(1 Samuel 17:41-47)
This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 44 of the series and Part 16 of the life of David.
Today we go back to the same portion of the story we covered yesterday. Once again, picture the scene. Both armies on in formation on adjacent mountain tops. A giants walks down into the valley from the Philistine side. He is over 9ft. Tall. His armor weighs 125 lbs. The head on the javelin he is carrying weighs 15 lbs. His shield is so big that another man is carrying it for him. This man is clearly ready for battle. On the other side a teenager walks down into the valley. He is clearly not a giant and he is not dressed like a Soldier. He is more dressed like he is ready for chores than for battle. He has a shepherd’s staff, a slingshot, and five smooth stones. That’s it.
Now begins the war of words. The giant says, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with a stick?” And he then began to curse David by the names of his gods. David was unphased. So Goliath said, “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” David replied, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” For David this spiritual. He was representing the natural, but he knew God’s hand was also on him supernaturally. So David said, “Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” We will stop here for today.
So what does this mean to you today? A will share a few thoughts around the theme: God wants maximum glory out of every situation.
- God could have selected a seasoned warrior. He could have sent out His man with full armor and a sharp sword. He could have made someone as big as Goliath for Saul’s army, but what would be the fun in that? God specializes in man’s impossibilities. God does the uncommon and He does it in unconventional ways. He does this so it is clear that He was the one behind it, so no human can get His glory!
- We serve a God who specializes in making holy garments from flawed material. He does this to reveal His unmatched power through average men, so He can be seen in the earth.
- God will send you into a situation that far exceeds your power, ability and strength. He does this to force you to rely on HIM. At that point you know you can’t do it, so you don’t even try. You rely on God completely. When you do, He flows through you to accomplish what you could have never accomplished on your own.
- The very first commandment in the 10 Commandments is, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex 20:3). Our God reserves the place of “God” all for Himself. Our God is a jealous God (Ex 34:14), and He does not want us giving any of the glory that belongs to Him to any other god or to any other person. So when you have a situation that is SO bad that you don’t see a way out, it is a perfect situation for God. When God manifests His power in a situation that is so bad, so ridiculous, and so humanly impossible that no one expects victory, then He gets all the glory and that is what He is looking for.
- David saw this as a situation where God could be glorified. He said, “Today the Lord will conquer you… and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!” David’s focus was on God. His desire was for God to get the glory. That is why he was able to kill the giant with a slingshot and a stone.
- When your desire is to give God glory, there is nothing He will not do in, with or through you.
- No matter how bad your situation may seem this morning, it is not too bad for God. He can make the world’s impossibilities a reality for you. He does this so He can be glorified in and through your life. Are you willing to believe God, even when you are facing your giant?
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I expect You to be glorified through my life and living. You send me into impossible situations, just so You can flex Your muscles and manifest Your power. You make the impossible possible for me. You put Your super on my natural daily. You empower me to do what I could never do without You. You do this so You can be seen, acknowledged, respected, and reverenced in the earth. You manifest Your power through me so You can be glorified on this planet. Nothing is impossible for me. No giant is too big. No problem is too hard. There is nothing You cannot do, and You live IN ME. Therefore, there is nothing I cannot do. All things are possible for me, because I am a believer and not a doubter. I walk by faith and not by fear. I am the head and not the tail, above only and never beneath, the winner and not the loser, the victory and never the victim. All of this is true BECAUSE OF YOU! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
