A few years ago, I spent several weeks camped in the sixteenth and seventeenth chapters of 1 Samuel. Every read through I saw something that didn’t catch my attention the time before. The infinite depth of God’s word is truly a gift.
Chapter 16 begins with God instructing Samuel, (the son of Hannah and one of Israel’s greatest prophets), to travel to Bethlehem to the house of Jesse where Samuel would anoint a new king. This trip didn’t exactly excite Samuel because he was afraid the current king would have him killed if he found out what he was doing. When Samuel expressed his concern, the Lord told him to take a heifer with him to Bethlehem as a sacrifice and when he arrived, “invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I (the Lord) will show you what to do. You are to anoint the one I indicate.” (1 Sam 16:3)
So, with these instructions, Samuel set out for Bethlehem. When he arrived, he did as the Lord said and invited Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice. When Samuel saw the oldest son, Eliab, Samuel immediately thought he was the one chosen by the Lord. Scripture doesn’t say, but perhaps Eliab was tall and considered a handsome man and that’s why Samuel assumed he’d found his guy. But the Lord said to Samuel, “do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)
Next!
Jesse called his next son, Abinadab to pass before Samuel but he wasn’t the one either. Seven sons passed before Samuel, but the Lord did not choose any of them. Samuel asked if Jesse had any other sons to which he replied there was one more, the youngest who was tending the sheep. His name was David. Samuel told Jesse to send for him.
When David arrived, scripture describes him as “ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.” The Lord told Samuel, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” Samuel took the oil and anointed David in front of his brothers and the “Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.” (1 Sam 16:12-13)
David’s anointing was done in secret, and he would not become Israel’s king for quite some time. God had a plan for David, and he began preparing him for his future responsibilities. God is still in the business of preparing his people for future responsibilities. He lays hopes and dreams in our hearts and then begins the pruning and winnowing processes we need to be prepared for our future. It’s up to each of us to learn and grow in our current situations no matter how long it takes or how hard it gets.
Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him;
Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Ps 37:7 (AMP)
During this time, the Promise Land was inhabited by Philistine giants and the Israelites were afraid to fight these huge warriors and reclaim their land. However, the Philistines had gathered for war and each army camped on opposite hills of the Valley of Elah between them.
It was customary during this period for armies to send one warrior from each side to fight. This prevented massive losses for either side. Triumph by your warrior meant victory for your side and surrender by the other.
A Philistine warrior named Goliath was well known for his victories. He stood over nine feet tall, and it’s estimated his armor weighed 125 pounds and the iron point of his spear shaft weighed about 15 pounds. He was a formidable opponent on his own, but Goliath also had a shield bearer who always walked in front of him.
For forty days Goliath came forward every morning and evening shouting at the Israelites to send someone out from their ranks to fight him—if he was killed then the Philistines would become servants to the Israelites; if he won, Israel would be defeated and be servants to the Philistines. Saul and the Israelite army were terrified. Saul is described in scripture as being a head taller than the other Israelite men (1 Sam 9:2), so it is plausible he was the most likely candidate to fight the giant. No doubt he didn’t want to do that. Fortunately for Saul, God had a different plan to save the Israelites.
In scripture, the number 40 typically symbolizes a period of testing—a challenge so to speak ultimately followed by triumph. Moses was with the Lord and fasted 40 days and nights when given the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:27-28). The Lord was angry with Israel and made them wander in the desert forty years until the generation who had done evil in his sight was gone (Numbers 32:13). Jesus fasted forty days and nights in the desert before being tested by Satan (Matthew 4:1-3). There are over 140 references in scripture about forty days or years of waiting and testing.
While the Israelites were huddled in their battle position, watching and listening to the big guy bellow day-after-day; unbeknown to them, the Lord had already set in motion their victory.
The young shepherd boy, David, (remember him, the one chosen by God and anointed by Samuel) had been sent to the battle lines by his father to take food to his brothers and find out how they were doing. While there, Goliath stepped forward as he had done for forty days and shouted his defiance toward Israel. David heard the Israelites say king Saul would give a lot of money along with his daughter in marriage and exemption from taxes for the family of the man who kills Goliath. So, David approached Saul and told him that he would fight the giant. Saul saw that David was just a boy and told him he was no match for a warrior like Goliath. David began telling Saul how he had killed a lion and a bear to protect his father’s sheep; “the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37) Upon hearing this, Saul agreed to let David fight the giant and dressed David in a coat of armor for the battle. David tried walking around in the armor but told Saul he couldn’t wear it because he wasn’t used to it. David removed the helmet and coat of armor, took his staff in his hand, chose 5 smooth stones from a stream and placed them in his shepherd’s bag. With his sling in his hand, David approached the giant Philistine.
Goliath, with his shield bearer in front of him, made his way closer to David. When Goliath got a good look at David, he realized he was just a boy ruddy and handsome, and Goliath despised him. (1 Sam 17:42). Goliath asked David, “am I dog that you come at with sticks?” (vs 43). Scripture tells us Goliath cursed David by his (Goliath’s) gods and told him he would feed David’s “flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.” (vs 44)
David was undaunted:
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
So, David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. (1 Sam 17:45-51)
Upon witnessing their giant hero’s demise, the Philistines turned and ran for their lives. The Israelite’s took pursuit, killing many Philistines, and plundering their camp.
So, Goliath, the Philistines’ war hero, adorned in all his manmade armor, succumbed to a young Israelite shepherd boy by way of a sling and one rock. David did not want and knew he did not require manmade armor, David faithfully adorned himself in the full armor of God. (Eph 6:13-18)
Believers today face personal battles, we see our world in constant turmoil both in our own country and globally, and it can appear hopeless, and fear easily consumes us. But God is faithful, and he is never surprised by what we are facing personally or otherwise. There is wisdom in the wait. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
So, when facing the goliaths in our own lives, may we, like David, adorn ourselves in the full armor of God each day. May we, like David, when faced with a new challenge, always remember God’s faithfulness to us in the past and rest in the knowledge that we can face those challenges in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel. (1 Sam 17:45)
Amen.
C. Deni Johnson
Right Hand Ministries 