Giant Slayers
Dear Friend,
I did something daring yesterday, that I haven’t done in about six months. I checked out an actual hardcover book from the library! In hopes of getting to read it before it’s due date. Nothing too crazy, “The Sword and the Stone” (of which the popular Disney movie was made from), so I SHOULD be able to finish it in a week or so. Instead of writing to you last night, I spent some time in the book, which is what I felt I needed more. Life these days is a constant questioning of choosing between what may be better, but what is best?
This afternoon I am also taking myself to the water park to find an innertube and float around on the lazy river for a couple of hours. And maybe do some reading, poolside! Because all work and no relaxation makes Jennifer Jean a grumpy girl!
How are you doing, Friend? I hope and pray you are finding time to be quiet, to sit before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now that I am up with the baby in the wee hours of the morning, my prayer time is shared with a little six week old, praying for family and friends as I feed her and rock her back to sleep. And that’s okay! Some seasons we have a prayer closet, or pray on our lunch break, or pray while caring for children. The great news is, God hears us wherever we are, in any situation or season.
Let’s get on to the topic for today, giant slaying. Goliath, the famouse giant, had four sons. Did you know Goliath had sons, who were also giants as well? It makes you wonder what their mom was eating and drinking during her pregnancy, and how big they were as babies! And unfortunately for David, they were there the day he killed their father. We are told in Second Samuel chapter twenty-one, verses fifteen to twenty-two, “15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
16 And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.
19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.”
Now, David was a young fellow when he knocked Goliath down with a stone and cut off his head. In Second Samuel chapter twenty-one, David is an old king, ready to pass on his kingdom to Solomon. And those fatherless sons were ready to take him on. This time, David could not fight the giants alone. He needed the help of his friends.
In Scripture, Goliath (and his kin) represents opposition, struggle, and the enemy. Let’s revisit First Samuel chapter seventeen to see what the enemy does. Please take a moment and read that chapter.
We see that Goliath was a big guy- nine feet tall. He was called a champion in verse four. He knew his size, he was confident in his past victories, and he felt he was guaranteed future victories as well. He was prideful, questioning the Iraelites, the servants of King Saul, ultimately the servants of God, as to why they wouldn’t come out and fight against him? Does this sound like someone else we have read about in Scripture?
Satan was an archangel, in league with the angels David and Micheal. Every single time we read about an angel appearing to a human in the Bible, their first words are, “Fear not.” This tells us that there is something about angels that immediately causes fear in real human experiences. I’m not really sure they are the fluffy, flowy, harp-weilding beings that they are depicted as in many works of art. At least, not archangels.
Satan is big, and well- versed in his craft of lying, deceiving, and tempting, just as Goliath was an expert in fighting, killing, and taunting. Because Satan has been largely successful in convincing many that hell will be one big party, he feels guaranteed to continue to fill that place of eternal tormant with more of God’s creation. So much so, that we are told in Revelation, that he will lead a physical army in battle against Jesus Christ, still believing he can defeat the One who has defeated death, hell, and sin. “De Nile” is not just a river in Egypt!
And just as Goliath questioned the Iraelites, the first question in the Bible is between Satan and one of God’s people- Eve. “Did God really say…?” How does this apply to our lives today, Friend?
We are sure to encounter battles, struggles, and people that seem to be much larger than what we feel we can handle. And, Friend, unfortunately, the popular saying- “God will not give you more than you can handle”- is a lie. God gives us more than we can handle frequently. He did the same with those we read about in His Word- Noah building a huge ark, Daniel being thrown in the lion’s den, Mary with an unplanned pregnancy. I’m sure if we asked each of them if they felt they could handle these situations on their own, they would have unanimously answerd, “No!” Not at all. Not one little bit.
We may face large battles and struggles due to our own sin, the sin of another, or because God is going to use this situation to produce more of Christ in us. But whatever the reason, we can be assured that God is with us, and while we may not be able to handle the situation or the person alone, God can and will if we will trust Him and walk with Him in obedience.
Goliath had taunted the Israelites for forty days. They were worn down from hearing him and seeing him. Their faith was at an all-time low. And then came David. He had come to bring his brothers food, but when he heard Goliath’s words against David’s God, he was ready to fight the giant himself. No one talked about his God like that! “And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God (1 Samuel 17:6)?”
We need to remember when the battle looms large, God is on His throne, God is in control, God is alive and well, and God is with us. As David prepares to go out alone (but in the power and the name of God) against Goliath, he forgoes armor and weapons and chooses five smooth stones. Why? Oh Friend, this is such a good part. Because not only was David prepared to fight and kill Goliath, he was prepared to fight and kill his four sons also. Just as he loved his own father, he was sure these gigantic sons loved their father and would come after him. David was prepared for the battle of his life.
This tells us that we need to be prepared for the battles and struggles we face. How? By daily prayer and time in God’s word. David had a close, active, growing relationship with God, as seen by the many Psalms he penned. Our time in prayer and God’s word strenghtens us, gives us confidence and the daily reminder we need that God is with us and in control.
And then, David shows up for the battle. He doesn’t cower, he doesn’t run, he doesn’t hide. He confronts the battle, the enemy, head on with words of truth and affirmation about God. “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands (1 Samuel 17: 45-47).”
I know I’ve been in some pretty scary situations. Confronting my ex-husband in court with why I was requesting a protection order for myself and my children. Helping one of my daughters move out of her boyfriend’s home who had/has a history of violence, owned weapons, and friends in low places. I say has/had because now she’s married to him but that’s a story you’ve heard before, and a constant source of prayer for me. Finding out within a few weeks of each appointment that I have HPV, which leads to a higher risk of cervical cancer, and a mass in one of my breasts.
And Friend, I know you have been and are in some pretty hefty battles and struggles right now.
After reading about Goliath and his four sons, I felt led by God to write down what my top five battles/struggles are. I’m going to be transparent and share my list with you.
Number one: that jar of peanut butter in my cabinet, a.ka. food addiction. STILL!
Number two: Distraction away from my prayer time/Bible study time.
Number three: Choosing sleep over getting up and having my prayer time/Bible study time.
Number four: My fleshly feelings about my son-in-law when God has shown me over and over that He has this man in my family for a reason.
Number five: Selfishness still when surrendering my time to what God’s best is.
I want you to spend a few mintues in quiet communion with God and ask Him what the top five “Giants” are in your life. Write them down. And then, the hardest part, share them with someone you trust, who is walking with the Lord.
Remember, Friend, David could kill Goliath in the strength of the Lord pretty easily. But as he got older, he couldn’t do it alone. He had to have the help of his close friends, his “mighty men.” Sometimes we need to humble ourselves and admit we can’t fight our battles alone. We need some “mighty men” and women of our own- those faithful in prayer and Bible study. Those who will come along beside us and help us slay our giants. When the battles are tough, or many, we will need the help of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
You may not feel like a “Giant-slayer” Friend, but you are, as David was, in the strength and name of the Lord. Remember David’s words as I close this letter today: “The battle is the Lord’s and He will give it into our hands.” But we also need to remember, that God’s ways are not our ways. The ways He solves our battles are not the ways we would want or expect at times. Just as Cooper Roy is now reaching thousands with the message of God’s miracle and salvation, it’s probably not the way he would have asked for. Even when the test comes back cancer, the loved one passes away, our lives take a huge left turn, the battle, and the victory, is still in the Lord’s hands.
Love and prayers,
Jennifer Jean