1 Samuel 17:38-51 Being Confident In Your Original Design

1 Samuel 17:38-51

38 Then Saul gave David his own armor- a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. 41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy- faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

45 David replied to the Philistine, “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. 46 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! 47 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!“

48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.

Background

David, having tested Saul’s personal battle gear, rejected it in preference for his trusty old sling. The battle between David and Goliath was uneventful as much as it was ludicrous; the battle was over in a second, the champion conquered by the least esteemed. From today’s passage, we learn never to imitate the patterns and established methods of the world, but to be confident in your uniqueness and original design. For hidden therein is your optimum route to victory.

Observation

I can’t go in these, … I’m not used to them – Going into battle without armor and sword is insane, and so they thought. However, David was highly skilled and could sling a stone at a hair, and not miss. He was so accustomed to the sling that he would prefer not to don even the most impenetrable armor and the sharpest sword. David was not about to adopt another device even though it may be the defecto standard.

You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies – As David walked across the valley to face his opponent, Goliath again unleashed his taunt and intimidation: Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals! None of Goliath’s words unnerved him; for David, none of Goliath’s weaponry was relevant for this battle. David was 100% confidence of victory for he could feel the presence of the heavenly armies around him. Notice David’s primary motivation is to make apparent the glory and the righteousness of God: and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! It is just wrong for the agents of the devil to be given airtime to taunt God and His people. And injustice must be resolved through victory.

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! – David is careful to make known to the people that this battle is God’s idea. And He will demonstrate His faithfulness by recuing His people: And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, and that He is personally involved in the battle and will ensure His victory: This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us! Here, David revealed the secret that gave him many victories in the wilderness.

The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground – David’s stone swiftly found its mark and Goliath was prostrated, for there will be no exceptions. For added effect, Goliath was decapitated with his own sword, conquered by one who is least esteemed among men.

Truth

1. You do not need to follow the defacto patterns of the world, for your path to victory is hidden in your original design. David did not put on Saul’s battle gear but stuck with what has been working for him. David did not try to be one that he is not. People have a tendency to follow popular programs and methodologies without understanding if that is really suitable for them. Hence, many did not walk in the path of their original design (of how God has designed them to be); they did not want to create content and processes that are more relevant to their local context and culture. As a result, they could not fulfill the unique role and the potential that God has predestined for them.
2. You must make it a habit to involve God in your daily battles. Hence, we must never think that we are fighting alone, for the heavenly armies are fighting with us. Many people could not accept this because they have been fighting alone for so long. They were perpetually worried about their finances, their health, and the cares of life become overwhelming. The reason why Jesus came is so that He could fight alongside with us in our battles. Hence, Jesus is called “Immanuel – God with us”, and the Holy Spirit is our ever-present Helper. David exclaimed: This is the LORD’s battle! God’s endorsement of His battles will assure us of our victory: and He will give you to us! We involve God in our battles by sharing and conversing with Him through prayer and by sending the angels out to fight for us. And the peace and the gentle presence of the Spirit will be God’s intimate involvement in our lives.
3. We are called to fight God’s battles in rescuing souls from condemnation. Our conversion to Christ is the result of those who have given their lives to fight for our freedom in Christ. Having so freely received the fruits of their labor, we must now pay it forward to fight for the freedom of those who are still trapped in sin and death. David shouted: And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people. God will rescue the people whom He has redeemed through His own Son; and God will rescue them through His warriors. If we join in the fight in God’s battle to establish His kingdom, He will provide for us everything that we need (see Matthew 6:33).
4. Courage and confidence can only be gathered by walking in the Spirit on a daily basis. David’s confidence did not come from Saul’s battle equipment, or his battle training and tactics, or by the approval of others, but by the Spirit. The practice of walking in the Spirit is not about being emotionally uplifted all the time, or is it an intellectual understanding of the truth alone, but a daily discipline of doing God’s will and fighting His battles. It is here that our battles become God’s, where we bring His values system into our world and to destroy the works of the devil.

Application

1. Do you often search for best practices and methodologies rather than having the confidence to create something that works for you? It is worth investing time and effort to create something that is truly your own and see how it performs.
2. Do you often think of yourself as a lost soul, drifting randomly under the whims of others? Perhaps it is time to involve God in your battles and never to fight alone.

Dear Lord, I understand that you have made me unique with a special purpose, endowed with gifts that others would desire to possess. Cause my gifts to surface so that I could serve you in greater effectiveness. I ask that you fight my battles with me and give me confidence as I walk in the Spirit and do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.