1 Samuel 17:41-18:1.
David’s stones were made smooth by the continual running of the water over them. So it is by reading the Word of God continually that we become well-acquainted with it, and are able to use it wisely.
When Goliath the giant saw David coming out to meet him, he came toward him boldly. He despised David because he came without a coat of armor, having only a staff and a sling, and he said he would give David’s body to the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field.
David replied, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” David was not afraid because his confidence was in the Lord. He did not look at the size of the giant, for he knew that his size meant nothing to the Lord. Instead he ran out to meet him, and, putting his hand in his shepherd’s bag, he took a stone and slung it at the Philistine. The stone hit the great giant in his forehead and he fell upon his face to the earth. David then went forward and took the sword from Goliath’s sheath, cutting off the giant’s head with his own sword. What a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus who went to the cross, despised, rected, and delivered up to die by sinful men, but there on that cross where He was “crucified in weakness,” 2 Cor. 13:4. He won the great victory over Satan’s power. Satan had the power of death, and kept men in fear by it, but the Lord Jesus went down into death for our sins, took the sting out of it, robbed it of all its power for the believer, and then arose in triumph (Hebrews 2:14, 15). And so here, David came back with the head of the giant in his hands, and the army of Israel then pursued the Philistines until they had completely overcome them. Then they spoiled their tents. Now we, as believers, need not fear death. The Lord Jesus victory at Calvary was for us, and He has divided the “spoil” with us. Even death itself is ours, for we read, “All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” 1 Cor. 3:21-23. May we be more thanul for the wonderful triumph won for us at Calvary and praise Him more!
As we have remarked before, Saul did not recognize David after this viory, nor did Abner the captain of Saul’s host. Unbelief never sees anhing attractive about walking by faith. While David was playing his harp in Saul’s court, Saul had been refreshed, but he did not know him when fighting the Lord’s battles. Even the world can appreciate what appeals to the flesh in religion, but they will never appreciate the obedience of faith.
If Saul failed to appreciate what David had done, Jonathan his son, who was a true child of God, a man of faith, was quick to recognize it. David had won his heart, even as our hearts have been won by the true David, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jonathan’s soul was knit to the soul of David and he loved him as his own soul. When a sinner sees his need, and what the Lord Jesus has done to save him on the cross of Calvary, his heart goes out in love to Him. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.
ML 10/10/1954