1 Samuel 17:1-10, 30-42,
Many of us are familiar with the story of Goliath and David. It is a story that is well known in the Scriptures. As the story goes, Goliath bestrode the entire space, causing and lamenting that Israel should produce an officer of his own caliber to fight with him. But Israel had no body in that quality. Meanwhile, Jesse, the father of David, was home and called David to come and to go take food to his three brethren at the war front where Goliath was making the above remarks. David went with the food parcel with him to meet his brethren. Sadly, he was confronted with the displeasure and embarrassment of Goliath abusing Israel, the people of God. David was left to enquire about the matter. They told him the story.
“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of his coat was five thousand shekels of brass”. v 4-5. And many more. A complete man indeed.
Now David was a stripling, a youth. There was nothing comparable between them. David had no experience in human conflict or battle. David only gave the instances of a lion and a bear that came to intrude on his animals. Nonetheless, his testimony, though, unconvincing, gave way for him being accepted to face Goliath. But then, the armour he was equipped with was foreign to him. So he removed it and went in the simplicity of an armour bearer. Don’t forget that this was a complete fight – a contest between Goliath, the Philistine and David on the side of Israel.
“David said to Saul, however, “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto him, Go, and the LORD be with thee” v37.
God, who is the organizer of the war, was in the midst of the whole arrangement. He had already inducted David on what to do. And so David went out for the fight, which will determine the fate of Israel and that of Gath. And before we could say let the war begin, the war had ended in favour of David’s Israel. What happened? David took five pieces of stones . And before they could say let the battle begin, he had thrown the sling to the barbarian Goliath. And then the whole story came to an end.
I know you have followed the story. I also know that you believe the story because it happened. And l know that you are wondering whether the event can happen in our time. Yes, it can happen in our time because there are still people who do not bother about God. And I ask you a question: What do you take away from this development? I know that you have some confrontations against you. I know that you have some challenges before you. I also know that you want an answer that will settle the matters once and for all. If that is the case, try Christ Jesus.
I am sure you know that the five stones David took weren’t just stones. They reflected the person of Jesus.
I am sure you also know that David didn’t go to stand before the uncircumcised Philistine without first resolving the issue of sin. You remember that David didn’t respond to the query his elder brother Eliab gave him. David was careful to avoid any face-off with his brother. How about you, my dear brother? How are you treating the issues of life confronting you? How do you feel about the cost of the things around you when the cost is above your reach? The volume of purchases in our time is huge, but are they worth the trouble?
My dear friend, I am convinced that there are things that are costly, but which are not worth their prices. And I ask again, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? To face every problem, issue, challenge, or confrontation that stands as a Goliath before us, we must go against such in the name of the Lord. That was what David did. Goliath did not fall for David. He fell for the name of the Lord that was raised as a standard against him. Remember that the Bible tells us that “at the mention of the name of Jesus, every knee must bow.” Let all those issues bow to the Lordship of Jesus. Bring them before Him.
You can reach Pastor Luke Okoro for prayers and counseling at +2348051000462.
