Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11
The story of David and Goliath is told in locker rooms around America. It is probably the most repeated story in the Bible because it is such a picture of the victory of the under dog.
The name of the place where the showdown took place was called Shochoh which means “his branch”. It was in Judah. How interesting that Jesus was The Branch from the same tribe and David was a type of Jesus. Even Goliath called David “sticks”.
We have a detailed description of the great outward appearance of Goliath. Not only was he nine feet, nine inches tall but he was covered with so much metal there was no place for a spear to even touch him. The only thing exposed was his face.
David had been sent to the battle field to bring his brothers some food and see how the battle was going. There was no battle because it had been at a stand off for 40 days while Goliath taunted the army of Israel and challenged a dual. The outcome of the dual would determine the fate of Israel.
David arrived and stirred up the soldiers with his great faith in God to deliver them. Finally his words reached Saul and having no other volunteer or recourse, he sent David out with no covering and no weapon except a sling and a stone. The contrast of David and Goliath was undeniable.
Goliath thought David was a joke and told him what he was going to do to David. David knew that Goliath was all hot air and told him what God was going to do to him. David felled Goliath with the first stone. He cut off his head with Goliath’s own sword and that was the end of the battle.
Goliath stands for our enemy the devil. He is loud, proud and looks big and ferocious. He is intimidating and uses fear to take our strength away, but he is only a smoke screen. David put his trust in the Lord making him so much more powerful than any giant. His rock stands for the Word of God and that is all we have to have in our arsenal: faith and the Word. It will fell all our fears and uncertainties.
Jonathan had a heart like David’s so he was instantly drawn to David. The kingdom would have been Jonathan’s but Saul had already blown that for Jonathan. Jonathan was a picture of John the Baptist who recognized he was in the presence of someone greater than him. Instead of fighting God’s plan like Saul did, Jonathan joined with God’s plan. I know that Jonathan’s reward in heaven will be great.
In John, Jesus was having yet another discussion with the Jews about who he was. He told them he was going away but they would not be able to come where he was going. They thought that maybe he was going to commit suicide. Jews believed that it was against God’s law to take their own lives or even harm themselves. Anyone who did was to be buried outside the city walls in a special place.
Jesus wasn’t talking about suicide. He came out and told them: he was from heaven and they were from the world. If they did not believe in him and who sent him, they would die eternally. If they did believe, they could live eternally. Our fate has always been handed to us to decide. We choose where we spend eternity. God is a good God but he gives us the choice.
Lord, thank you that you are gracious and compassionate. You remember your covenant forever. To you belongs eternal praise.
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