Not By Sword or Spear

It’s insurmountable. There’s no way. How am I ever going to…fix it, fight it, get through it? Have you ever faced something like that? A situation you just thought was impossible? I have.

Maybe you, or someone you know, is in the midst of a seemingly insurmountable situation right now. You look at the mountain range of problems surrounding you and feel defeated before you even try to come up with a plan to climb.

Perhaps that’s a bit how Saul and the Israelites felt when they caught sight of a Philistine named Goliath. Goliath was “a champion,” a warrior from his youth who stood an intimidating 9 feet 9 inches. It would be entirely understandable then that Saul and his army were “dismayed and terrified” (1 Samuel 17:11). I would be too.

A few verses later, an unlikely hero named David enters the scene. David’s father, Jesse, asks him to take food to his brothers who are in the battle and see how they are doing. When David complies, he gets a glimpse of Goliath and yet, he seems to be undaunted by the giant.

While conversing with his brothers, David’s oldest brother gets upset with him and calls him conceited. He also accuses him of having a wicket heart. In verse 29, David says, “Now what have I done? Can’t I even speak?” If the situation weren’t so serious, I would find it a little amusing that this appears to be yet another instance where the poor little brother can’t do anything right in his older brother’s eyes.

In the next scene, Saul sends for David and David tells him that he will go and fight Goliath. Saul, however, is not so keen on the idea. In fact, Saul tells David he is not able to do that. After all, David is only a young man and Goliath is well…Goliath. (v. 31-33).

Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever offered to tackle a huge problem and been shut down immediately? It can be incredibly discouraging, especially when you KNOW you can do it.

David doesn’t let Saul’s response stop him. David goes on to make a case for why he can handle Goliath. He tells Saul that while shepherding and protecting sheep, he killed both the lion and the bear. He also credits the Lord for rescuing him from the vicious animals and says that He would do it again if David were to fight Goliath.

Saul finally relents and says to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

In order to help David be as prepared and protected as possible, Saul gives him his armor. However, David wasn’t used to wearing it and it just wouldn’t work for him.

Has some well-intentioned person ever tried to give you tools that they thought would help you handle a problem, but they just weren’t what you needed? They just weren’t tools with which you were familiar and you knew they wouldn’t work.

David already had a plan and it was a simple one. He just needed his sling and a handful of smooth stones from the stream. Once he had the tools he was familiar with, he began to approach Goliath.

Goliath approached David and despised him. The tension was mounting.

What I love about what we read next is that David wasn’t just armed with his simple weapon. He was armed with something much more powerful.

“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands…”. (v. 45)

The name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel. Now THAT is a weapon.

Sometimes, when tackling a huge situation, we try to use conventional tactics instead of spiritual ones. We have to remember that we might have tools or “weapons” we think will work but ultimately, we would be foolish to leave the Lord Almighty out of the situation.

The passage goes on to say, “…and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” (v. 47). “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves…”

There was a much bigger picture than just eliminating an enemy. God wanted people to know Him. He still wants that today.

What would it look like in our lives to allow the Lord Almighty to help us tackle a seemingly insurmountable situation? Sure, we could use the talents and tools (weapons) He’s given us, but like David, what if we also credited God for doing the saving? Would that give others a better view of God? Would it help them know Him?

Psalm 33:16 says, “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.” It is the Lord who delivers.

And that is exactly what He did. As Goliath moved closer to attack, David ran quickly to the battle line, took out a stone, slung it and struck Goliath.

It was an impossible situation. But nothing is impossible for God.

Are you facing a “Goliath” right now? Something impossible?

Don’t be discouraged by nay-sayers. Don’t let others tell you that you are too ______ (nice, young, fill in the blank) to handle it.

Be encouraged! Remember that it’s not about the sword or the spear. It’s not about your strength or the size of the problem. It’s about the Lord Almighty. Trust that it is He who delivers.