1 Samuel 17:33-37 – The truth about spiritual realities

Earlier we discussed the need to get our perspective right. That’s because we tend to conclude from what we see in the natural. Hence, there is a tendency to bypass the unseen realm because it is not tangible and not immediately apparent. But what happens in the spiritual realm is just as real. In fact more so. Like it or not what happens in the realm of the unseen affects the natural realm. This is affirmed by the account of 1 Samuel 17:32-37.

On hearing reports of what David had said, the king summoned for him. Here we see a conversation between God’s newly anointed king and the rejected king. And the former assured him that no one should be fearful on account of Goliath. He offered to fight that loud-mouth uncircumcised pagan. To David, Goliath was not only uncircumcised, but he had also denigrated the people who belonged to God. In so doing, he was, in fact, coming up against God. David saw more than what was in the natural.

Considering their physical stature, David and Goliath, they were miles apart. He was a youth who had not fought a war, while Goliath was a hunk of a man, a warrior who had been fighting in wars all his life. Thus, it was natural for Saul to conclude that David would be no match for Goliath. He doubted that David could beat Goliath. But David was not depending on his own strength. For this was not the first time he was facing something so huge. He had past encounters where with the help of God, he overcame a lion and a bear with his bare hands. He struck both the lion and the bear and killed them, and prevented them from taking any of his sheep. If God had been His help then, he was confident that God would be his enabler now.

The most telling part of this passage is found in what David said in verse 37. He said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” His confidence was in the Lord and not in himself. He wasn’t looking on the natural side of things for he had set his sight on God, who though unseen by the physical eyes, but would be enabling him in the battle. David was counting on God to save them. He convinced Saul, who relented and agreed to let him go and fight Goliath, and wished that the Lord be with him.

Our experiences with God in the Christian walk are great lessons of trust. The more we connect with God and are able to accumulate success experiences with Him, the more confident we will be in Him. More importantly, we need to be convinced of the reality of things in the spiritual and unseen realm. God operates in that realm, and the effect of His working can be felt in the physical realm. No wonder Jesus asked us to pray because our God who operates in the unseen realm will answer us and bring into effect what we ask for in this physical realm. Prayer helps us to access God in the unseen realm to bring spiritual realities into our life here on earth. So let us build a disciplined prayer life!