Recourse Against Giants

And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:32 ESV

I’ve been meditating on 1 Samuel 17 lately. This chapter gives the account of David and Goliath. The Lord put these scriptures on my heart about a week ago as I was processing a lot of emotions regarding a friend of mine who is going through a tough situation. It’s difficult to watch those who are close to you go through tough times. In an effort to avoid feeling those painful emotions, I have a tendency to slap a scripture on it like a band-aid and pretend that I feel better, even though I don’t.

Thankfully, reading through 1 Samuel 17 didn’t deal with my pain on surface level. The difference is

that I was seeking to deal with my feelings rather than try to cover them up. As I sought the Lord for comfort and healing in my pain rather than deal with it myself, He provided the right words and message that reminded me of His power, provision, and help.

Verse 16 particularly stood out to me in this reading. “For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.” I don’t know how many times I’ve read David and Goliath, but this is the first time I noticed that Goliath challenged Israel for 40 days before David showed up.

If you’re familiar with biblical numerology, the number 40 is associated with testing. The flood in Genesis came about over 40 days and nights, Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and Jesus was tempted by Satan after a 40 day fast. I’m about to turn 40, so that may have something to do with it as well. In any case, as I reflected on the fact that the Israelite army sat paralyzed while Goliath taunted them for over a month, I could relate to their paralysis as I sat letting my emotions defy me. I had been feeling them for too long and the situation seemed entirely too big for victory to be possible.

But just as all hope seems lost for Israel, a champion arrives. David comes on the scene and is ready to fight, knowing that Israel belongs to the Lord and that the battle belongs to Him (v. 47). Our enemy can show up in many ways but as David observed, the Lord who delivers the bear and the lion into your hand can deliver the giant into your hand also (v. 37). As I addressed my pain head on with the Lord of hosts as my Deliverer, I was able to put my emotions in the proper perspective and trust that God was going to be victorious in my friend’s situation.

Life can make us feel like we have no recourse against giants. God’s word tells us differently. We can confidently look to the scriptures to hear from the Lord of hosts who is ready to go to battle for us as we call on Him.

Originally written for Gospel Community Church Rivermont 7/18/19