“Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
I Samuel 17:47 (New King James version)
The story of David and Goliath. For those of us who have attended Sunday school, as kids I’m sure this was one of the most exciting passages especially when it came to picking someone to play the part of Goliath :-) A little background to this … The Philistines had gathered their armies together . The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side and there was a valley between them. Now out came Goliath from the Philistines and he challenged Israel to send someone to face him. And he defied Israel. David on the other hand had brought food for his brothers in the Israel army and he heard what Goliath was saying (he had been doing this for forty days morning and evening !). We read what David said in verse 26 , “Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”” Armies of whom ? the living God !! Can you feel the passion of David ? When David said he would fight Goliath , they got him all decked up in an armor… but David was not comfortable with it as he tried walking . So he took off the armor.
Now we need to understand the reality of the situation , here was Goliath nine feet plus in height and totally guarded with a bronze armor and a spear and all. And there is David… a boy in his youth. No armor… Interesting picture right? Most of us know what happens next. David slings a stone and it hits Goliath on the forehead and he falls face down !! And David climbs on him and kills him with Goliath’s own sword. God works wonders
Here is what I want to turn your attention to this morning. We read in verse 40 , “Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.” We read in verse 49 that David put his hand in his bag and took a stone and he slung it. It took just one stone to kill Goliath . But David had carried five stones !
David knew just one thing : God will give him victory ! He did not know whether it would take one stone or three or five. He just knew he would go prepared with what he had and the only reason why he would win is not because of what he had but because of God !
Verse 37 , “Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, ”Go and the LORD be with you !””
Verse 45, “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
Verse 47,”Then all the assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give you into our hands.”
Some of us decide not to take a step forward just because we do not know how many stones its going take to kill Goliath. We say “No no … I will not do this until I know God’s plan to the very last detail and then only will I do it.” Or we say “How can I overcome this or how can I pray for this or how can I do this if I don’t know how God is going to do it… what if I don’t have the right number of stones…” Oh we worry too much at times !
The battle is the Lord’s and He will give us the victory ! Will you step out in faith for His name ? Go prepared just as you are and trust in Him ! Its His battle ! We just need to go out in faith ! The Lord will deliver , the Lord will overcome , His victory banner will reign on high !
David did his part of getting the stones (yes he did not have an exact idea of what would happen…but he did his preparation) . And God worked His miracle , His wonder and showed the victory that is in His name.
I pray my brothers and sisters in Christ that we step out in faith in His name !
God Bless
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