The Battle Is The Lord's

For the most part, every one of us have heard the story of David and Goliath many times. We know the story how David used a sling to propel a rock which struck Goliath in the one spot on his body that wasn’t covered by armour.

When I grew up in Northeast Alabama a sling shot was considered a necessary part of a boy’s equipment: we all carried one in a hip pocket. This was perhaps different from the type used by David. Mine was made from a tree limb and two pieces of rubber, cut from an automobile inner tube, and a tongue from an old shoe. With a little practice one could become quite accurate. Rocks found in the creek were ideal for shooting, but the favorite was steel balls from bearings which the local mill would discard from time to time.

Some commentators have suggested that David must have practiced with his sling shot many hours as he spent time with his sheep. We know from his statement that he had killed a bear and a lion, whether with his sling or rod we’re not sure, but since he made the statement to King Saul in relation to killing the giant, it could have been the sling shot he used to kill the bear and the lion.

David was no stranger to King Saul. In Chapter 16 of 1 Samuel when the Spirit of the Lord left Saul an evil spirit troubled him: that is still our problem today. It has been said that the most miserable person on earth is one out of the will of God. Not only is he or she miserable and unhappy, they tend to make everyone around them miserable. But, in Saul’s case his servants tried to find a cure through music. They suggested he find a player of the harp, and David was chosen and whenever Saul was troubled David would play the harp and Saul was “refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him” (1 Samuel 16:23).

In today’s society many have left the faith as Paul wrote in1Timothy 4:1, and “given heed, to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

A June 1997 article in U.S. News and World Report described a Virginia pastor who "Would rather preach on 'Bosnia, justice, or world peace' than on Bible stories or personal salvation." This is an example of a man who departed from the faith and followed his own direction.

Paul says this would be happening during the last times. Perhaps that is the reason we see so many today with ear pods listening to music on their phones, or the car beside you at the traffic light and the radio so loud they couldn’t hear an emergency siren.

When David arrived at the battle grounds he observed the two armies facing each other, shouting threats and insults just as they had been doing for forty days. During this display the champion of the Philistines would come out and challenge one of the Israelites to come fight with him. This was a giant of a man perhaps nine feet tall wearing armour that weighed between 100 and 300 pounds. His voice roared across the valley as he shouted threats intended to scare the Israelites, which it did. In 1 Peter 5:8 we read that the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking who he may destroy. If the lion wishes to capture an animal for prey, he doesn’t go about roaring; he silently sneaks upon them, as Psalms 91:3 says “The fowler is always quiet and secretive, never wanting to reveal his presence.”

The devil knows that if he can frighten us the battle is won. We’re too frightened to even try.

It might have been King Saul that Goliath was trying to intimidate. Remember when he was selected as King 1 Samuel 9:2 says he was head and shoulders taller than other Israelite men. Then in 1 Samuel 14:52 we read that Saul was a fierce and successful leader, but that was before the Spirit of the Lord left him.

It is terrible to see men today who were, earlier in their ministry, great warriors for God. But submitting to the demonic spirits they have lost their first love, and the Spirit is no longer leading. Clark on his commentary of 2 Timothy 4:3 says: "Endless curiosity, an insatiable desire of variety; and they get their ears tickled with the language and accent of the person, abandoning the good and faithful preacher for the fine speaker."

David was at the battlefield because his father, Jesse, had sent him to take cheese sandwiches to his three brothers; find out how they were doing, and report back with that information. This teenage boy never realized what would transpire when he left his home and flock of sheep. The Bible says he hired a shepherd to care for his sheep until he returned. Our Shepherd, Jesus Christ described Himself as a good shepherd, John 10:11. Earlier He described Himself as the door for the sheep, but notice how he describes those who are not concerned about the safety and welfare of the sheep.