April 14
1 Samuel 17:32-19:17; Psalm (Ps) 59; 1 Samuel 19:18-24
When we read through Scripture, there are those sections which are extremely familiar, such as today's story of David and Goliath. But we should not let familiarity diminish the power behind the story. We read in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Make no mistake this battle was less about a young man and a giant and more about our God against the demonic gods. Also, we may never fight against an actual giant, but we face giants daily. These personal giants might be an illness, an interpersonal issue, unemployment, an addiction, etc. We make the mistake of facing these giants in our own strength, instead of like David, seeing God, and fighting these giants in God's strength.
The setting for the story is seen in 1 Samuel 17:10-11, "And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid." Everyone in the army of Israel only saw the giant. Now comes David, who hears the threats and responds in 17:32, "Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” King Saul just cannot see the true battle, as we read in 17:33, "And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” After telling Saul the reason for his confidence, David lets all assembled hear, as we read in 17:45-47, " Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. 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 the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” These were not mere words, as we see David the aggressor in 17:48, "So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine."
The giant lost the battle, because he only saw David, the man. Likewise the Jewish leaders lost their battle because they only saw Jesus as the rogue, uneducated street preacher that they labeled Him as. They just couldn't see that He was indeed, God. We read in John 8:24, " Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Most don't realize that the English Bible adds the word "He". It should read "if you do not believe that "I AM" , you will die in your sins. "I AM", the personal name of God. Goliath's fate was wrapped up in missing "I AM". The Jewish leaders fate was wrapped up in missing "I AM". So does ours. Our ability to face our giants, and more importantly our eternity, is wrapped up in placing our hope, and our confidence in Jesus Christ, "I AM".
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: