22/04/08

The Giants in Your Life

1 Samuel 17:24 - And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

The story of David and Goliath is one of the most favorite for most, especially children. I must have read it or heard of it many a times, but a few days back as I was preaching at a place I was led by the Lord to take this scriptures and as I was preaching, I was revealed something fantastic which I like to briefly share with you (thou my session was for over 2 hours, I will be as short as I can).

If you read 1 Samuel 17:2-52 you will realize that when the Philistines and the Israelites came together for battle, the Israelites were not afraid of the Philistines. They had won many battles and they were battle conditioned. They use to everyday stand in position for battle with a shout. But the Philistine played a trick with them similar to which Satan plays on most of the servants of the Lord. Instead of fighting army against army, they send one man to fight another man. They made the battle a personal / private issue.

Most think that Goliath was a giant (as written in Genesis 6: 4) which is not, for King Og was the last of the giants (about 13 to14 feet tall), while Goliath was about 9feet tall, he was a very tall man (there were few very tall men left who were not giants but were referred to as sons of giants - 2 Samuel 21).

Genesis 6: 4 - There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Deuteronomy 3:11 - For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

1 Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

1 cubits = length of a human hand = approximate 18inches.

The Israel who were confident to fight as a team, when they saw the fight at a personal level they were scared, it broke their confidence. Because they compared the problem to themselves (no doubt it was big, but not impossible, for in the book of Joshua they had already passed through the valley of giants).

In case of David (who had come to the battle field just to deliver food and inquire about his brothers), compared the problem to God. He knew His God was great and awesome and beyond all things, and this problem was miniscule in front of Him.

1 Samuel 17:26b - ".. For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

To show that it was not he himself who finishes the problem, David approached the problem without any spear, sword or armory.

1 Samuel 17:45-47
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. 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. 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.

Most of us when problems arrive make big programs of fasting, nigh vigils, running from one brother or sister to another asking for prayers etc.. (as if we are fighting the battle ourselves), what we lack is faith in God (this is not for people who a new to the Lord, but those who are serving the Lord and have seen His glory).

When Satan tries to attach us on a personal level, in areas like our family, our business, our work etc.. lets not be bullied by him. Let us remember the pass testimonies of our life (even if they were smaller compared to the present situation), of the lives of our brothers and sisters and the testimonies of old, and having faith in God, charge towards the problem like David did. For the Lord will surely deliver the problem unto our hands and we will be victorious.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Father God, You are an awesome God. You are above all things and nothing compares to You. In front of You nothing can stand, no problem is greater than You. Help me Lord that my eyes be focused on You always and see my problems as compared to You. Like David help me slew my problems head on. I ask this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)