Leslie M. John
David and Goliath
“And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he despised him: for he
was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said
unto David, Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks? And the Philistine
cursed David by his gods. (1 Samuel” 17:42-43)
Philistine warrior Goliath depended on his height, might, and strength, while
David depended on the mightiest of mighty. "Is there any one to challenge me?"
shouted the Philistine giant, Goliath, for forty days at the children of God,
the Israelites. None of the children of Jesse or any one of the Israelites in
the camp dared to go out and face the nine feet tall giant, who wore protective
dress weighing 150 shekels. Goliath boasted and hurled insults at God’s children
saying, I am a Philistine, and you are servants to Saul.
“Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a
spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD
deliver you into my hand; and I will strike you, and take your head from you;
and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the
fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may
know that there is a God in Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:45, 46)
Look at the faith and confidence the child of God had. He had his hope in the
everlasting God; the mightiest of all; the Lord of hosts. Goliath arose, went to
meet David in the battlefield, and drew close, like a stalking mountain,
overlaid with brass and iron. David advanced with greater strength in God and
cheerfulness, as one that aimed more to execute God’s command rather than to
make a figure of himself. David, who was lightly clad hasted, and ran to meet
the Philistine. Before honor is humility.
“And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the
brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a pouch; and his
sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine”. (1 Samuel 17:40)
David put one of the five pebbles in the sling and hurled at Goliath. There it
was! The pebble struck straight at Goliath's forehead and in the twinkling of an
eye, it fetched him to the ground. Goliath fell with his face down on the
ground.
See how frail and uncertain the life is. Even when we think it is best fortified
how quickly, how easily, and with how small a matter, there would be a passage
that opens the door for life to exit and death to enter. Pride goes before fall
while before honor is humility. Did David need his own sword to kill his enemy?
No! His enemy’s sword served his purpose. God is greatly glorified when his
proud enemies are cut off with their own sword and he makes their own tongues to
fall upon them David rushed forward pulled out the sword of Goliath and killed
him. David used Goliath's own weapon to kill him. God was with David. Goliath's
strength and power were of no avail before God's strength and power.
The same God, the living Lord, who has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into this
world for the remission of your sins and mine, calls you now, as "my
son/daughter, Depend on me. I am your Savior. I want to be your rock of refuge
and bless you."
Let not the strong man glory in his strength.