LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF KING DAVID (PART 7).
TEXTS:
"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." (1st Samuel 17 verse 4).
"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." (1st Samuel 17 verse 36).
Two times in the Holy Scriptures did David refer to Goliath of Gath as an "uncircumcised Philippine" (1st Samuel 17 verses 26 and 36). It's generally believed that David was 18 to 19 years old when he had his encounter with Goliath of Gath. Certainly, he was a very young man, going by his age.
Each time Goliath showed up to challenge Israel to battle, everyone else, including king Saul and the seasoned men of war in the Israeli camp were intimidated and full of fear because of the enormous size of Goliath.
The question is, what made this little boy called David to be that courageous to step out to do battle with this giant of a man named Goliath, given the enormity of his size, the numerous discouraging remarks from Eliab his eldest brother, king Saul and the fact that David had no military training to rely on?
The simple answer is that David had a heart that was sensitive to God and the things of God. You will recollect that he was a man created after God's Heart (1st Samuel 13 verse 14, Acts 13 verse 22). The truth is that anyone who has his heart fixed on the Lord will undoubtedly be fearless in the affairs of life. While the entirety of Israel, together with their king, were focusing on Goliath's outward appearance, David, on the other hand, saw things differently. He knew who he was in the Lord, firstly as one who was in a covenant relationship with God and also that he was the anointed of God. Any wonder he called Goliath an "uncircumcised Philippine"? In his eyes, Goliath, despite his size and military experience, didn't stand a chance.
While David focused on these two factors, amongst others in the battle with Goliath, Israel and their king, Saul had completely forgotten that they were in a covenant relationship with the Lord and that the entire nation was anointed of the Lord (see Genesis 15 verse 8, 17 verse 7; 1st Chronicles 16 verse 22, Psalms 105 verse 15). This was a costly mistake on the part of Israel, but thank God for David who could remember his rights and privileges in the Lord.
Unfortunately, this is the same problem with most Christians today. The Amplified Classic Version of the Bible says in 1st Corinthians 15 verse 57 as follows:
“But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (see also 2nd Corinthians 2 verse 14). Victory is our abiding and enduring lot in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!
Unfortunately, in the midst of trouble, and as we battle with life's giants, we forget who we are and Whose we are in Christ. This marks the difference between those that are victorious in life as against those that are defeated in life, though they are both in Christ.
Learn to know who you are and Whose you are in Christ. Like David, the knowledge of this will make you victorious at all times, no matter what obstacle, in Jesus name.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to know what you have made me in Christ and that by reason of being in Him, I'm not ordinary, but ever victorious, in Jesus name.