“You are my championGiants fall when You standUndefeatedEvery battle You’ve won”
Champion, Dante Bowe
“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.”
1 Samuel 17:45, NIV
God is the God of the impossible.
In the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) we read that the Philistines gathered their armies and pitched their tents in Judah – and sent forth their champion, a giant named Goliath.
Goliath taunted and ridiculed the Israelites – for forty days he came out every morning and shouted at the children of Israel.
1 Samuel 17:4-11:
“4 A champion (‘ish habenayim) named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.[a] 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels[b]; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.[c] His shield bearer went ahead of him.
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.”
The word translated as champion (‘ish habenayim) is more literally translated as the ‘man between the two’ – signifying a sort of intermediary or mediator. The word ‘champion’ here indicates a person who fights ‘on behalf’ of someone else. In Ancient times wars would often be settled by what was known as a ‘camp fight’ in which each camp would send forth their ‘champion’ to settle the dispute. Whoever won the battle would win the war.
The Israelites, however, their whole army as well as their esteemed warrior-king Saul (1 Sam 11) were left dismayed, terrified and scattered.
While all of this is happening, a teenage boy named David is sent by his father to take provisions of grain and bread to his brothers.
David was not in the army, and scholars note that he was between the ages of 16-19 at the time, based on the timeline of events in 1 Samuel, the cultural context and the original Hebrew texts (Numbers 1:3, 1 Samuel 17:33).
The devil the Philistines sent forward asked for a man to fight. God sends a shepherd-boy. God sends David to stand publicly in the victory He ordained.
Goliath was quite upset about this, we read:
“41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”” (1 Samuel 17:41-44)
But David makes this powerful statement: “You come against me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel!”
And with one stone the enemy is shattered.
Yes, the Philistines sent forth their champion, armed to the teeth and full of pride.
But a humble teenager stood up for what he believed in and allowed his Champion to win the battle for him, through him.
Christ Jesus is our Champion. He fights on our behalf.
When I am weak, He is my strength. When the enemy breathes slander and murderous threats I come in the name of Jesus. My Champion has gone before and has already won.
Hebrews 12:1-2: (NLT)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Jesus conquered the grave. He has stripped death of its victory and its sting. He has left the devil exposed and naked – the enemies tents are torn, his pots have been cast asunder and his camp is empty – there is nothing there but empty threats.
We just have to realize who we are in Christ.
God takes the foolish things, the broken things and the lowly things – the humble things – and He lifts them up, raising them to glory.
Because of this we can cast aside the heavy garment of insecurity, our inferiority complex, our feelings of worthlessness and ‘not good enough’ and face every giant standing in our way. Whether that giant is poverty and unemployment, addiction, illness, family issues, your mental health – it has been shouting at you, mocking you, trying to intimidate you, trying to keep you down – but today the Lord has said ‘ENOUGH!’. Stand up in the name of Jesus and the giant will fall.
There is victory in Jesus.
And as you stand in the victory of our Champion, you also carry it forward. Your victory can lead to victory in the lives of those around you.
David stood in the victory that God had prepared. It was a personal victory but also a national victory – the victory was owned by every Israelite gathered there and at home.
Your victory will have a ripple effect.
As you testify about the victory you have in Christ you will help others see the same victory in their lives.
So, not only are you meant to be victorious in Christ, but you are also called to lead others to this same victory.
Stand in your victory today. And then carry it forward.
Prayer: Lord, today I come against every valley spirit trying to keep me down. I come against every giant that has been making a mockery of my faith, and I take off this heavy garment of insecurity, fear and doubt. You have plans for me – plans for good and not for evil. Help me see today that the battle belongs to You, You have already won. As I bring my giants before you today Lord, I thank You that one by one they will fall and I will see my victory. And as I see the victory let me proclaim the goodness of the Lord. Help me lead others to You as I carry it forward, testifying of Your love and grace and proclaiming the power of Your Name. Amen.