"Go and the LORD be with you." 1Samuel 17: 37
The army of Israel went to war, but could not fight the
battle. They camped out on a hillside
across the valley from the enemy. They
had no strategy to win. Perhaps they
were waiting for something or someone to reveal a plan that could work. David said “I will do it.” This didn’t seem like the plan, but no one
else had a plan. The blessing of Saul based on a hopeless
situation became reinforcement of David’s determination based on trust and
spiritual awareness.
Saul dressed David in his own fighting attire. David was spiritually attuned enough to know he could not fight in someone else's attire. I don't think Saul's clothing was too big for David necessarily, though Saul was very tall. When Saul says he is only a youth, the indication is David was young and inexperienced not that he was a small child. But David knew how he interacted with his God, and he knew that this victory would depend on him being connected to his God. Saul's attire came between David and what he knew to be true about God.
Saul dressed David in his own fighting attire. David was spiritually attuned enough to know he could not fight in someone else's attire. I don't think Saul's clothing was too big for David necessarily, though Saul was very tall. When Saul says he is only a youth, the indication is David was young and inexperienced not that he was a small child. But David knew how he interacted with his God, and he knew that this victory would depend on him being connected to his God. Saul's attire came between David and what he knew to be true about God.
We should listen and study and discipline
ourselves, but ultimately our victory will come from our relationship to God.
Probably the worst thing we can do is to allow another person to change our
strategy when we know it is true and when it is based in our trust in God.
David was sensitive to God's will. Solitude among the sheep had given David an
inner reliance on God and an understanding of God's ability in dire situations.
He had to proceed in what he knew.
The miracles of God are full of one on one. With a staff in one hand, a sling in the
other and 5 smooth stones taken from the stream and placed in his shepherd's
bag as he advanced, David approached Goliath.
Goliath approached David. One translation says Goliath kept coming toward David. Sometimes we think that as soon as we declare we will stand for God and right that the enemy will stop advancing. We should not be surprised that our enemy continues to loom larger and threaten louder. But we must hold in our mind that the battle is the LORD’s.
Goliath approached David. One translation says Goliath kept coming toward David. Sometimes we think that as soon as we declare we will stand for God and right that the enemy will stop advancing. We should not be surprised that our enemy continues to loom larger and threaten louder. But we must hold in our mind that the battle is the LORD’s.
Though he was much taller, the description
states that he was between 9 and 10 foot in height, Goliath had a shield bearer
going in front of him. I’m thinking
“How tall was that shield bearer?” If he
was a normal sized soldier, then much of Goliath was vulnerable. David just had to aim high.
According to battle protocol, Goliath was doing
it all right and David was doing it all wrong.
Not only was he ‘young’, he wasn’t even dressed for conflict. But David didn’t allow Goliath’s indignation,
accusation, or insults to slow him down or deter his progress. David didn’t consider the threats of Goliath
viable because he knew the battle was God’s battle. God was his armor, shield bearer and the strength of
his throwing arm.
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