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Weekly Message: Week 45.
Facing the Challenges of Life
1 Samuel 17
1.0 Background
Chapter 17 of first Samuel details the slaying of the giant man Goliath by the
“ruddy and bright eyed shepherd boy David, son of Jesse” (1Samuel 16:12). We
are told in this chapter how Saul and the Army of Israel gathered to fight the
Philistines and their armies. The giant man Goliath challenged Saul and his
Israeli army to a one on one duel the outcome of which would decide which nation
would end up being slaves.
The Giant man was not only endowed with physical attributes, but also possessed
weapons of man destruction (coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels of
bronze , spear shaft like a weaver’s beam, the spear head weighed 600 shekels)
and was also a proven man slayer, renowned champion (1Samuel 17:4) of past
battles. He was a challenge to the existence of Saul and Israel, the same
challenge we face as Christians on a daily bases. The devil challenges us to a
duel every day roaring like a lion seeking someone to devour. David, bringing food
to his brothers on the battle front stumbled upon this tense stand-off.
2.0 Similarities and differences between David and Saul, David’s brothers
and his Army
They were all children of the most high God and worshipped God but they were
some differences in the way they saw things and believed God. Those small
differences made the distinction between victory over Goliath and bondage to fear
and sin. The Table below compares similarities between David and Saul (His
army and David's brothers)
Table of Similarities and differences
3.0 Lessons to be learnt
God is no respecter of persons
David was an ordinary man like you and me, “the son of Jesse” (1Samuel 17:12).
This could have been any one’s son with no special qualities. The bible says God
is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34,35 Eph 6:9, 1 Peter 1:17, Romans 2:11).
When David was about to do a good thing his brother Eliab was jealousy.
(1Samuel 17:28). Eliab accused his God fearing brother of having “a proud and
insolent heart”. He could not have been further from the truth. David had a broken
and a contrite heart. (Psalms 51:17). Sometimes the children of God are put off by
analysis and remarks that are far from the truth and the plan of God. The children
of God are put off by the devils accusations but instead they should remember he
is the accuser of brethren and he would just be doing “his job” and they should
get on with theirs.
Setting your Face like flint
David’s brother acted like a detour to take him away from the goal set before him.
The accusation could have inflamed his emotions and left him with a blurred
vision of what he was supposed to do. He could have been drawn into arguments
about his “righteousness” and “insolent heart”, a slippery path that would have
distracted him from completely obeying God. In Luke we see our Lord Jesus
Christ setting his face like flint to obey God. (Luke 9:51, 62). David was not
distracted by his brother he turned away and concentrated on the task before him.
As Christians we need to turn away from distractions and put them behind us.
When Peter began to rebuke Jesus and try and tell him not to suffer and die for
sinners Jesus addressed him as Satan and told him to get behind him.
(1Matthew 16:21, 23). If we are to succeed in doing God’s work we need to get
devilish counsel and distractions behind us no matter from whom.
Testify God s victories and deliverance as your key to greater victories
When Saul pointed out what he considered as David s shortcomings in fighting
Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32-37). David was quick to recount the victories that God
had given him before. (the slaying of the lion and the bear). When we are faced
with seemingly insurmountable tasks remember what God has done before and
claim your victory by faith. God promises us that he will never leave us alone
(Hebrews 13:5,6 Deuteronomy 31:6) and that he is the same yesterday, today and
forever (Hebrews 13:8) therefore the victories he gave before he will repeat
them. Yes, the devil is like a roaring lion (1Peter 5:8); note he is not a lion but like
a roaring lion. There is only one lion of the tribe of Judah, our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Revelations 5:5).
Remember God rewards Intentions and pure conscience- It is far better than
the wisdom of man (1 Cor 1:26-30).
David put his faith in God and his heart was full of good intentions. (1Samuel 17:
45-48). He prophesied that he was going to kill the giant. He knew who he
believed in and that he was greater (I John 4:4) than the champion of the
Philistines who was of the world. David's intentions were out of a pure heart. He
was not looking for mischief as his brother suggested. (Hebrews 10:22). We draw
near to God with a pure conscience and pure intentions. God rewards this and
God testified that David was a man after God's heart. (1Samuel 13:14). To be
described by God as a man after his own heart means a conscience
recommended and seen as pure by God. This does not mean he never sinned as
we know David says in Psalms 32 blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven by
God. As Christians we do all things with the wisdom of God and good intentions.
Prophesy over situations and circumstances in your life
David spoke to situations and circumstances in his life and that of the children of
Israel’s. Goliath was a hurdle to the Israelites that could break or make the
children of Israel. In verse 45 to 48 he spoke what he believed, his tongue
pronounced his faith. The bible tells us in Proverbs 18:21 that death and life are in
the power of the tongue It is important for Christians to speak victory into their lives
rather than complain and moan. Many Christians moan about the diseases in
their bodies, leg pains, bodily pains, migraine headaches financial crisis etc and
they say we have been praying for a long time but nothing has happened but all
they have been doing is moan and grumble rather than pray. If we pray and do
things without faith it is sinful (Romans 14:23). Children of God should stop filling
voids with a multitude of words which are devoid of faith for in them is sin.
(Proverbs 10:19).
David slew Goliath by faith. Children of God need to speak by faith our healing,
deliverance, victory over circumstances that challenge our lives. When we
understand that God is unchanging and is not repentant of his word (Numbers 23:
19) we hold on to God s word by faith and the devil will flee from us. (James 4:7).
By Ellen Mamhungu
Facing the Challenges of Life
1 Samuel 17
1.0 Background
Chapter 17 of first Samuel details the slaying of the giant man Goliath by the
“ruddy and bright eyed shepherd boy David, son of Jesse” (1Samuel 16:12). We
are told in this chapter how Saul and the Army of Israel gathered to fight the
Philistines and their armies. The giant man Goliath challenged Saul and his
Israeli army to a one on one duel the outcome of which would decide which nation
would end up being slaves.
The Giant man was not only endowed with physical attributes, but also possessed
weapons of man destruction (coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels of
bronze , spear shaft like a weaver’s beam, the spear head weighed 600 shekels)
and was also a proven man slayer, renowned champion (1Samuel 17:4) of past
battles. He was a challenge to the existence of Saul and Israel, the same
challenge we face as Christians on a daily bases. The devil challenges us to a
duel every day roaring like a lion seeking someone to devour. David, bringing food
to his brothers on the battle front stumbled upon this tense stand-off.
2.0 Similarities and differences between David and Saul, David’s brothers
and his Army
They were all children of the most high God and worshipped God but they were
some differences in the way they saw things and believed God. Those small
differences made the distinction between victory over Goliath and bondage to fear
and sin. The Table below compares similarities between David and Saul (His
army and David's brothers)
Table of Similarities and differences
3.0 Lessons to be learnt
God is no respecter of persons
David was an ordinary man like you and me, “the son of Jesse” (1Samuel 17:12).
This could have been any one’s son with no special qualities. The bible says God
is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34,35 Eph 6:9, 1 Peter 1:17, Romans 2:11).
When David was about to do a good thing his brother Eliab was jealousy.
(1Samuel 17:28). Eliab accused his God fearing brother of having “a proud and
insolent heart”. He could not have been further from the truth. David had a broken
and a contrite heart. (Psalms 51:17). Sometimes the children of God are put off by
analysis and remarks that are far from the truth and the plan of God. The children
of God are put off by the devils accusations but instead they should remember he
is the accuser of brethren and he would just be doing “his job” and they should
get on with theirs.
Setting your Face like flint
David’s brother acted like a detour to take him away from the goal set before him.
The accusation could have inflamed his emotions and left him with a blurred
vision of what he was supposed to do. He could have been drawn into arguments
about his “righteousness” and “insolent heart”, a slippery path that would have
distracted him from completely obeying God. In Luke we see our Lord Jesus
Christ setting his face like flint to obey God. (Luke 9:51, 62). David was not
distracted by his brother he turned away and concentrated on the task before him.
As Christians we need to turn away from distractions and put them behind us.
When Peter began to rebuke Jesus and try and tell him not to suffer and die for
sinners Jesus addressed him as Satan and told him to get behind him.
(1Matthew 16:21, 23). If we are to succeed in doing God’s work we need to get
devilish counsel and distractions behind us no matter from whom.
Testify God s victories and deliverance as your key to greater victories
When Saul pointed out what he considered as David s shortcomings in fighting
Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32-37). David was quick to recount the victories that God
had given him before. (the slaying of the lion and the bear). When we are faced
with seemingly insurmountable tasks remember what God has done before and
claim your victory by faith. God promises us that he will never leave us alone
(Hebrews 13:5,6 Deuteronomy 31:6) and that he is the same yesterday, today and
forever (Hebrews 13:8) therefore the victories he gave before he will repeat
them. Yes, the devil is like a roaring lion (1Peter 5:8); note he is not a lion but like
a roaring lion. There is only one lion of the tribe of Judah, our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Revelations 5:5).
Remember God rewards Intentions and pure conscience- It is far better than
the wisdom of man (1 Cor 1:26-30).
David put his faith in God and his heart was full of good intentions. (1Samuel 17:
45-48). He prophesied that he was going to kill the giant. He knew who he
believed in and that he was greater (I John 4:4) than the champion of the
Philistines who was of the world. David's intentions were out of a pure heart. He
was not looking for mischief as his brother suggested. (Hebrews 10:22). We draw
near to God with a pure conscience and pure intentions. God rewards this and
God testified that David was a man after God's heart. (1Samuel 13:14). To be
described by God as a man after his own heart means a conscience
recommended and seen as pure by God. This does not mean he never sinned as
we know David says in Psalms 32 blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven by
God. As Christians we do all things with the wisdom of God and good intentions.
Prophesy over situations and circumstances in your life
David spoke to situations and circumstances in his life and that of the children of
Israel’s. Goliath was a hurdle to the Israelites that could break or make the
children of Israel. In verse 45 to 48 he spoke what he believed, his tongue
pronounced his faith. The bible tells us in Proverbs 18:21 that death and life are in
the power of the tongue It is important for Christians to speak victory into their lives
rather than complain and moan. Many Christians moan about the diseases in
their bodies, leg pains, bodily pains, migraine headaches financial crisis etc and
they say we have been praying for a long time but nothing has happened but all
they have been doing is moan and grumble rather than pray. If we pray and do
things without faith it is sinful (Romans 14:23). Children of God should stop filling
voids with a multitude of words which are devoid of faith for in them is sin.
(Proverbs 10:19).
David slew Goliath by faith. Children of God need to speak by faith our healing,
deliverance, victory over circumstances that challenge our lives. When we
understand that God is unchanging and is not repentant of his word (Numbers 23:
19) we hold on to God s word by faith and the devil will flee from us. (James 4:7).
By Ellen Mamhungu
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