Christian Living

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Faith conquers fear

The cast

The Israelites
The Philistines
The narrator
Saul
David
Goliath

The conflict

It was then, and it is still the same today, the intention of the enemy to enslave again those whom the Lord has set free. To achieve this end, the Philistines had a warrior and a champion called “Goliath” who may have been descended from the people of Anakim.

Every morning and evening for forty days without fail, Goliath appeared before the Israelite army and each time they assembled in their organised lines and clearly sounded their battle cry, they ended their labours by running away from the presence of the giant.

Now, Saul “ … was a head taller than anyone else” [1 Sam.9.2], and he would have been, if he had been obedient to the Lord’s command, the ideal man to face Goliath. However, Saul’s deliberate disobedience and erratic behaviour regarding the Amalekite king cost him the Lord’s anointing.

Consequently, faith and trust in God and His word were not his strongest points. Every time Goliath challenged them, “ … Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed [they broke down in pieces and were] terrified.” [17.11].

“In the moment of danger,” said Walter Brueggemann, “Israel is inordinately and inappropriately intimidated by the giant … [consequently] … Israel’s intimidation results in its immobilisation.” 1

Yesterday’s anointing will not be adequate for today’s conflict. This was a new battle and every new fight needs a word in season and a fresh revelation of His power.

David saw and understood that Goliath was defying the [unseen spiritual] armies of the living God [17.26]. Saul and the rest of the Israelites saw only a man and they subsequently responded after the flesh by running away.

The clash

As severe and as long as the spiritual conflict is in which we are involved, we need to grasp by faith that God knows the weaknesses of the enemy, regardless of how invincible he looks to the human eye.

For example, “ … It is possible that Goliath suffered from a genetic defect causing gigantism … the references to other such giants in [2 Samuel 21.15-21], which mentions further genetic problems, may mean that there was a significant problem in Gath. That Goliath’s forehead was penetrated so easily may further indicate a bone deficiency causing the malformation.” 2

Why did David take five stones? Was it because Goliath had some more brothers? Not necessarily. David was prepared, just in case the first stone missed its mark.

David acted in faith and did what he knew best and God who had taught and trained his hands for battle, guided the stone to its most effective destination [Psalm 18.34].

In the interim period, Saul tried to get David to go and face the giant, wearing his armour, and David said, “I cannot go in these” [1 Sam. 17.39]. Why not? There is a deep spiritual meaning here.

“Wearing another person’s clothes is sometimes a sign of acting on that person’s behalf or with the person’s power [2 Kings 2]. David’s refusal to wear Saul’s armour could then be a symbolic affirmation that he needed God’s power, not Saul’s. David enters the field not as a soldier but as a young shepherd.” 3

The conquest

One day Jesse decided to send David on a journey and to take with him some food for the Commander of the army and he hoped to receive a good report on how Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah were faring in the midst of the conflict.

It was early in the morning when David set out on his 15-mile trek and as soon as he arrived, the Israelites were assembling in battle array for a war which would never take place. For as soon as Goliath appeared, they vanished.

Eliab, his oldest brother, endeavoured to deter him from asking too many questions, however, David heard twice more about the reward and for his persistence and continual words of faith, he was eventually brought before Saul [17.31-36]

Why did Saul not recognise David as the musician in his court? It is possible that the events of chapter 17 may have occurred before those of chapter 16.

This might also explain why neither Jesse or Eliab mentioned the anointing when talking to David. It is interesting to note also that the Narrator omits to mention either Abner or Jonathan. He wanted to bring David to the attention of the people.

17.20 “Battle positions.” “The term for ‘positions’ seems to indicate not the battle lines but a camp surrounded by a rough rampart or possible the area occupied by the supply wagons.” 4

God’s people, who had been specifically redeemed from the enemy and called to conflict, after fleeing from Goliath, they gathered, not for prayer and fasting, but to feed and to take care of the natural man. Their priorities were misplaced. Self-indulgence took precedence over self-denial.

It is all too possible in the Christian life to believe and say that we are fully involved in a spiritual war, when, in effect, we are playing at being soldiers.

A long time ago, C. T. Studd, the great missionary pioneer and cricketer, wrote a book entitled “Chocolate Soldiers.” That description would sum up the majority of modern-day Christians who talk and act, like David’s brothers, as though they were fighting the giant day-by-day, when, in reality, they are having tea and cake meetings.

Are we winning the major and the minor battles which so often ensnare the feet of the believer and hinder our walk with God or are we relying on yesterday’s words and experiences for today’s battles?

If so, like Israel’s army, we will have all the right words, actions and the same spiritually demoralising end.

To change this end, which we desperately want to avoid at all costs, we need to have a grasp of the bigger picture. It is too easy to under-estimate the importance of the fight which we are in.

These words of insight from Peter Ackroyd give us the true perspective of what God actually wanted to do at that time and maybe also in our midst.

17.47 “All those gathered here.” “This is the technical term for the religious assembly of Israel rather than the army – but it is also for all the world. So Ezekiel sees the significance of God’s saving action; it will make His nature plain to the nations that witness it [Ezekiel 39.23].” 5

The conclusion

What actually activated David to act differently from the rest of the Israelites? Two points. Faith. He was the first one, among the multitude, to make mention of the name of the Lord [17.26] and the possibility of inheriting the promised reward with all the additional benefits greatly appealed to him [17.25-27].

Surely, if anything should permanently re-ignite our passion and dedication, it is the incentive that God has set aside a potential reward for the one who overcomes.

It is interesting to note that as well as all the personal benefits, David’s relatives also reaped permanent good from what he had done.

“The living God.” “The narrative has been arranged so that the weighty theological affirmation is placed in the mouth of David alone.” 6

By using this expression, “The living God”, David was stating that what God had done in the past, He would do again in his day and He did!

Jerusalem was not free at that time. The Narrator may have added a word of elucidation and explanation regarding what David did at a later date. [David McArdle]

Footnotes

1 Walter Brueggemann. Pages 127-128
2 Mary J Evans. Page 85
3 Mary J Evans. Page 84
4 Peter R. Ackroyd. Page 141
5 Peter R. Ackroyd. Page 145
6 Walter Brueggemann. Pages 128-129

Bibliography

Mary J Evans, 1 and 2 Samuel. New International Biblical commentary. Hendrikson Publishers. 2000, page 84

John Mauchline. 1 and 2 Samuel. Oliphants. 1971

D. F. Payne. Samuel. The Daily Study Bible. The Saint Andrew Press. 1982

Joyce G. Baldwin. 1 and 2 Samuel. Inter Varsity Press. 1992

Walter Brueggemann. 1 and 2 Samuel. Interpretation. John Knox Press. 1990

Henry Preserved Smith. 1 and 2 Samuel. T and T Clark. 1912

The first book of Samuel. The Cambridge Bible Commentary. Peter R. Ackroyd. 1971

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