For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army. David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” 1 Samuel 17:16; 45-47
Another time 40 days is in Scripture. In Hebrew the number 40 means a time of transition, transformation, a birthing. The story of David and Golaith embraces all three of these. Up until now David has been alone in the field tending His Father’s sheep. Of course meeting up with an occasional lion and bear and killing them with his bare hands. Now he was looking at and listening to a 9 foot mean giant who’s wants to defeat Israel in the worst way. Much bigger than a bear or lion, this guy has been tormenting the army of Israel and David sees him as just another predator who needs to be defeated.
Notice David didn’t struggle with Goliath, he stepped out to defeat him. And how did he accomplish just that? By going out not only in the Lord’s name, but also in His power and might, so all who would hear the story, would know it was God who defeated the giant. And God would be given all the gloty and people would see Him as He truly is. Well, we know the rest of the story, David did just what he said he would.
What happened in that Valley was a transition from being a shepherd boy to being a mighty warrior. It transformed what people thought of Him and it transformed his heart and how he thought. And it birthed a king. And he did it, by following Holy Spirits leading and confronting Goliath head on in the power of the Lord. He took a stand, he didn’t struggle with Goliath, he let God do the fighting, he just followed His leading and directions.
Beloved of God let’s stop “struggling” with things God is more than able to destroy. Let’s determine to take a stand on the Word of God and Who He is, follow His directing carefully and watch whatever giant is before fall.
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