GIVE ME A MAN TO FIGHT

“Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh,…and Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 17:1, 2). 

The Philistines were a nation of people who occupied the coastal region of Canaan along the Mediterranean Sea.  They were one of the nations that Israel was unable to conquer in the Promised Land, and became a constant vexation to them.  This story takes place during the reign of King Saul who was the first king of Israel.

The Philistines resented Israel’s rise to power in Canaan, and were constantly challenging that power.  Once again they had sent their armies against Israel to try to weaken them, and Saul had raised an army to oppose them. 

“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 [nine foot, nine inches].  And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass [over 125 pounds].  And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.  And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels [15 pounds] of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.” (1 Samuel 17:4-5). 

Scholars may disagree on the height of Goliath and the weight of his weapons, but it is clear from the context of the story that he was unusually large.  Goliath is thought by some to have been descended from the Rephaites, an ancient line of giants, and lived in the city of Gath.  The Philistines used Goliath to intimidate their enemies.  This was their strategy with Israel.

“And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.  If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.  And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.  When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” (1 Samuel 17:8-11). 

The armies of Israel and Philistia had been fighting skirmishes in the valley that separated the two armies for awhile, but neither force had prevailed.  Now, the Philistines were presenting a new challenge: they would send their best warrior out to fight with Israel’s best warrior, and whoever lost, that nation would become servants to the other.  This was a frightening prospect to Israel.  The stakes couldn’t have been higher.  One man would decide the fate of the whole nation, and their enemy’s one man was a giant!  No wonder the Israelites “…were dismayed, and greatly afraid.”  Goliath was defying the armies of God, and demanding that they give him a man to represent the whole nation of Israel - one man who was willing to risk death in order to bring deliverance to all the rest of his people.  Israel needed just one man to slay the giant, and inspire faith and courage in the armies of God!  For 40 days Goliath had presented himself in this way, and Israel had cowered at his challenge every time.

There was an Israelite named Jesse who had eight sons.  His three older sons were serving with the army of Saul.  His youngest, David, was tending his father’s sheep at home.  One day Jesse asked David to deliver parched corn, bread, and cheese to his brothers and their unit on the front lines.  Also, Jesse wanted to know how his sons were doing. 

“And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.  For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.  And David left his carriage…and saluted his brethren.  And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.  And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.” (1 Samuel 17:20-24). 

Isn’t it amazing that, in a nation of believers who had seen God move miraculously on their behalf, there was not one man among all their seasoned warriors who had the faith and courage to face Goliath?!  The whole nation appeared to be afraid of Philistia’s champion.  But David was not so easily intimidated – not by the size of the giant, nor the enormity of the challenge!  When he heard the words of the giant, rather than shrinking in fear, his faith was stirred to action, and he said, “…who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). 

God, too, was always looking for a man who would stand for the truth, and reverse the curse brought on mankind by Adam’s transgression.  “And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him.  For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.” (Isaiah 59:16, 17).  “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30).  “If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness.” (Job 33:23).  Although there were many men through the centuries who had great faith, and would work many mighty deeds for God, there was only One Who would be worthy to fulfill God’s eternal purpose.  It is He Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, was slain and shed His blood for our redemption, rose from the dead, ascended up to the throne of God, and forever will rule and reign in righteousness and true holiness.  

David is a type of Jesus Christ.  There are many similarities between Jesus and David.  Just as Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His Father’s sheep (God’s people), David also was a good shepherd who risked his life repeatedly to protect his father’s sheep.  Jesus was meek and lowly of heart; and so was David.  He was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse.  His father didn’t even call him from the pastures when the Prophet Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be king.  Jesus was not the likely choice to be the Messiah, the King of Israel, according to the leaders of His day, and neither was David.  God, however, sees differently than man sees because God looks on the heart while man only looks on the outside.  Both were chosen and anointed by God to be kings, but neither came in the power and pride of that office.  Instead, they made themselves of no reputation and took upon themselves the form of servants.  Jesus confronted Satan so that all of mankind could potentially be released from his oppression.  Similarly, David stood up for all of Israel to free them from the oppression of the Philistines. 

“And Eliab his [David’s] eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.  And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:28, 29).  David’s brothers were angered at his words of faith because it showed up their own cowardice and lack of faith.  They didn’t realize that David had been sent by their father.  Likewise, Jesus’ “brothers” of the house of Israel did not recognize that He was sent of their heavenly Father, and the words that He spoke angered them also because it exposed their hypocrisy and lack of faith.

When King Saul heard of David’s words, David was brought before him and said to the king, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (verse 32).  Saul tried to reason with David, pointing out the fact that David was just a youth and that Goliath was a seasoned warrior.  David responded by telling the king about his experience with killing both a lion and a bear single-handedly to protect his father’s sheep from harm.  He then declared his faith in God’s protection, saying, “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.” (verse 37).  All that Saul could say to that was, “Go, and the LORD be with thee.”

Saul is a type of the faithless leadership that we find in many churches today.  Rather than setting the example of faith and courage for God’s people, they cower in the trenches and refuse to engage the Goliaths of this world.  What he did do was offer David the use of his own armor.  Symbolically, this was a bad thing.  Saul’s armor represents the carnal weapons that man uses to try to resist the enemy of their souls.  These weapons obviously had done nothing to boost Saul’s faith in God, or make him any more obedient to Him.  These were not the weapons of God.  The Apostle Paul reminds us, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)…” (2 Corinthians 10:3, 4).  David was trusting in the spiritual armor that he already possessed and had proven.  “And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” (verse 40).  Dear child of God, you can always trust in the weapons of spiritual warfare that God has placed at your disposal.  Therefore, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:11, 14-18). 

As David walked out upon the field of battle, the giant cursed him, mocked his youth and the choice of his weapons.  He told him he had no chance of victory.  David, on the other hand, declared his faith in God almighty!  David said, “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.”  (verses 45-47).

David, of course, defeated Goliath.  The stone in his sling was directed by God and it dropped the giant to the ground.  David was then able to behead him with his own sword.  When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled for their lives!  “And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron.” (verse 52).  What David did brought strength and courage to the hearts of his people, and they all were able to rise up to battle and defeat their enemies.  David’s victory was their victory!  David’s faith became their faith!  What a picture this is of Jesus’ victory for us!  We, too, can now be strong and courageous because of what Jesus has done for us.  His victory has become ours!  In Christ we have redemption, justification, salvation, sanctification, wisdom, power, and strength, and so much more.  In the name of the Lord we are more than conquerors!  The battles are no longer ours to try to win, they are His, and He has already won!

Two verses that speak prophetically of the Messiah’s eternal reign use David’s name long after his death to refer to the Holy One: “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their Shepherd.” (Ezekiel 34:23).  “And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and My servant David shall be their Prince for ever.” (Ezekiel 37:25).  God also honored David’s faith in other ways.  He referred to him as “a man after My own heart,” and He sent Jesus to be born into the house of Joseph, who was a descendant of King David.  Moreover, God made a promise to David that there would always be a man from the house of David who would rule over Israel.  Though the last king of Judah after the fleshly line of David, whose name was Zedekiah, died in 561 B.C., the spiritual line of David continues forever through the Messiah and True King of Israel, Jesus Christ.    

The story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the story of one man who stood up against Satan and all the forces of evil in order to free mankind from the bondage to sin and death that it was subject to because of the disobedience of one man: Adam. 

“For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”  “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:15, 19).  Goliath is a type and a shadow of Satan.  He comes to kill, steal, and destroy God’s people.  His most effective weapons are fear, lies, and intimidation.  He presents himself to us as a roaring lion and threatens to devour us.  These tactics are more difficult to use against us when we join together to support and encourage one another.  When we come together in fellowship with other believers and can hear God’s Word and the testimonies of others, we are much stronger.  It is when we are alone however, that Satan brings his lies against us and causes us to fear and doubt.  Solomon tells us, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up…And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).  Satan desires one man to fight because he knows he can defeat a single man.  He knows man is a carnal being and has sold himself under sin.  What Satan didn’t bargain on, however, was that one man being the Son of God, nor the fact that Jesus would defeat him by offering Himself as the holy Lamb of God, an eternal sacrifice that would break the chains of sin and death forever! 

“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:18, 19).