24. Giants

Giants

And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath.
1 Samuel 17. 4.

Goliath had earned his title of champion. He was a giant in size, and had never met a man his equal. He had become the pride of the Philistine army. Under his leadership they had come to fight the armies of Israel, also known as the armies of the living God. Israel was blocked because of the strength of this champion, and could get nowhere. He stood between them and victory. Let us carefully observe this champion, for we, too, have a giant to contend with, whom we call Satan.

Goliath was more than a match for any man. He knew he had power, and therefore called out to the hosts of Israel, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together” (v. 10). What a perfect type of Satan! He, too, stalks back and forth, preventing the armies of the living God from moving forward. He stands between them and victory. He offers to fight any man who dares to step forward. He claims to be a champion.

Goliath filled God’s people with fear. “They were dismayed and greatly afraid” (v. 11). Day after day they were paralyzed with fear. How like Satan! He, too, creates an atmosphere of fear, for then he can strut around unchallenged. He spreads the poison of fear, for that is the very opposite of faith. He dares not fight where faith prevails. He knows too well that “this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5. 4).

Goliath appeared daily. “And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days” (v. 16). It was Goliath’s ambition to ruin every day for the people of God. Thus he made his appearance in the morning to wreck the beginning of the day, and then again at evening to ruin the close of each day. He would come early enough to bring despair to God’s people, and late enough to cause them to go to rest discouraged. Can anything be more like Satan than this? Why, the evil giant of our day uses the same tactics as the giant in David’s day.

Then, too, Goliath chose a valley for his battle ground. “There was a valley between them” (v. 3). The devil always fights in valleys. He chooses a place of depression where one’s vision is limited. He loves to fight in the shadows. Expect him, therefore, in the valley of testing. The valley of discouragement is one of his favorite fighting grounds. He waits until his victims leave the mountain of inspiration and descend into the valley, before he makes his appearance. You see, Satan can always choose his own battle ground.

The Goliath of our day is as real as the Goliath that David encountered. Many a man of God has been halted in his tracks because of Satan. He sits paralyzed, and fears to move on. Unbelief begins to enfold him as a thick fog until he loses his vision, and dares not proceed. Satan, who is known as the deceiver, has put on such a bold act that timid Christians fear to move on. The valley looks deep and dark. Victory, however, lies beyond, and there is no by-pass to it. What shall be done? Is this your situation, dear friend? Take courage. Have you forgotten the giant’s taunt, “Give me a man that we may fight together” (v. 10)? This very challenge you feared can be your comfort. Have you forgotten that God has provided the Man, Jesus Christ, the God-man? Are you forgetting that on Calvary He “bruised” the serpent’s head? Our Goliath has already been defeated.

Arise, dear friend, face your enemy with confidence, remembering the assurance, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12. 9-10). The saints of old were also in this situation. God’s record of them reads: “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death” (Revelation 12. 11).