1 Samuel 17:50-54
Verse 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
David has defeated the giant! But that is just the beginning of the battle. David takes the giant’s sword and removes the enemy’s head as was common in that society. We had previously talked about how heavy the armor and weaponry of the giant must have been so it would have been God helping David raise the giant’s sword to kill him (verse 50). Although we often talk about the stone being the killer weapon, it was actually only a tool to bring him to his face before God’s army.
When David killed the giant the army of Israel found their courage and with a great battle cry charged forward after the Philistine soldiers. The Philistine army must have been in shock followed quickly by terror. They had been to battle with this champion multiple times and never thought he could be beat and now he was taken down by a mere boy. That wasn’t natural.
The Philistines would have heard stories of the power of the Israelite God. They may not have believed the tales since recently the Israelites had been fearful and if their God was really as powerful as they had heard from their ancestors, why would the Israelites be afraid? They may even have been alive to remember about the tumors as the Ark of the Covenant was in Gath(1 Samuel 5:8-9). It is possible that Goliath had been around to witness and endure the tumors himself. And so having seen this display of God’s power, they run for their lives.
The problem with the Israelite army was that they had forgotten the power of God too. They hadn’t kept God in their lives and so they had stopped meditating on the goodness of God as Joshua had been instructed to do (Joshua 1:8). In not knowing what God had done through the generations they were unable to trust God with the present and future. Yet they had just witnessed the shepherd boy kill the one who had been tormenting them for 40 days. God had shown up and they were going to go fight His enemy.
We can fall into the same trap as the Israelites. When we don’t meditate on the goodness of God and the amazing things He has done in our lives, we will not be able to trust Him in the present or future.
Making It Personal
How often do you meditate on the things God has done throughout history? How about the things He has done in your life? What in your life could use the courage of remembering what He has done?
Making It Personal Kids
What are some miracles that Jesus did? Has He done anything in your life that you know only Jesus could do? Does knowing that Jesus can do remarkable things give you courage to stand up for Him?
Closing Prayer
Father, we stand amazed at all the marvelous things You have done throughout ancient times and even in our lives. Please give us hearts that want to meditate on Your goodness so we will remember You don’t change and will do the same today if it pleases You. In Jesus’ name, amen.