For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.”
1 Samuel 17:16 NIV
One of the many lessons highlighted in the story of David and Goliath is this: The enemy is relentless! Just like Goliath taunted the army of Israel every morning and every evening, Satan, the enemy of our souls, never stops coming against us! He sends “giants,” our way to taunt us, to battle against us, and to make a mockery of us and the God we serve. Perhaps there’s a situation in your life right now, a “Goliath” of your own, that just keeps coming against you day after day, dragging you down. If so, know this, the enemy is not going to just one day move on. He’s going to take his stand against you every morning and every evening! He’s not going to leave you alone until you stand up to, and defeat, the giant in your life!
Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear. 1 Samuel 17:24 NIV
No one In Israel’s army had the courage to fight Goliath. He was just too strong and their fear was just too great. Though he made a mockery of God and and a mockery of His people, it was easier to let him have his way then to risk everything and march out against him.
That’s the way it is with a giant. Sometimes it’s easier to learn to live with it, to accept the daily taunting than to challenge it. The alternative seems too hard and requires strength we just don’t believe we have. We don’t want to face the giant head on. It’s just too big, and we have too much to lose.
Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 1 Samuel 17:8-10 NIV
Goliath didn’t want to fight against the whole army, he wanted to isolate one man and force him to battle alone. Satan understands there is power in the community of believers. He knows we are all stronger when we fight together than any one of us is when we battle alone. Has the Goliath in your life tried to isolate you? Are you allowing him to do so? Have you bought the enemy’s lie that says you don’t need any help, that you’re doing just fine handling the giant on your own? Have you stopped following godly counsel?
David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26 NIV
David asked the key question. Who is this guy that he should defy the armies of the living God? As a servant of the living God, nothing can stand against you! There is no giant, no stressful situation, no addiction, nothing that you should permit to make a mockery of God in your life. You have the the power to defeat it. Why? Because you have God.
“David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” 1 Samuel 17:32 NIV
“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” 1 Samuel 17:37 NIV
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.
1 Samuel 17:48 NIV
David was confident in God’s ability to rescue him from Goliath! He would not settle in and resign himself to a life of daily taunting by the enemy. He ran quickly toward the battle! How about you? How are you going to handle the Goliaths in your life? Will you accept that they are just part of the Christian experience and cope with the daily taunting, or will you rise up and fight until the giant has been defeated?