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The Battle Is the Lord’s

“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” – 1 Samuel 17:47

   When I was growing up, we had a VHS tape of David and Goliath produced by The Greatest Adventures of the Bible, maybe you did too. My brother and I would watch the tape again and again, acting out the scene of David, with his sling, taking down the armor-clad giant, Goliath. This story had a big impact on me as a child and it still does today.
   As a child, I saw the story of David and Goliath as a blueprint for who I needed to become. I believed I had to summon faith, courage, and grit to face the giants in my life. But now, as an adult, I’m not sure that’s the complete picture of what this story is trying to communicate.  What I have come to realize is that all the major figures in our Bible point to Jesus Christ.  In other words, the story of David is not just about me - it’s pointing beyond me to Jesus, the greater David.
   In the David and Goliath story, found in 1 Samuel 17, the Israelites would not face Goliath themselves because they were afraid. Soldiers who had spent their lives preparing for battle were not prepared for this giant and his world-class armor.  What the Israelite army needed was a champion to go out before them and fight this battle. David was a shepherd boy who was not a physically menacing person or a trained soldier; however, God used this weak boy to stand before Israel and their enemy. Miraculously, David was victorious.
   Even though it was David who fought the battle, his triumph was imparted to all his people. David’s victory became their victory and gave them strength.  As the story goes, “When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines.”
   Where do you recognize Jesus in this story and where do you recognize yourself?  Jesus came to Earth in weakness to be our champion. He stood between us and sin, judgment, and death. He alone fought death and sin. Jesus did more than risk His life for us, He gave His life up.  And now, the triumph and victory that Jesus achieved has been imparted to us.  When I read this story, I am reminded that Jesus is a greater David.
   It is tempting to think we are all called to be like David. On several occasions I have been one of those egotistical people who think they alone can save the world. Often some good does come from it, but often my savior complex crushes the people I am looking to serve as well as myself. The Good News of the Bible is that you and I do not have to be David because we already have a Savior. Jesus is our champion. Our job is not to save the world or fight every giant but to surge forward in the wake of Christ’s victory, proclaiming and living and working in His triumph. We must remember that at the heart of every conflict, the battle is the Lord’s.