Then David spoke to the man who stood by him, saying, “what shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26
Welcome back to our series on Understanding Times and Seasons. In our last episode, we started a discussion on the story of David and Goliath and focused on the battle that led to the public announcement of David as a solution to the needs of the people. We stopped at the point where it became evident that every man in the camp of Israel were clueless on how to go about fighting and winning Goliath of Gath. Until the appearance of David in that story, all hope seemed lost and totally out of reach. The height of the hopelessness and fear of the King could be perceived when the King announced that whoever fight against Goliath and won would not only be enriched with great riches, more than that, the King would give him his daughter and give his father’s house an exemption from taxes in Israel! What a tragedy! In this same way, the world will always be willing to pay the price to honour any man that can truly bring solutions to their problems! In this new episode, we shall be exploring the instruments David used to defeat Goliath and how his understanding of times and seasons helped him to make a difference in his days. Get ready for the Fire Experience!
In verse 26 of 1 Samuel 17, David uttered his first few words since the beginning of the chapter. He asked about the reward promised to whoever would defeat Goliath in battle. This seemed to be a strange question to ask at such time because no one dared to even think of considering the bumper offer of King Saul! While the whole Israel stayed fearful and helpless, he was David counting the cost for the battle and mentally preparing for the reward that could surface if things go the way it should. The words of David explained the reason for his effrontery and audacity; he was not standing alone, he said: “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Verse 26b. David understood something that no one else seem to understand in that camp; while the whole army focused on the physical features and profile of their enemy, David chose to shift his attention to something deeper than the physical, he based his judgement of Goliath on the spiritual aspect!
The world will always be willing to pay the price to honour any man that can truly bring solutions to their problems!
One secret every believer must understand and hold dear in their journey through life is that “the Spiritual world controls the physical world!”. David weighed Goliath before the person of God and found him wanting! If Goliath cannot stand before the God of Israel, then he is a slain man already! Therefore, David understood this principle and as a result banked on the integrity of God to finish his enemy off when it’s time. The right question to ask at this point is, can you truly believe God for His words? In the days of trouble, will you bank on God’s word and stand firm on that word even when it seems the situation is overwhelming?
The enemy you cannot win in your mind will definitely crush you in reality!
David’s first attempt to win the battle made him a walking champion ever before meeting Goliath personally. You must learn to win the battles of life where it first matters most, your mind! The enemy you cannot win in your mind will definitely crush you in reality! The key to winning the battles of life is weighing the challenge with the One that promised to shield you from all challenges, God! whenever the challenge cannot beat God’s track record of one hundred percent victory from eternity till now, then the challenge must bow! It is a spiritual law of victory that, lower authority must always bow before higher authority! One thing we must note here is that, David excelled above everyone else in the army of Israel not because he was the only one that had access to the information that formed the basis of his revelation; but rather because, he did more than just knowing the information!
Until the knowledge of God you have accessed over time becomes your personal revelation which can be engaged in your life at all times, it is not fully profitable!
David meditated on the information of God’s Covenant upon the people of Israel to give them victory over all enemies and engaged that covenant in his personal life so much that it became his reality and daily experience! Until the knowledge of God you have accessed over time becomes your personal revelation which can be engaged in your life at all times, it is not fully profitable! So, after David declared his interest in fighting Goliath, the attention of Saul was drawn to this rookie who would not stop talking about how he would finish off Goliath the Giant. See, when you carry the answer to the problem of Nations, it will not be difficult to identify your voice! Your words and actions will continue to proof wrong the bunch of liars and quacks that ever existed in that area before your announcement. Be instructed today, get the original from God! stay with God enough to become His answer to your generation!
You must sustain the necessary requirement to identify what God is set to do in each season and how exactly He desires to move!
King Saul continued to demonstrate his clueless state and inability to lead Israel into victory against this specially packaged enemy of God’s people. See, in the school of discerning times and seasons, you must sustain the necessary requirement to identify what God is set to do in each season and how exactly He desires to move! The day you are supposed to fight with the words of your testimony, if you go to that battle with iron weapons, you will fail woefully! David testified before King Saul how God already trained him for this purpose by equipping him to kill both the bear and the lion while watching over his father’s sheep. He knew his onions! He only fought the Lord’s battles! So, David refused to be intimidated and discouraged by the words and actions of the people around him, he specially chose his weapon to be used: a sling and five stones understanding that when God is done finishing off a man while he is still alive, anything could kill him!
The day you are supposed to fight with the words of your testimony, if you go to that battle with iron weapons, you will fail woefully!
David started the battle well with God’s word in his mouth and also finished well. Verses 45-47 described David’s words this way: Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you in to my hand , and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” Wow! What a declaration! I can imagine how the hosts of heaven will be rushing to bring to effect all the instructions that were captured in the words of David. We will never be able to fully exhaust the depth of revelation embedded in the lifestyle of these men that the world was not worthy of! This is the lifestyle God has called us to, will you enter into it?
When you are carrying the answers to the problems of Nations, it can not be difficult to identify your voice!
Conclusively, God answered the prayer of David and truly proved to all that the battle is of the Lord’s. Goliath was killed in a very embarrassing manner for a warlord and the Glory returned back to God. David became the leader of a new revolution, he led the army straightaway to plunder and destroy the Philistines, the day that started as a dreadful one ended as a day the nation of Israel would never forget. It was the day God delivered them from the hands of the Philistines and restore authority and respect to God’s people. As for David, this was only the beginning of a life that was filled with victories upon victories without fail! David never lost a battle all through his lifetime that was full of war and battles. God is speaking to you today, will you be the David of your generation? Will you raise the banner of God higher than diseases and consistent troubles that fills the air of your community? Will you become God’s witness to a people, the awaited answer to their lifelong request for help from the Lord? God is waiting for you! The key is understanding times and seasons! learn from David! Remain blessed!
The Fire Place 