Joel M Bradshaw

There are 10 things that I am thankful for regarding the Goliath story. I listed parts 1-5 yesterday. Here are 6-10 from 1 Samuel 17.

37And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

6. I am thankful that David looked at his troubles in view of God’s historical faithfulness. What an example he is to us!

38Then Saul clothed David with his armor.

7. I am thankful that Saul hid in his tent. Saul, remember, was the tallest Israelite. This would be like a professional basketball team sending out fifth graders to play. Tall Saul should have faced tall Goliath!

43And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

8. I am thankful that Goliath also made the matter a theological one. He also saw the fight between both mortal and divine.

46This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

9. I am thankful that David saw God once again at work. The goal of the fight was that all may theologically know. Both Israelite and Philistine.

57And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

10. I am thankful that David carried around Goliath’s head. What a reminder of God’s faithfulness in that situation. What a reminder of Saul’s trembling fear.

Look at your impossible situation through the lens of God’s faithfulness. He handles his business. He is both God and good. Pharaoh and Egypt once learned the same theological reality that Goliath and the Philistines did. There is no God like Yahweh. He alone provides and saves like he does. You either are responding trust or you are not. He gives us much to be thankful for. —JMB