Opening illustration: In July 1947, the British Navy was confronted by a defiant but unarmed ship of Jewish refugees - Holocaust survivors - who were intent on emigrating to colonial Palestine. As Robert Mackey explains on the New York Times' Lede Blog, the Brits responded to the incursion of the Exodus 1947 with the bravado of empire, seizing the ship, killing three people and wounding dozens of others.
The "violent way the British Navy seized that ship and deported the refugees backfired, creating global sympathy for the plight of stateless Jews," Mackey explained. Shortly afterward, the New York Times headlined a story on the incident: "Naval Boarding Party Shot at Jews Whose Weapons Were Potatoes, Canned Goods."
The Jews were given free walk-in immigration into the Palestinian colony without even having or using real weapons. They had got victory just by standing firm for what they knew was right. You might not even have the right things … just stand firm for God knowing what is right and He will give you victory.
Introduction: David's faith in God caused him to look at the giant from a different perspective. Goliath was merely a mortal man defying an all-powerful God. David looked at the battle from God's point of view. If we look at giant problems and impossible situations from God's perspective, we realize that God will fight for us and with us. When we put things in proper perspective, we see more clearly and we can fight more accurately and effectively.
When the giant criticized, insulted and threatened, David didn't stop or even waver. Everyone else cowered in fear, but David ran to the battle. He knew that action needed to be taken. David did the right thing in spite of discouraging insults and fearful threats. Only God's opinion mattered to David.
What will you encounter while using what is in your hand?
1. Hatred + Intimidation (vs. 40-43)
The enemy doesn’t want you to use what is in your hand. He knows how potent it can be, especially if it is something that God has anointed for a cause. There is fear in the enemy but he wants to bounce it back at you to make you fearful. Therefore the enemy will respond with hatred toward you and intimidate you so that you become weak and are unable to use that which is in your hand.
There was hatred for David from Goliath and the Philistines and as David put it, “… who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" There was utter hatred for God’s nation Israel. Satan hates those who carry the name of God and is fearful from those who have in their hands what God would use for the extension of His kingdom … this would practically harm the satanic kingdom. Obviously the enemy is not going to be happy and is going to show resentment, hatred and intimidation.
We have been witnessing an unprecedented growing hatred and intimidation for Christians in our own nation. We have to be aware that God has empowered us with His Spirit and given us in our hands the reigns of our nation. As we have not been good stewards of it, therefore gradually losing what God had placed in our hands. We were such a blessed nation and a blessing for many around the world. Where are we now? The sad truth is we did not rightfully use what God had placed in our hands and slowly lost everything. Every time we compromised here and there for small things and those small things have become giants now. Well to put that giant down, it will take a David, a sling and one smooth stone. Who is going to be challenged to stand up to the giant like David and put him down? Is hatred and intimidation going to make you weak and fearful or will motivate you to get the job done?
Illustration: In Pakistan, the government has declared those that who “insult” Mohammed will be put to death. In Communist Laos more than 250 pastors and Christian workers have been arrested; more than 60 churches and Christian institutions have been shut down; and the government has forced many thousands of believers to sign documents to "renounce" their faith and belief in Christianity.
In more than 40 nations around the world, people are being persecuted simply because of their faith. Hundreds of men and women are in prison serving sentences that range from a few months to life. They are not criminals who have robbed or murdered other citizens but Christians who were put on trial for their faith in Christ and found guilty. Christians are beaten, tortured, imprisoned, and murdered by those who are hostile to their faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Contention (vs. 44-47)
The hatred and intimidation of the Philistines toward the Israelites gave rise to contentions. Goliath had things he spoke against David, Israel and their God. David did not cower down or back out; he also said things that needed to be spoken and did not display any spirit of fear. His dependence was on the Lord God of Israel. He could not stand the ridicule of His God, therefore articulating the greatness of his God in this battle. He did not use any profanity but gave glory to His God and proclaimed victory in His name.
David made it clear that he was representing the God of Israel in this battle and no one else. His focus even in this battle was not himself or Israel but God. He was God’s man and made it evident to all the Philistines. He made clear his intentions and what he wanted to do. He desired the name of God to prevail over the Philistines and the land. David mentions something very important during this time of contention. David said to Goliath that he came to him with a sword, spear and javelin but he himself would come in the name of the Lord God of Israel. He also testified that the sword, spear and javelin would not save him but God alone.
No contentions clearly would identify that David was compromising with the Philistines. This would allow the Philistines to prevail over Israel. Contentions don’t seem good but if they are for the right purpose, then we have every reason to delve into it and be cautious at the same time to keep our focus on our Savior. No contentions with the world, articulate loudly that we are compromising with it.
3. Attain Victory (vs. 48-49)
As the Philistine moved closer to attack, David ran quickly to meet Goliath. Whilst running, he reached into his bag, took a stone and slung it at Goliath striking him on the forehead. Whether the blow itself was sufficient to immediately kill Goliath is not absolutely clear but it penetrated someway into his skull/forehead and he fell face down on the ground – bull’s eye! When a bullet hits a person, the velocity it comes with has a weight which overthrows them backward. Here a stone hits Goliath with a powerful velocity and he falls forward. This was unfamiliar and unheard of … so what is really going on? There is a possibility of God allowing this to happen in this way to bring Goliath to his knees and as he bows down before the heavenly powers. David then runs to the dying man and finishes him off with his own sword. With their champion dead the Philistines abscond and the Israelites had a great victory. Eventually the young shepherd with a sling became the most famous king of Israel and a great military commander in his own right. David was the underdog but took away the victory from under the noses of the Philistines.
The Philistines had all the armor and protection to keep them safe whereas David was vulnerable as he did not have any physical protection but had God’s backing – the armor of God. We all can have the same protection as long as we put on the armor of God daily. God will use the unique skills he's already placed in your hands, so don't worry about "wearing any king's armor." You just wear the armor of the King of all kings. He will work miracles through you.
But what is surprising is that neither Goliath, nor in fact Saul, seemed to consider David's sling as any sort of a potential battle winner. It seemed insignificant and a worthless weapon. Fortunately God can use anything that may seem unimportant in the world. Although David is the best-known sling user in the Bible, he is not the only one. In Judges 20:16 we read that 700 specially chosen men from the clan of Benjamin could all sling accurately “to the width of a hair, something many infantrymen today cannot do with a modern rifle.
The account records nothing about the actual sling David used the range at which he hit Goliath or other details we as slingers would love to know. But we can take a few educated guesses. Firstly, the only definite thing is that there were five stones contained in his shepherd’s bag. They could not have been too large to fit in there, probably about the size of eggs. The range - close enough to be confident of hitting Goliath in his only really vulnerable spot; his face, as the rest of him would have been protected by his armor. Yet far enough away to be out of reach of both spear and to a lesser extent the javelin. It would be important to make his first shot count as a near miss would have alerted Goliath to the danger, making it even harder to hit him subsequently before he ran out of ammunition. Probably no more than fifteen meters, using a fairly short sling, an overhand throw with minimal windup would seem likely. How else could it be done when still running? Whatever the case he must have been a brilliant exponent of the sling and whereas today we talk of a David and Goliath struggle as meaning that a large opponent has a huge advantage over a little one, perhaps it was really Goliath who was doomed from the start when confronted with the power of this amazing weapon in the hands of this remarkable young man of God.
Taking nothing from David’s achievement when he defeated the giant, it is clear that he had a very dangerous weapon in his hand when he approached Goliath. David knew what he was going to do with what was in his hands and it was Goliath who misjudged his opponent, not knowing that the boy was in fact armed with a more advanced weapon than his own sword and spear. You don’t have to have/wait for something outlandishly profound to make a mark for God. God can use anything … doesn’t really matter even if it is rock dead. We need to be available to Him, be ready at all times, have the right heart and know exactly what to do with the article in your hand. He will surely equip and empower you to hit the target when it is the right time and give us victory for Him.
Application: Stop for a minute and refocus. Can you see the situation more clearly from God's vantage point? Do you need to take courageous action in the face of insults and fearful circumstances? Do you trust that God will give you victory? Remember, God's opinion is the only one that matters.
