The Battle is the Lord’s
This is part of a series of studies from my research trip to Israel March 2019. It is not meant to be “unquestionable truth,” but just my interpretation and insight from what I saw, heard, learned, and felt in my heart.
Day 1 second stop on my trip to Israel was on Tel Azeka overlooking the Valley of Elah, the place where David fought Goliath. The rich history of the area dating back to Bible days even through WWI and beyond was intriguing. To imagine David bringing his brothers some lunch and hearing Goliath’s curses against God echo across the peaceful valley I gazed upon was unbelievable. Seriously, it was hard to imagine standing there in 2019. But knowing the area was mentioned in the Bible and still bears the same names and landmarks was confirming that something took place near hear and that God was present.
Yet is wasn’t the actual site or standing on the hill that moved my heart. It was the message. Although most people might think Goliath had the upper hand, David was no underdog. He’d been working in the fields tending and protecting his flock for a while. He’d killed a bear and lion. He should have been confident in his skill, and if you just read on the surface you may think he was; maybe even a little cocky and arrogant. But if you look deeper and into the history of the story and times you will see something different.
According to my Archaeological Study Bible by Zondervan page 422, the story of David and Goliath found in 1 Samuel 17 parallels the tradition of the time in the Near East called the”battle of champions.” It was a practice where the champion of two opposing armies would fight each other to the death, and the winner vindicated their entire army.
While the history is fascinating, it is the reason why they did this that sheds light on David’s story and faith. This “single combat” was initiated because each army believed that their god would fight in place of the warrior, so the actual man doing the fighting wasn’t important if the gods determined the outcome. So why did the Philistines choose Goliath? Probably to intimidate the enemy.
This idea of the gods fighting is clear in 1 Samuel 17:43-45 when David and Goliath each call upon their own god for victory. David’s confidence was in his God, not his abilities. This is clear by his declaration, “The Battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam 17:46). This theme is so prevalent throughout my studies in Israel and in my life today. It’s something God has been trying to tell His children for centuries, the battle is His! And yet, so many times we insist on taking up the armor and fighting with our own strength.
If you read the story in 1 Samuel 17, and I encourage you to do so, then you will see King Saul wanted David to put on his armor, but David refused. He had faith that God would fight for him and through him. He needed no armor, or shield, or sword. Just five smooth stones probably found in a nearby river bed or stream. Just one hurl of his slingshot and the enemy went down.
Imagine if David would have put on King Saul’s armor, taken up his sword, and charged. What do you think would have happened? I think Goliath would have killed David and the story would have a different ending.
In my own life, why do I think that I can take up my sword and come out swinging and be victorious, when God really wants me to step back and let Him fight for me. He wants me to trust Him that He’s got this! The lesson I’ve been learning the last couple of years is that as much as I try, (and trust me, I try,) I really don’t “got this.” God does.
Does that mean I won’t pick up those five small stones and confront my giants? No, of course not! God will move through me, but I have to move first. But I can move in peace and confidence knowing that God’s got my back and the battle is His. All I have to do is throw those stones and trust they will land where they’re supposed to.
