
2. When David arrived at the army’s’ camp, he left his supplies with the baggage-keeper. Again, he watched over what had been given to him.  David ran to find his brothers; however, his brothers weren’t very happy to see him.  When we carry out what God has given us to do, sometimes you will find there are those around who want to discourage us and make us feel as though what we do isn’t important.  Nothing could be further from the truth of God.  Stand firm sisters (and brothers); David felt it for he commented, “What have I done now!”  (I Samuel 17: 29 NASB)
3. Youth, size, or lack of armor, we must have the courage to stand with God.  The battle is the LORD’s!  David had a stick and 5 smooth river stones.  Faith must be exercised.  David knew the giant Goliath was no match for him but he knew God could and would deliver him.  After all, he had “killed a bear, a lion and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them.” (I Samuel 17:36 NASB)  God will first prepare you to go up against the giants in your life.
4. Lastly, our greatest giant we face as Christians is the giant in our head that lies to us and tries to defeat us daily.   David had spent hours in the presence of the God.  He wrote so many of the Psalms that comfort us during our trying times.  Psalms 23 comes to mind. He writes, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”  Stop believing the lies that satan puts in our heads.  Stand still and see the deliverance of our God!

Every day there we wrestle with the enemy.  Today remember there are David’s and Goliath’s in the real battlefields.  Pray for our troops today that are fighting a battle for our freedom.  We “wrestle not with flesh and blood but with principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)