1 Samuel 17:45-47

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, whom you have taunted.”

1 Samuel 17:45

In taking a step of faith, the believer must focus on God’s ends, His goals.

David has now come face to face with Goliath, and we can see that he is well aware of the giant’s advantages. In fact, David lists them in v.45. From this we can infer that faith is not an irrational, disconnected leap into the unknown. Rather, as David listed the contrasting set of weaponry, he didn’t place his hope in his sling, but in “the name of the Lord of hosts.” The mere fact that he faced Goliath from God’s side of the battle made David confident that he would prevail. He looked the circumstances squarely in the eye; he knew that he was militarily outclassed, and yet he acted upon the confidence that God was with him. His focus was upon what would be accomplished for God; he viewed the situation from God’s perspective. This is something we must learn to do if we hope to walk by faith. Let’s look a bit deeper into what was on David’s mind at this point.

1. David was concerned for the glory of God. We can see this clearly at the end of v. 45, “whom you have taunted.” David assumed, and rightly so, that God was concerned for His own glory and for the sanctity of His name. He interpreted Goliath’s words and actions in the light of that basic Biblical truth. God’s name had been dishonored and seeking to redress that situation was a cause that would glorify God. Therefore, David was confident that God would go with him and grant him victory. Whenever we think about stepping out in faith, we must examine our own motives to see whether promoting God’s glory is the ground of our motivation. It is so easy to launch out on projects of our own devising, expecting God to tag along, to provide for us as needed and to somehow generate glory for Himself from something that really shines the spotlight on us. But whenever we are able to effectively plead the glory of God as the root motivation for our cause, it makes for powerful prayer. (Compare Moses’ prayer in Ex. 33:12-18) When we commit ourselves to bringing glory to God, we are following in the steps of our Elder Brother, who focused on His Father’s glory every moment of His earthly life. (See John 17:1-5)

2. David was focused on God’s testimony in the world. See v. 46, “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” David wasn’t just “talking trash” to try and intimidate Goliath. He was speaking in faith and delineating the means by which the testimony of God’s power and presence with Israel would be proclaimed. He stepped out in faith, knowing that the world was watching him attempt something humanly impossible. And when he succeeded in doing the impossible, then the world would know it was God’s doing, not David’s. (See Jesus’ comment in John 14:10-12) The life of faith is a public proclamation of the power of God among His people. This is why God has commanded us to live by faith (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17), and why He so greatly honors those who do (Heb. 11). Living by faith graphically testifies that God is alive, powerful and committed to His people. It carries with it a conviction that the world can neither explain nor deny. Doesn’t your heart leap at the thought of doing something so great for God that the world would HAVE to acknowledge His power? But when those who claim to be God’s people fail to live the supernatural life of faith, they inevitably communicate that God is not worthy of trust, He is powerless to provide and He is not willing to supernaturally defend the cause of His people. Our failure to walk by faith tells the world ‘there is no God in Israel,’ and Christianity is just like every other religion. Is it any wonder the world shows so little interest in Christ when the behavior of the church demonstrates that Christians do not believe in His power?

3. David desired to strengthen the faith of God’s people. David concluded his purpose statement in v. 47 by saying, “that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s…” David faced a context where God’s own people didn’t trust God! Sadly, this is often the case with the church: the armies of Israel are paralyzed by their lack of faith. How can this dilemma be resolved? What can one person do to counteract such spiritual inertia? Well, David deliberately chose to act in faith – remember, he was offered a sword and spear and he refused them. He consciously set an example for God’s people to demonstrate to them that God was able to do far more than they expected. And his example continues to instruct God’s people down to the present day. The Bible gives many examples of those who chose to walk by faith. And as we study the history of the church, we find many others. We all need our faith strengthened; we all need to see the life of faith lived out in the flesh. But examples like Abraham or David or George Mueller or Hudson Taylor are not intended as a mere spectacle. God leads some to step out first so that His people will be strengthened and encouraged to follow. David defeated Goliath, and the army of Israel was so inspired by his victory that they destroyed the Philistine forces. One man of faith made all the difference.

Perhaps God is calling you to step out first. You may be in a church where the life of faith is not practiced or encouraged. Or, you may be facing a situation that seems impossible. How do you know whether God is calling you to act in faith? Examine yourself and your motives in the light of David’s focus. He looked in three directions: at God, at the world and at the church. If it will glorify God, convict the world and strengthen the faith of God’s people, why hesitate? These are the very things to which God is committed and for which He sent His Son. Your situation may well be a providential opportunity for the demonstration of God’s power. Step out. You are not alone. “The battle is the Lord’s.”

1 Samuel 17:39,40

And David girded his sword over [Saul’s] armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” And David took them off. And he took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook…”
1 Samuel 17:39,40

The resources others consider necessary are often a hindrance to faith.

It’s fascinating to see the contrast in thinking between a man of the world and a man of faith. Saul knew that no sane man would consider going up against the giant without armor and sword. Such resources were absolutely necessary for any hope of success. Consequently, he offered David his own weapons and armor. But David, operating in faith, knew that God was his protection; the armor Saul considered necessary was not essential for victory. So, instead of being enamored with the honor of wearing the king’s own armor, David found these “necessities” to be a restriction. He stripped them off and entered the battle in dependence upon God.

The same approach surfaces today whenever someone seeks to step out in faith. Inevitably, wiser heads will urge the “sane” approach: Make sure that you have sufficient resources before you commit yourself. After all, isn’t it an exercise in faith to trust God to provide the resources BEFORE you step out? This is actually the more spiritual approach (so the argument goes); because God reveals His will to us by providing the necessary resources. Any other approach is sheer presumption.

Tell that to David. Tell that to Elijah as he prayed for fire from heaven, standing all alone against the prophets of Baal. Tell that to Peter as he stepped out of the boat and walked on water. Tell that to the thousands upon thousands of God’s people from all ages who have been called to impossible tasks with insufficient resources. All they had was God’s Word, confidence in His covenant faithfulness and an assurance (by personal experience) of His power. This insistence upon waiting for the necessary resources is often a threadbare façade for rank unbelief.

David was assured that this battle was God’s will. But he was not willing to trust in the things that others trust in. He was not going to meet this challenge and allow the challenge itself to determine the ground rules. [You must fight a warrior as a warrior! “No, I will fight him as a shepherd who trusts in God.” We must have the money! “No, we must have God!” I can’t do this! “No, YOU can’t, but God can do it through you.”] He did not allow his faith to be hindered by supposedly necessary resources.

David had no experience with Saul’s armor, but he had repeated experience with God’s power and provision. He knew that God could make much out of little. He had no ability in himself to defeat Goliath, but he had seen God bring victory through him as he was. (See 17:34-37) So David didn’t ask God for the necessary resources before proceeding. Nor did he ask God to change him so he could accomplish this task. He simply trusted God to work through him as he was, with what means he had. Far better a shepherd’s weapons with trust in God than the weapons of a warrior without it!

God’s power is not limited by a lack of resources. Granted, sometimes He provides what we need ahead of time. But often – especially for those whom He has blessed with a growing experience of walking by faith – the resources are inadequate or non-existent. In this way, He forces our unbelieving hearts to operate by faith, trusting in His power and nothing else. Using the eyes of faith, we learn to view reality as God would have His children see it: nothing is too hard for God. (See Gen. 18:14) And so He brings glory to Himself and strengthens our faith by doing the impossible with insufficient means through those who are incapable. What is He calling you to do?

1 Samuel 17:37

Sorry for the delay in the posting of this devotional. I was out of internet contact for most of last week. - Dan.

And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

! Samuel 17:37

Faith doesn’t look to present circumstances for its encouragement.

We looked in the last post at the truth that unbelief seeks to discourage faith in any way it can. Consequently, the exercise of faith often takes the form of a struggle against unbelief. But the struggle for faith doesn’t just require us to take a stand against unbelief in others. We often have to fight against our own unbelief. We all have a tendency to judge situations based upon the observable circumstances. And frankly, the situations in which faith is most needed are usually the ones in which the circumstances seem most foreboding. After all, if the circumstances seem favorable, what will provoke us to exercise faith in God? But when we are brought face to face with our own inadequacy and the poverty of our own resources, we are forced to turn to the Lord in faith. Scripture is full of such situations: building a boat when it has never rained, expecting a child when you’re too old to conceive, waiting for God to open a way through the sea, looking at a brass snake when you’re dying, winning a battle because Moses’ hands are in the air.

Each of these situations is related in the five books of Moses – David’s Bible. These recorded events no doubt helped to teach David about faith. And he learned these lessons well. He knew that God had committed Himself by covenant to the people of Israel. He believed that the God who accomplished these mighty acts was the same God who would stand with him as he fought Goliath.

David could have said, ‘You’re right, Saul, this is a bleak situation and I have no real hope of being able to succeed.’ The present situation offered little hope when considered from the natural perspective. But faith and unbelief (Calvin calls it “unfaith”) focus on different things. Saul was only considering the circumstances. But David’s faith considered the situation from a different perspective. It enabled him to see through the circumstances and focus on the God for whom nothing is impossible. There was, in fact, a “spiritual rationality” to David’s decision to fight Goliath.

What can David teach us about the exercise of faith? What did he draw upon for encouragement? First, David considered the challenge of Goliath through the lens of the past victories God had given him through faith. This is why he made such a big deal about the lion and the bear. Killing these predators was, in a sense, equally impossible for a boy to have accomplished. Yet, it appears that he had actually gone into these situations in faith, trusting that God would give him the victory. God had provided him with a training ground – experiences of divine provision that enabled David to trust God in this circumstance as well. This, by the way, is one of the main reasons why we experience such trials in our own lives. God is training us for bigger victories. He expects us to remember, to “treasure these tings in our hearts,” so that we will have a ‘faith fund’ to draw upon when called to face an impossible task. [Allow me to put in a plug for journaling – writing down your thoughts and also recording God’s provisions and answers to prayer. Such a spiritual diary will prove invaluable when you are facing the next call to faith.]

David was also encouraged by the knowledge that God had been with him in the past. This enabled him to believe that God was with him in the present. (See 17:37) David knew it had been the Lord who had delivered him in those previous situations. In his mind, the fight against the giant was entirely parallel: the predators were attacking his sheep; the giant was attacking the Lord’s sheep. So, David expected God to provide in the same way He had in the previous situations. Goliath’s size and abilities were of no concern in this equation. We must make this kind of “spiritual reasoning” a regular part of our thinking a decision-making. (See Ps. 27:1-3)

Finally, David was encouraged by God’s character and commitments. He knew that God was (and still is) committed to His covenant people. This confidence is indicated in David’s language: “uncircumcised Philistine,” “the armies of the living God.” In fact, God’s commitment to His people and to the building and protection of His church must be one of the key factors in our thinking when we step out in faith. He didn’t even spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. How can we think that He will withhold anything needful after such a demonstration of His determined devotion to us? (Rom. 8:32,33)

Things haven’t changed a bit. God hasn’t changed. Our enemies are His enemies; our needs are His concern. His glory is still the ultimate issue in every circumstance of our lives. He loves to be the deliverer and the redeemer. He also delights in the faith of His people because it indicates that we trust Him to be the God He has promised to be – despite apparently contrary or impossible circumstances. As we seek His glory, we are on good ground to expect Him to provide. This is also the place of effective prayer. Faith is not irrational – not at all. It is supremely rational, because it trusts in the One who stands beyond all created reality. Guided by His Word, encouraged by our experience of His faithfulness, emboldened by His presence and established on His covenant faithfulness, let’s honor our Father by expecting Him to do far more than seems possible in our circumstances.