The Valley (Part One)
I want to share some scripture from 1 Samuel 17:2-3 (NKJV). This is the beginning of the story of David and Goliath. It says, And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. The Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side with a valley between them.
The story goes on with a giant of a man, Goliath, who is continuously taunting, mocking and defying the armies of God. We each have our own “giant.” Our giants name is not Goliath. Our giants name could be, depression, anxiety, fear, pain/grief from divorce or a lost loved one, self-doubt or self-hatred. The list could go on. David boldly says in 1 Samuel 17:45-47(NKJV), Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, 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. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands.
Notice what David boldly proclaims in v. 45, I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. These things we mentioned above, defy God: depression, anxiety, fear, pain/grief, self-doubt/self-hatred and more. These things defy God. They defy the things that God says about you and the thoughts that He has towards you. Jeremiah 29:11(NKJV)For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God’s word also tells us in Romans 8:37 (NKJV), Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. What else does God’s word say? In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV), For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
The Lord God Almighty has not left us defenseless! In v. 51 David finishes off Goliath: Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
David had a sword, but God has given us a spiritual sword. Ephesians refers to it as “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” That’s not all He’s given us. He’s given us the armor of God. He’s given us His Son, Jesus; He’s given us the Holy Spirit, who leads us in all truth. He’s given us worship and praise and prayer! Without Jesus we would all be condemned to hell. We would have no way to our Father. Without Jesus, there would be no armor of God. Without Jesus, there would be no Holy Spirit to lead us in all truth and righteousness.
As sons and daughters of God, we need to use the weapons He’s given us and fight!
I am a child of light and love! I am worth more than many sparrows, more than rubies! I was bought at a high cost, the blood of Jesus. I am not alone, for my God promises to never leave me or forsake me, and He goes before me to fight my battles! These are the things we need to be declaring to our giants. But the question is…do you have faith. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV), For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
©2021 Leslie Wittenmyer—All rights reserved