Giant Life
Well, let’s face it, life happens. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes awful, and sometimes full of giants. Now, I know that there has been or will be giants in your life. Whether it is a giant mountain you have to climb, a giant illness, giant situations, giant decisions, giant changes, or an actual giant. My point is…giant will happen. This is our Brewing Ground. This is where God’s refining fire and life come together for our good. To refine us like silver and create a beautifully, unique masterpiece; hand forged by God Himself. So, when giant happens what do we need to know? Let’s learn from the story of David and Goliath.
David and Goliath is one of those Bible stories that we learn as children. When I went back and actually read the story, God pointed out several small but very significant details that don’t necessarily get mentioned in the story we hear as children. These details were the ones that God used to whisper his message.
David Enters the Picture
Saul is currently king over Israel. Throughout his reign, he has continually sinned and rejected God. Now, God has rejected him and his line of descendants from being king over Israel any longer. As 1 Samuel 16 begins, God puts His plan into motion to change the reign of Saul’s line as king. God sends Samuel to declare and anoint the new king.
“16 And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” 1 Samuel 16:1 KJV
So, Samuel went and looked at each of the sons and rejected each. He asked if there was any other son. The youngest was in the field with the sheep; Samuel told the father to bring him. This is where David makes his debut in the Bible.
“12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” 1 Samuel 16:12-13a KJV
God allowed Saul to remain king until his death. God used this time to prepare David to be king.
David’s Wisdom
Now, a war began between Saul’s army, the Israelites, and the Philistines. War strategy then was to have each army send its strongest warrior to fight each other. The Philistines had a giant in their army, Goliath; he was 10 feet tall. The war was at a standstill because no one from the Israelite army would fight him.
David’s brothers were members in the Israelite army while David remained home to tend to the sheep. David’s father sent him to the battle to take food to his brothers and the other troops. Once he arrived, he found out what was going on. David responded,
“…or who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26b KJV
David was the only one who seemed to remember that they were God’s army. He told Saul that he would go and fight the giant. Saul responded by saying that he could not win because he was only a boy. David responds,
“34Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.” 1 Samuel 17:34b-37 KJV
David’s Battle
So, Saul tried to lend David his armor and swords; but they were too big for him. David knew they would be the death of him and removed them. David once again used wisdom by going into battle with what he was proficient with, despite the opposition; he took 5 smooth stones and his sling.
After being threatened by Goliath, David responded.
“45 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;” 1 Samuel 17:45-46a KJV
And, the battle began. As the giant headed for David,
“49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
” 1 Samuel 17:49-51 KJV
Well, it was over and before it even began! However, did you catch the fact that the stone actually sunk into Goliath’s forehead? Think about the force and power needed to make a small stone actually crush skull and sink into the bone with a sling shot! Only divine assistance could produce these extreme results.
Facing Giant Life
So, when giant happens – here’s what we need to know?
- David KNEW that God was with him so he would not fail. God is with us!
- Even though David was young, he knew that God had PREPARED him. You may think the lion and bear are the giants, when in reality, these are only the preparation. Either way, rest assured that God will prepare you.
- Even the smallest things can be so powerful and have a huge impact when used by God.
Can you remember a time when God prepared you for a giant or used something small in a very powerful way? Comment Below!
If this Monday Brew has blessed you please share!
Let Brew in Victory!
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