(1 Samuel 17:1-11)
This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 37 of the series and Part 9 of the life of David.
Today we cross over into 1 Samuel chapter 17. In this chapter David’s story shift’s it focus to Saul. The spirit of the Lord was no longer on Saul. He no longer had the grace for national leadership. Saul was basically fired by God and he did not even know it. It was during this time, when God’s favor had left Saul, that the Philistines mustered their army for battle against Israel. The Philistine army camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. Saul countered by gathering his Israelite army near the valley of Elah. So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them. This is just like a scene from a movie.
Once the scene was set, a Philistine champion from Gath, named Goliath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. This man was a beast. He towered over most men. Goliath was over 9ft. tall. He wore armor that weighed 125 pounds, he carried a javelin with a 15lb. spearhead, and his shield was so big that another man (his armor bearer) had to walk with him to carry it. Goliath stood in the valley and taunted the Israelites, saying, “Why are you all coming out to fight? I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. CHOOSE ONE MAN to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then WE will be your slaves. But if I kill him, YOU will be our slaves! I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” When Saul and the Israelites heard this, instead of having confidence in the God, the same God who had already seen them through countless battles, the Bible says, “They were terrified and deeply shaken.”
There was a time when Saul operated in faith, but this is clearly a case when he operating in fear. I have lots of teaching on fear on my website and we, as believers, should resist fear at all costs. Fear is an incapacitating force that can stop the strongest person in their tracks. Faith is an expression of your confidence in God and His promises. Fear is the opposite. Fear is an expression of your confidence in satan and his threats.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
- Satan will attempt to get you to play by his rules. No one said the Israelites had to accept Goliath’s one-on-one winner-takes-all rule, but Saul foolishly accepted what the enemy established. Don’t make the same mistake. You don’t have to accept what satan is saying. You don’t have to see things from his perspective. Satan will always frame the problem worse than what it actually is. Reject his characterization and choose to see things from God’s perspective.
- You cannot be in-fear and in-faith at the same time. I have made this point countless times over the years. Once Saul and his Soldiers were in-fear, they had NO confidence (or faith) in God. Don’t ever allow fear into your heart. Fear is an expression of confidence that something bad is going to happen. If you allow fear into your heart, and you are confident the worse will happen, your heart is no longer in faith. All your confidence in God is gone.
- We have a real enemy who uses fear as his tool. Just like God is real, satan is real, and fear is his greatest tool. If satan can get you to fear, he can get you to stop acting like God’s representative in the earth. This is why you must resist fear at all costs. John taught us how to resist fear in 1 John 4:18. He told us that “there is NO FEAR in love,” and that “perfect love casts out all fear.” When you meditate and medicate on God’s love, and you are convinced that God loves you unconditionally, you will quickly realize that you have nothing to fear.
- Our Enemy uses images. Goliath’s sheer size struck fear in the Israelites. He was just a man. He was clearly not invincible. But he LOOKED invincible and the enemy used his image to strike fear in the Israelites. The enemy will attempt to make your situation seem worse than what it actually is. Because if you develop an image of failure, seeing yourself defeated, then you beat yourself before you ever get started.
- God is bigger than any enemy. Paul asked the question, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31). The answer is: anyone who wants to lose! Goliath, as big and bad as he thought he was, wound up dead and decapitated. This is the fate of those who come up against God’s children. You must have more confidence (faith) in God’s ability than confidence (fear) in your enemy’s ability.
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I expect You to do ALL You said You would do in my life. I expect You to be with me every step of the way. Your presence brings me peace. Your presence and Your love give me confidence. I am so convinced that You are ON me, IN me, WITH me, and FOR me, that I will not allow fear to get a hold of my heart. Fear is not a factor for me. I overcome fear, because I am rooted and grounded in Your love for me. Perfected love casts out all fear. I declare: NO FEAR HERE! Fear has no power over me. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
