You Will Defeat Giants When You Know You Are God’s Beloved

The story of David and Goliath has to rank as one of the most famous stories in the Bible. It resonates with us because of the consistent message. God does not look at the outward, but he looks at the heart.

The passage of Scripture which talks about this battle discusses how the Israelites and Philistines were at a standstill. Both armies on each side. One man from each army was to go and fight, the victor wins the entire battle.

For forty days’ no one would face Goliath. He was over nine foot tall and wore very heavy armor. Yet here arrives David, a young shepherd’s boy who was probably around the age of 15-16 years of age. He decides to fight Goliath, but not with a sword or shield but, “…in the name of the Lord…” (1 Samuel 17:45). As David goes toward Goliath, he strikes the giant with a sling and a stone. Goliath falls face forward and David takes his own sword to decapitate him.

There is significance in the names of David and Goliath. The name Goliath in Hebrew means, “Exile.” He is from Gath which means, “Winepress.” Many times in the Bible winepress represents God’s judgment (Isaiah 63:2; Lamentations 1:15; Revelation 14:20). Revelation 14:19 tells us, “19 So the angel swung his sickle…and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God.” When we put the two together he is Goliath (exile) from Gath (winepress/God’s judgment). Satan has been exiled because of God’s judgment and he wants you to believe that you too are exiled from God.

David’s name in Hebrew means, “beloved.” What does it take to kill a Goliath? No tanks, bazooka’s, swords or daggers, it takes someone who knows they are loved by God. Many people live in defeat because they think they are under God’s wrath because of what they have done wrong and what they haven’t done right. What we have to understand is that God has paid for our sins. All we have to do is receive what he has done.

We are no longer an exile from God because of wrath. We can now have a relationship with God because of the Cross. The punishment, judgment, and condemnation we deserved was placed on Jesus. Now we have right standing with God through Christ payment. Some have this idea that Jesus is the one full of love but God has anger. The truth is that they both have a heart of love. In fact, John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world…”

David was wearing shepherds clothing and King Saul wanted him to wear a soldier’s armor. It didn’t matter what he was wearing. He knew his identity! Yet it was not about what he looked like on the outside because he knew whose he was on the inside. It takes someone who knows they are beloved by God to conquer giants.