This is my favorite story in the Bible. Goliath was killed...
by who?....(David)
who was a... ? (young person)
with a... ? (sling... NO)
Actually - Goliath was killed with his own sword! what made this sword so lethal to its owner? Did it become sharper? longer? heavier? smarter? No! what made it so powerful was the change of hands!
I would like to tell you about... An old sword... In New Hands!
Let’s take a look at Goliath’s armor (1 Sam 17:4-7)
(v 4) first look at Goliath – 6 cubits and a span (between 9.5 and 11.5 feet tall)
(v 5) coat of mail – 5000 shekels of brass (180 lbs – 82 kg)
(v 7) spear – like a weaver’s beam, spearhead weighed 600 shekels of iron (21 lbs – 10 kg)
(v 7) shield – so big another guy had to carry it
You’ll notice that these few verses mention every part of his armor from head to foot. Helmet, greaves of brass upon his legs, etc... Except - one thing is conspicuously missing from this description. The sword was so normal, it went unnoticed! As a matter of fact, nobody pays any attention to the sword at all... until it falls into new hands!
But of all of that impressive armor, I’m sure the sword was what Goliath probably used the most. (Actually, most of his victories were from scaring people to death - but the rest were most likely accomplished with his sword)
Let me draw you attention to a parallel in the Spirit world, where another battle is taking place. In the valley stands the champion of the enemy, Satan himself. To look at him, one would be very impressed!
Of course, we know that his "bark" is worse than his "bite". One day he will be deflated (Isa 14:16) “...they shall look narrowly upon thee...”
Look at Satan’s weapons. They are quite impressive as well... There’s Osama Bin Ladin, Saddam Hussein, many more notorious and infamous people. But one name is conspicuously missing from that list. Mine! and Yours! Yet the most effective weapon he has is millions of “just people”, known only to a few.
Actually, most of His victories are from scaring people to death...
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
But most of the rest of his victories are accomplished with people like you and me! Think of the times you may have impacted others for his cause! Only a word of doubt may wreck some struggling soul’s faith. Peer pressure is the most powerful force in the world. Actually, when you think about it, the great evil people of the world function only because we have created a society where they are accepted, and even exalted!
And so it continued until the Rock came!
David picked up five stones... why? (Because he might miss, of course! Nothing wrong with being prepared!) But only One was necessary! it was annointed! it was divinely directed!
And so things continued for mankind... until the Rock came!
“This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders...” Acts 4:11a
The devil knew about the Rock. Scripture is full of prophecies concerning the Christ (and the devil reads his Bible). But what He didn’t know about was the Sword!
"...which is become the head of the corner.” Acts 4:11b
What he didn’t know that upon that rock would be built a church! (Mat 16:18)
He didn’t know that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs!
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Eph 3:3-6 (KJV)
The plan of God from the beginning... (Gen 3:15)
The seed of the woman – His heel would be bruised
The seed of the serpent – his head would be bruised
What many don’t know is that Christ did not destroy Satan at Calvary – he only inflicted a mortal wound. Notice that He has put all things are under our feet!
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Eph 1:21-23 (KJV)
There is a description of Satan’s ultimate defeat in Rev 12:10-11 There are two key ingredients in his defeat (v 11)
The blood of the lamb
The word of their testimony
They overcame him with a Rock and a Sword!
The Rock came for one purpose... So that God could reach into the darkness of Goliath’s sheath and pull out a sword. So that He could give us a testimony. We were without hope, lost – but now mighty, victorious. Was it because of some great notable thing that you or I did?
No... we’re talking about the same old sword It’s just in new hands!
But God!!!
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:1-10 (KJV)
I love those two words... But God.... The word "but" is a conjunction, that joins two contrasting phrases. That word can completely change the tone. To give you an example. Go home tonight, hug your spouse, and say, "I love you, honey, and...". Let your voice trail off after the "and...". They probably won’t even notice. But go home tonight, hug your spouse, and say, "I love you, honey, but...". But what!?!?!
Verses 1-3 paint a pretty bleak picture for me... I’m getting pretty depressed. But God... But what? Hallelujah - a change is coming! Those words are to me like a glass of cold water at the end of a hot day. Like breathing a breath of fresh air after walking out of a smoke-filled room. But God... I thought it was all over for me - but God.
Many years later - we see another reference to that sword... It’s in 1 Sam 21:9, and it’s wrapped in rags in the tabernacle. It’s been a while since the giant’s head came off... It’s been a while since it gleamed in the sunlight, raised high in victory!.
But - I think I just heard a voice... Could it be? It’s the voice of the one anointed to be king! It’s time for him to take the kingdom - and - he’s looking for something to use! He’s looking for a sword.
And what’s that he says? "Give that one to me - for there is none like it."
At one time - you were hardly noticed. But now - He says there is none like you. Perhaps you have never felt those hands. Perhaps it has been a while... But the Anointed King is here. And he wants to take you out of the darkness that envelopes you - perhaps again - and direct you in his service.
