Some material taken from Underdogs to Overcomers - Sam Nobles David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47
Many good-hearted people have preconceived ideas about how other Christians should fight their battles, but David did what I think we all should do – trust God at His Word. You don’t have to be like anyone else in the heat of battle, you just need to be who God wants you to be. Saul also tried to get David to wear his armor, but David couldn’t do it. He didn’t need Saul’s armor or anyone’s good advice. He needed to trust God and do what he knew how to do, what God had prepared him to do.
David knew how to fight a giant. In the field he had killed lions and bears with his bare hands. He knew how to use a slingshot and well enough to hit Goliath in the right spot. It sounded like a pretty slim chance for victory but David was in for the Lord’s glory and he knew the battle belonged to the Lord. …and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.
It is always good to have friends on our side. Support and prayers in our battles are essential to survival. But no one can fight our battles for us except the Lord. Everthing in our lives should be for His glory and that means the battles too. The victories are for His glory as well as the defeats. He is glorified above all, above all strategy, weapons, or armor.
They made fun of David for his size and lack of war experience, but that didn’t stop him. He marched out to meet Goliath with the same trust that delivered the lion and the bear into his hands.
He knew where he stood. He knew God was with him. All that he had was a little slingshot and five smooth stones from the brook. Instead of being afraid of the giant coming at him, David quickly ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
Think of the Philistines on the hill that day after seeing Goliath fall when David and told them that it was going to happen in the name of the Lord. He said that they would all know that it is not by the sword or spear that the Lord saves. They saw with their own eyes that David had no sword or spear. It was only the power of the Lord that won that battle through David. The Lord got all the glory.
Can those around you see the glory of the Lord in the battles of your life? Can they see the glory of God in the victories? In the defeats? Yes, God can be glorified in the battles we lose. How do we handle the defeat? Do we let our faith wane because of a lost battle? I am not sure which would be a greater testimony, a victory that glorifies God or a loss that glorifies God? Glorifying God in the losses is certainly harder and He wants others to see Him glorified in our life in all things. Whatever you are battling, whatever giant is calling to you, taunting you, give the battle to the Lord. It is in His power that the giants of our lives are defeated and He is glorified.
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. Exodus 14:14
