The Lord Saves Not with Sword and Spear

Jon Ladd

In what is maybe the most cinematic story in all Scripture, Israel is at war. They are, as was often the case, outnumbered and scared. A Philistine army stands across the battlefield from God's own, and from their intimidating ranks steps a giant. The eponymous Goliath - towering, powerful - shouts his challenge to all Israel's fighting men:

“‘Why are you all coming out to fight?’ he called. ‘I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!’”1 Samuel 17:8-10

No one accepts at first. God's anointed one, King Saul, watches in fear from the nosebleeds. And just when it seems like Goliath will go on insulting the Most High God unchallenged, a small voice calls out to him. Young David, son of Jesse, who was only there to bring food to his older brothers, accepts the challenge. This is one of those many Biblical stories that remains imbedded in our secular culture, so I don't need to tell you what happened next.

If you are like me, or went to a Sunday school like mine when you were a kid, then this story is the first you had heard of David. The moral of this story to my undeveloped brain was not that faith is power, and God can see you through any and all circumstances; it was that this David guy is so brave, and strong, and I wish I could be like him someday because I'm not now. Yes, David was brave and strong, and one to be aspired after. But the lesson of David is not what I first knew it to be, and that's because this story is not the first time David enters the Biblical stage.

After the Lord disqualifies Saul, Israel's first king, from his station, He directs Samuel, the country's judge and kingmaker, to go and anoint someone else (1 Samuel ch.16). So one day, an untold time before his battle with Goliath, David is called home from his flock to find his father and brothers standing around an old stranger. Samuel has come to see them, and they're waiting for the youngest of Jesse's sons, the lowest in station. When Samuel sees David, the Lord confirms that this young man is the next king. Samuel anoints David with oil then and there, and while "The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward" (1 Samuel 16:13), it would be a while before David sat the throne.

With this first, fateful scene in mind, think over the battle with Goliath again. Is this simply a brave, faithful boy fighting for his nation, prevailing with his superior wit and skill? It is so much more than that. Instead, this is a story of one of lowly stature, filled mightily with the Spirit of God, who relied on the Lord completely and let no fear dampen his faith. When David comes to the battlefield and hears Goliath's words, he says:

“You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” - 1 Samuel 17:45-47

This becomes his battlecry. The Lord saves not with sword and spear. While David leads a life full of warfare, all through his trials this is true of him.

Do you want to be more like David? You don't have to ratchet up your workout regime or face your stage-fright (though neither of these could hurt). Instead seek first God's Kingdom and Spirit, and rather than build yourself up, lower yourself day by day. Seek to serve, and to rely further and further on our gracious God. David’s legendary moral failure came about while he was king, and instead of camping in the battlefield with his men was lounging in his palace, reveling in his status (2 Samuel 11). God’s power is made perfect, as David knew before and after this tragedy, in our weakness and reliance on Him (2 Corinthians 12:9).

When you face trials that strike fear into you, and are far beyond your strength to solve, remember the words and actions of David in their proper context: The Lord rescues His people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle.