FIGHTING GIANTS #10

Lastly, we look at Israel’s “home-coming,” or victory parade.

In 1st Samuel 18:7 we read,

“And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

Now, while this was true, notice that the women were not giving the glory to God.

David’s reason for fighting Goliath was solely that God would be glorified. (1st Samuel 17:46,47).

“…….that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 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.”

So these women had missed the point, they were speaking really in the flesh, and their statement was actually the origin of Saul’s hatred of David.

1st Samuel 18:8,9 says,

“And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.”

You see, the flesh just breeds more and more trouble.

Let us always give God the glory when He defeats our giants, and not to ourselves or anyone else.

FIGHTING GIANTS#9

After David killed Goliath, he cut off his head.

There are some giants that are of our own making. They can be things of the flesh, wrong relationships, “pet” sins, or a multitude of other things that seem to start small, but soon become giants that threaten our spiritual walk.

Romans 8:13 tells us to mortify the flesh. Just like David, we should sever the heads of these giants of the flesh, so that they don’t raise their ugly heads ever again.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13)

FIGHTING GIANTS#8

David took five stones with his sling – why ?? Some believe that Goliath had four relatives who were giants.

“These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.” (2nd Samuel 21:22)

If this is true, then what a faith David had ! He knew God could deliver him from 1 or 101 giants !

In sad contrast, the very same David, in 1st Samuel 27, feared that Saul would one day kill him, and he fled into the land of the Philistines, and consequently into a dark period of his life. This is what happens when we take our eyes off the Lord.“And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. (1st Samuel 27:1)You can read the rest of chapter 27 to discover the trouble that David got himself into.

FIGHTING GIANTS#7

In 1st Samuel 17 v 20 we read that David left his sheep.

“And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him……..”

In verse 22 he left his carriage (or the stuff he had with him).

“And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage….”

And in verse 39 he left  behind Saul’s armour.

“And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.”

Battling with giants will require us to be as focussed as David was. It may require us to leave some things behind.

David was eager in all he did. In verse 22, he RAN to the army.  

“And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.”

In verse 48 he RAN towards Goliath.

“And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.”

David was a man with a CAUSE. In verse 29 we read,

“And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause ? “

There IS a CAUSE today – lost souls !

Souls are crying, men are dying,
Won’t you lead them to the Cross ?
Go and find them, seek to win them,
Win the lost, at any cost !     

FIGHTING GIANTS#6

Saul tried to convince David that he could not fight Goliath.

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. (1 Samuel 17:33)

David`s own brother sought to discourage him also.

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
(1 Samuel 17:28)

If God has given you a work to do, then don’t let others discourage you by saying that it can’t be done or that you are the wrong person for the job.

David replied by recalling how God had enabled him to kill a lion and a bear.

Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. (1 Samuel 17:36)

When we REMEMBER God’s goodness to us it should encourage us.

That’s why Israel was gripped by fear of Goliath, because they seemed to FORGET God’s  deliverances in the past.

And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. (1 Samuel 17:24)

REMEMBER…..RECALL…REVIEW…..and RENEW your strength, through God.

FIGHTING GIANTS#5

From the point of view of the flesh, Saul was the best candidate to fight Goliath. He was the tallest man in Israel.

“…….from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.”  (1st Samuel 9:2)

He was also, of course, their king, their leader.

Notice what happens when we try to work things out using the  flesh. We produce a Saul ! But God had someone else in mind. A youth, a shepherd boy !

Aren`t you glad God uses the weak to confound the mighty ? That means He can use you and me !

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

 That no flesh should glory in His Presence.

(1st Corinthians 1:27-29)

FIGHTING GIANTS#4

PHILISTINES – some say  the word means INVADERS. Israel seemed to be constantly at war with them.

We, as Christians, are in a constant war against the powers of darkness - against these INVADERS of our minds and spiritual lives.

Ephesians 6v 12

 ”For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Out of the midst of the Philistines came a giant. Often in the midst of life`s battles a giant also emerges, raging against us and threatening us.

But God had a plan of escape for Israel – his name was David.
And God always has a way of escape for us. His Name is Jesus !

1st Corinthians 10 v 13

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

FIGHTING GIANTS#3

In the previous devotional, we read 1st Samuel 17 v 16, which told us that Goliath taunted Israel morning and evening. It also tells us that he did it for 40 days.

40 is  the number of testing. Jesus was tested 40 days in the wilderness, and Moses 40 years.

God could have sent David to defeat Goliath on DAY ONE ! But He didn`t !   If God doesn`t answer our prayers (concerning the giants we face), on day one, we let panic set in.

But God is in control ! He knew the exact day of the giant`s defeat, and in between, His purposes were being acted out.

Don`t panic !

1st Samuel 17 v 16

“And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.”

FIGHTING GIANTS#2

1st Samuel 17 v 16 says that Goliath taunted the Israelites MORNING AND EVENING - why ? 

This was when Israel went to prayer.

The devil will try to destroy your prayer-time. He will taunt you and tell you there is no use to pray, that you are  going to be defeated, that God doesn`t hear your prayers.

But….”In the Name of  JESUS we have the VICTORY !
In the Name of JESUS , satan has to flee ! “

1st Samuel 17 v 16
“And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.”

FIGHTING GIANTS #1

David refused Saul`s armour, and instead used a sling at which he was skilled.

Don`t rely on, or covet after, other`s skills or gifts.

Allow God to use the gifts with which He has blessed YOU, and go in faith, and in His strength to fight your giants.

1st SAMUEL  17

38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.