1 Samuel 17:45-47
Verse 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”
Now that Goliath has talked his smack against David it was David’s turn to put him in his place and the young shepherd wasted no time doing just that.
David’s words show that he wasn’t going into this battle as his own man under his own power. He makes it clear that he sees the giants taunting as not against God’s people but against God Himself. David is not trying to win the battle for the sake of Israel, he wasn’t defending national honor, he was out to right the honor of God’s name. He saw that even among Israel, God’s name wasn’t held in reverence it should be.
David had such faith in God that he knew that the Holy One would bring down this enemy and it would be a deadly show. The boy knew that the giant didn’t stand a chance against the God of heaven. It wasn’t that God couldn’t defend Himself. God could have destroyed this mere man on day one of the taunts if it had pleased Him but that didn’t fit in His overall plan.
David was so sure that Goliath was going to die that day he tells what will happen. While this may sound just like an echo of what the giant had been taunting the boy about, David gave too many details for it just to be random parroting. David had complete faith in God that He was going to prove Himself through the stones that he had chosen.
The reason that David gives for God’s coming victory is not about defeating the giant, it is about putting God’s name back in its proper place. God had brought His people out of bondage in Egypt and He had brought them out of the wilderness, now His people needed to know what it meant to be His people in the land promised to them.
He deserves the same place in our lives. It isn’t about what He can give us so that we are more prosperous, it is about how we see Him. Is He big enough in our minds to deserve all our honor?
Making It Personal
How much does God and His name mean to you? How intentional are you that His name be made known in the most positive light? What do you do to help magnify His name?
Making It Personal Kids
How much does Jesus mean to you? Do you try to help your friends know how important Jesus is? How can you make sure that others see that Jesus is better than anyone else?
Closing Prayer
Father, we are sorry for the times that we have missed seeing You for who You are. Give us wisdom in how to magnify You in ways that others see You for all that You are. In Jesus’ name, amen.