Just One Story V: Can You Hear Me Now?

What was God trying to say when he used a boy with a sling to defeat Goliath? I am reluctant to speculate about God’s motives because his thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways. To believe I can discern what was in God’s mind at that time would be the height of arrogance, but there are at least three lessons in this story that were relevant for King Saul’s constituents and are important for us as well. The lessons are clear. The only question is whether we can hear them.

First, God’s people can trust God to fight their battles. First Samuel 17:47 says, “. . .that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s . . .” The word ‘assembly’ refers to King Saul and the Israelite army. Israel’s military record against the Philistines had been a mixture of success and failure. King Saul was a capable military leader, but obviously did not understand the concept of trusting in God and obeying him completely. By the time God defeated Goliath, Saul had already demonstrated his lack of faith in God’s power over the enemies of Israel. (See 1 Samuel 15.) This is a lesson that must be learned by every generation of God’s people. Unfortunately, like Saul, we often miss God’s glory because we trust in ourselves rather than him. God’s promise is sure. He promised to be our God if we would be his people, and that promise includes defeating our greatest enemies. May we learn this lesson before it is too late.

Second, God’s purpose was less military and more spiritual; less physical or carnal and more a purpose of faith. Were God’s purpose solely military or political, using the sword would be appropriate. God’s purpose, however, was spiritual. His goal was the faith and holiness of his people. The battle was not against a giant soldier, but against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) Wisely, he did not use a military solution on a spiritual problem. This is another lesson we often miss. Just as the disciples could not see past the earthy kingdom they believed the Messiah would establish, the church often can only see its current social and political circumstances and fails to see that the battle is the Lord’s and he does not save with sword and spear. Our battles are spiritual battles against the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places, not against politicians, judges, and activists. God will not defeat them by the human means of the ballot box and the court system, but by defeating the enemy on a higher level and in the hearts of his people. (See John 6 and Acts 1:1-6-8.)

Third, God works so that he is glorified. First Samuel 17:46 says that God would defeat Goliath so “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” In their culture a nation won a battle because it had the strongest god. By defeating Goliath in the way he did even the Philistines knew the God of Israel was indeed a mighty God. This has been the theme throughout this story. Our God is a mighty God that works to glorify himself because he is worthy of all glory. God is glorified when all see that he is greater than we.

May “he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:11)
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