1 Samuel 17:1-58: The Battle is the Lord's

1 Samuel 17:31-58: The Battle is the Lord's

This is a very brief version of David versus Goliath, please read the entire story on your own in 1 Samuel 17.  

The Philistines were a large threat to the Israelites, quite literally.  There were giants among them, including their leader Goliath.  A young shepherd named David has decided that he will be the one to defeat Goliath.  He knows it will not be by his power, but God's. 

David was not only fearless but also full of faith.  In verse 46 he acknowledges, "This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee... that all the earth may know that there is a God..."  

David never says it is in his own strength or power that he will defeat the giant.  He is humble before God and gives credit to the true victor of the battle.  And, yes, he does just as he says he will do.  He kills the mighty warrior with only a slingshot and a stone.

We also cannot defeat a single giant on our own.  Be it a sinful addiction, an attitude adjustment, or a physical condition; the only way we can find victory is with the Power of the Holy Trinity giving us help.   

(John 15:4-5) [Jesus said], "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

I am weak, but God is strong, and He will always help when I ask Him to.  I pray I never take credit for any victory but always give God the glory!

(This is a long portion of scripture, but I edited some of it out, but please read the entire thing on your own.)

(1 Samuel 17:1-58) Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle... and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 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 [about 9 feet, 9 inches]. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, "Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us..."

When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

Now David... the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid...

And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, " ..who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?... And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

And Saul said to David, "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

And David said unto Saul... "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... moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. "

And Saul said unto David, "Go, and the Lord be with thee."  And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail...

And David said unto Saul, "I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them." And David put them off him.

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 scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine...

And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained 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 thou comest to me with staves?..."

Then said David to the Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands..."

And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David... And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled...