The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
David Vs Goliath: Five Words that Won the Battle
By Joel B.
1 Sam 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
Everybody faces at least one giant at some point in their life. Whether it be a financial woe or a bully we must face head on, there is a battle that must take place. David knew this very well, but he also knew that whether he was in a pasture tending sheep or on a battlefield facing an angry, bloodthirsty giant, he was not alone and the battle was already won.
Lets take a moment to look at one of David’s most famous conflicts. It’s the story of David versus Goliath. So who was Goliath? Goliath was a Philistine from Gath. He was six cubits in height, he wore six unique pieces of armor, and his spear weighed six-hundred shekels of iron. He was a bully and a troublemaker, and would taunt the armies of Israel defying everything they stood for.
At the time, David was a young boy of humble heart. He knew that Goliath was nothing more than giant target full of hot air. He went to Saul, who was king at the time, and said he wasn’t about to take anymore of Goliath’s ridiculous banter, and that he would go out on the battlefield and settle this. Saul knew that David was the one to handle this task, but none of the king’s armor was appropriate for David. So David went out on to the battlefield in shepherd’s clothes, barring only a staff, a slingshot and a few smooth stones as weapons.
As soon as David entered the battleground, Goliath instantly engaged him with curses by his gods and threats to feed his flesh to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
Of course it was David’s turn to reply and this was the beginning of the end of Goliath. Let me give it to you just as it is written in the Holy Bible:
1 Sam 17:45-47 Then said David to the Philistine, 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. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
Did you catch the five words in this scripture that ended the battle? That’s right! “The battle is the Lord’s.” As soon as David spoke those words, Goliath was in deep trouble, because the battle could not be lost as it belonged to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We all know what happens next. David pulls out a stone, puts it in the sling, and nails Goliath right in the forehead, killing him. David then goes to Goliath’s body, takes the sword of Goliath, and then cuts off the Philistine’s head. The armies of Israel instantly recover from their fear and chase down the now terrified Philistine army, wounding, killing, and even spoiling their tents.
Friends, you know those battles we all have? Well lets just give them all to the Lord. Lets give our battles to the Lord just like David gave his battle with Goliath to the Lord. When something becomes the Lord’s battle, it becomes impossible to lose. David could’ve been the worst shot ever with a slingshot and still come away the victor, just because of those five words he spoke to a seemingly scary giant, “The battle is the Lord’s” Thank you for reading my friends, and God bless.
One of my favorite stories! Isn’t it amazing how the stone did not veer left or right, but hit the mark preciously in the middle and with just the right amount of force? No one else but God could win that battle. What joy it is to know that I don’t have to face this battle alone. The battles are already the Lords and we can rejoice in the victory because He has already won. Before Goliath even stepped out upon the field, he had lost since the only power he relied upon was his own. No battle is too big for God to conquer and Goliath represents just a glimpse of the size of battles God is able to win.
At times, even though the Lord has won battles for us in the past, we (I) still, feel ‘I can handle this.’ Feeling pressured to act, we can omit the most important thing of all.. to call on the name of the Living God. Thank you for reminding us that, not matter what it is, ‘the battle is the Lord’s.’
David was most likely an expert at using a slingshot. Not to take away from relying upon God, but I think that at times God uses our gifts and expert abilities to go against the enemy. I wonder if David would not have been so bold if he had not known what God had gifted him to do. At the same time he was victorious because he acknowledged that the battle was in God’s hands and he was determined to go against someone who was defying his God, and not just look the other way. This is a story that has direct application to our culture today as we see so many people mocking Jesus and Christianity. We do not have to just look the other way like nothing is happening. I think, in even using our gifts of writing, we have an obligation to stand up against those who are enemies of the faith. We can boldly proclaim spiritual truth and take a stand against those who are defying our God in the words we write.