26. David Slays Goliath

David Slays Goliath

And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth.
1 Samuel 17. 49.

David declares his purpose in fighting Goliath to be “that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17. 46). All glory was to go to God. That should be the purpose of every conflict we have with our arch-enemy, Satan. Let us learn of David a few tactics we can use in our warfare.

David approached Goliath in the name of his God. “I come to thee in the name of Jehovah of Hosts” (1 Samuel 17. 45). How else can victories be won? Not a word was said of his own strength, for he had none to talk about. Five times he mentioned his God as he approached his enemy, one time for each stone in his bag. His last words were, “The battle is Jehovah’s, and he will give you into our hand” (v. 47). Could there be a better battle cry? Those were the last words that the giant heard before he fell in defeat. Oh, for grace to learn these words that they may also be used in our day of battle. Should not proud, haughty, God-defying Satan hear them again and again as we face him in present-day conflicts?

‘David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine” (v. 48). He showed no fear whatsoever. No time was to be lost, for the sooner the battle was over the better. Such an enemy is not to be fooled with. He cannot be reasoned with. He refuses to back down. Therefore the sooner he falls the better. David would give him no time to talk back. Talking in the day of battle is dangerous. David would have the last words himself, and that would be words to glorify his God. We, like David, must have confidence in our God, and not forget the words of Christ, “Behold, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall in any wise hurt you” (Luke 10. 19). If we believe this, we, too, can hasten to engage the enemy before he has time to cast a spell of fear over us.

David aimed his shot well. “He smote the Philistine in his forehead . . . and he fell upon his face to the earth” (1 Samuel 17. 49). One shot, well aimed, is all that it takes to quiet the enemy. Notice that the stone sank “into his forehead.” Even such a skull could not resist such ammunition. Jesus silenced Satan in the three sieges of His temptation with single verses of Scripture. Each time he repeated the words, “It is written,” and then hurled at him the Word of God. Satan had nothing more to say after the Word was given. What tremendous power there must then be in the right use of God’s Word! Truly “the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4. 12). Is it not too bad our shepherd’s bags are so depleted? Oh, for grace to linger longer by the stream of life that we may more carefully choose stones for the day of battle.

The battle was soon over. Let us notice the results. The armies of the Philistines fled when they saw “that their champion was dead” (v. 51). God grant that the demon world may often be upset over the defeats of their leader. When Goliath fell, the armies of the living God “arose, shouted and pursued” the enemy. One man’s victory gave courage to thousands of discouraged soldiers. Do you feel discouraged, dear friend? Does Satan stalk back and forth across your path, preventing you from moving forward? Take courage. Did not our David win the victory for us on Calvary’s cross? Did He not defeat Satan there? Did He not tell us that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church? Then, why sit we here? Let us hasten down to the stream of life. There on our knees, let us carefully choose our ammunition. Then with confidence and faith in the living God, let us hurl the Word of God at our enemy. Remember, “the battle is Jehovah’s,” and the victory is given, “that all the earth may know there is a God.”