1 Samuel 17:41-44 - Every encounter in life is spiritual in nature

David, simply armed, met the nine-and-a-half-feet Philistine head-on, fearlessly. The very size of Goliath would be enough to send shudders down his spine, never mind how he was armed. First Samuel 17:5-7 described how Goliath was armed. “He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.” Simply put, Goliath was impenetrably armed to the hilt.

David, on the other hand, only had with him a staff which he used to shepherd his father’s sheep, and a pouch slung across his shoulder which contained his sling and five stones. Comparing with Goliath, David was so puny in size. And it was not only until they drew close enough did the Philistine notice him. As soon as Goliath noticed David, he showed great disdain for him. To him, David was only a ruddy but handsome youth. But he had under-estimated David. It was neither the size nor the weaponry that David was relying on. His trust was in God whom he worshipped and served. 

Goliath denigrated and insulted David saying, “‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”  What the last part of verse 43 says reveals something deeper to us. More than natural, this was a spiritual battle. It was not about David versus Goliath, but the God of David versus the gods of Goliath. We must not overlook the truth that every encounter in life has to do with who is ultimately in control over our lives – the true God or Satan, the god of this world.  It is never about deprivation of one's comfort and pleasure in life but about who ultimately owns us. We are the people of God and every victory we gain is about Him taking a greater reign in our lives.   

In threatening to feed David’s flesh to the birds of the sky and beasts of the field, Goliath was using death to frighten David. Death has always been the enemy’s main threat even to this day. This is precisely what our Lord Jesus came to free us from, the fear of death. So Hebrews 2:14-15 tell us that Jesus partook of flesh and blood so that through death “…He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Jesus has freed us from the fear of death. Hallelujah!