Day 1143: The battle is the Lord's – 1 Samuel 17 vs 41 - 51

41-44 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and 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. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. 47 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, and 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.”

48-50 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 1 Samuel 17:41-51 English Standard Version

What better way to end the year than with the account of a great victory! For weeks, a giant Philistine had taunted Israel's army and mocked the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Now, at last, the Israelites sent out someone to take up the challenge. But what a contest. The huge Goliath wearing a helmet of bronze, a coat of mail weighing over 5000 shekels of bronze, and a javelin with a shaft like a weavers beam and a spear head weighing 600 shekels of iron. And against him was a youth armed with a sling. Yes, he was handsome, but still just a youth. The giant invoked the curses of his many gods upon David.

But what was David's brave response? (vs 45)

He didn't even mention his weapon, but said rather that the battle was between the God of Israel and the false gods of the Philistines. And David said that the outcome of the battle would be “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel; and 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.”

For anyone expecting a drawn out cut and thrust fight, they were to be disappointed. Instead, David ran to meet the foe and, with his sling, slung a stone that struck the giant in the forehead. It was the one part not protected by his armour. There are articles that will tell you that an Israelite with a sling will regularly hit his target, and do great damage. So our reading tells us that “David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.” But it was surely because the Lord was with him that the battle was so quickly won.

When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead - they fled. And when Christ returns, the devil who has deceived the nations will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, and be tormented day and night forever and ever. The Bible says “death has been swallowed up in victory. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56) So as we go into the year ahead, and perhaps meet up with many challenges on the way, let us be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. For we know that, in the Lord, our labour is not in vain.