This is the last day of this
bible plan and I trust that I have planted a seed of hope into your life. You
can have the victory if you follow the Word.
If there is one thing that stands
out from the story of David, it is that he had a relationship with God. From
that relationship he could do mighty exploits. He became the champion of the
nation of Israel in this momentous event, and later on, he became the king of
Israel. But it all began when he had to shepherd his father’s sheep.
Every part of the Bible is for
our edification and growth. It is also a very practical book that gives us the
how and the what.
Twelve is the number of
government; it is the number of completeness and wholeness. God wants us to
walk in wholeness every day of our lives. He wants us to have dominion in our
sphere of influence. Therefore, it is important to understand that when you
take action, fear can be completely overcome.
Let’s look at the next four
scriptures in I Sam 17.
51And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. 53Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. 54And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
- Because the mindset of despair
and fear was broken, Israel could attack the Philistines. The game has
shifted from a victim mentality to dominion authority. When Goliath’s
head was cut off, the rulership returned to the nation.
- Then they pursued the
Philistines to the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Ekron means
barrenness and to be torn up by the roots. It is a place where many
battles had taken place. It was also the last resting place of the ark
before it returned to Jerusalem. The Philistines had to be torn up by
their roots in order for Israel to take back what God has demanded, and in
its later years, Ekron was totally demolished.
- David took the head back to
Jerusalem. The head is significant because it is the place where
dominion is birthed. It is the place of rulership. By removing the head
and taking it back to Saul, David demonstrated that the Philistines were
defeated. Remember, on day two of this plan, we learned that
Goliath was the champion of the Philistines. So, David showed them that
this champion is now the defeated foe. He removed the head from his body.
- He placed Goliath’s armour
in his tent. Goliath’s armour would have been valuable and useful. Up
to this event, the Philistines had the upper hand over Israel. At that
time in history, they didn’t allow blacksmiths to operate in Israel. The
Israelites were virtually devoid of weapons because of the oppression of
the Philistines. Again, we see David’s intelligence. He looked further
into the future. He knew this would not be his last battle. He prepared
himself.
1 Samuel
13:19-22:
Now there was
no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the
Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.” (20) But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen
his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle, (21) and the charge was
two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of
a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. (22) So on the day of the battle there was neither
sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan,
but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.
Whose son is this?
In the last few scriptures, we
learn a few significant truths.
· You will be unrecognizable to the people you know.
· A new leader was born.
· It changed how people looked at David.
· Saul didn’t recognize him.
· He was not judged by his looks or age any longer.
55When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?”
And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”
56So the king said, “Inquire whose son this young man is.”
57Then, as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?”
So David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
The story of David and Goliath
gives us valuable insight into the hearts of Saul and Israel. Into the hearts
of the enemies of Israel, and into the hearts of the enemies of God. It also gives
us valuable insight into the heart of a leader.
When we know who we are in Christ
and who the battle belongs to, we can overcome the enemy of our minds and the
enemies of God.
We don’t have to stay in despair
or fear. We can overcome this mental blockage or blind spots by the same way
David did.
The story of David doesn’t stop
here and is a great resource for our walk as believers. David is the template
we can follow. Once we understand the symbolic application, we can overcome
whatever the enemy throws at us.
But let us recap what we have
learned over the last twelve days:
1. We
must choose our place of battle correctly.
2. We
must understand who we fight against.
3. God
doesn’t use the ordinary but the extraordinary to defeat the enemy.
4. We
must understand our mandate.
5. We
must not rely on our own armour.
6. We
must stay connected to the Living water.
7. Our
stones must be smooth before they can be used.
8. Our
future is secure in Christ.
9. We
must be an exact representation of Christ.
10. We must
know in whose name we fight.
11. We must
know what practical things are to overcome.
12. Fear and
despair can be defeated.
Grace and peace to you.
Day One / Day Two / Day Three / Day Four / Day Five/ Day Six /
Day Seven / Day Eight / Day Nine / Day Ten / Day Eleven / Day Twelve