Run Quickly To The Battle Line

(1 Samuel 17 – from NIV)

This book and chapter in the Bible is a very familiar story to most all of us about David and Goliath.

It tells us that the Philistines had set up camp on one hill and the Israelites on another – battle lines were drawn.  Verses 4-7:  “A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp.  He was over 9’ tall, had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing 5000 shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back.  His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed 600 shekels…..”  

Based on your own height, try to imagine a man they say was over 9’ tall standing in front of you – challenging you with his 5000 shekels of armor – which is 125 pounds, his spear weighing about 15 pounds with the iron point alone weighing just over 3 pounds.  That’s a BIG man carrying a lot of weight with his armor!

Every morning the Philistines and the Israelites would go out to their battle positions and shout their battle cries.  Every morning Goliath would step out and defiantly shout insults and challenges at the Israelites; and, he continued to challenge them to send out a man to fight him.  This went on for 40 days.  Verse 11:  “On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.”  Verse 24:  “When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.”   

Then one morning young David showed up.  When he saw and heard Goliath with all his taunts and threats, then witnessed the fear and the retreat of the Israelites, he went to Saul asking to be the one to do battle with Goliath. Verse 32: “David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.’”

Many times, like the Israelites, we get a Goliath-sized problem in our lives.  It seems to be much larger than we can handle alone.  Like Saul and all the Israelites we become “dismayed and terrified.”  Because of the boldness of our problem and Satan taunting us with it repeatedly, we lose faith in our Lord and in the power He has given to us, then fear begins to set in.

We have a choice – we can let fear paralyze us and make us useless in our battles just as the Israelites were as they faced their giant; or, we can keep the faith and stand on God’s words and promises as David did and know that the Lord will deliver us.  When Saul had legitimate concerns about the size of David, in verse 37 David says to Saul:  “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”  What phenomenal faith from such a young boy!  

As we face giants in our lives, we must put on the armor of God, being particularly careful to use our weapon – which is God’s Word.  We must then advance, in the power of the name of the Lord Almighty as it says David proclaimed in verses 45-47:  “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’”  

We must also remember that in our own strength alone, we likely cannot win; but, know that we can claim the promise as David did – “the battle is the Lord’s.”  

Verse 48: ”As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.”  David slew that giant with only a sling and one stone – he didn’t need a physical sword.  (Ephesians 6:17 says “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”)  So His word is our sword and David had spoken God’s words to proclaim his victory.  

We must speak the Word of God and do the same thing David did – run quickly to the battle line and watch the defeat of our Goliath!  We cannot be shy and withdrawn when doing battle with our enemy Satan and his horde of demons – claim your promises and your victory!

If David had not come along, taken a stand and defeated Goliath, I believe the Philistines would’ve soon tired of this daily game and because of the fear shown by the Israelites, would’ve defeated them.  Do not let your Goliaths defeat you.  Take your stand, with your feet firmly planted at the battle line, on the Rock and celebrate victory in our Lord!  Hallelujah! 

Written by Karran Martin – October 2018 / Revised June 7, 2025

Published originally November 25, 2018

[Bold emphasis is mine]