Tuesday Night Bible Study
Wisdom of the Word...W.O.W.

Central Verse:  “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, …This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, …that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:45-46)

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Lesson Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to show God as greater than the giants in our lives. All too often we find ourselves overwhelmed, afraid, and unsure because of life’s circumstances. This lesson demonstrates God can be greater than the issues we face every day. God is greater than the giants but not in a negative, domineering, or frightful way. He overcomes our hardships. When we are in relationship with Him the giants of our lives shrink and cease to have control over us. 

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Life Connections:  Use these questions to help your group members to begin to open up with one another and to think about their own lives. The answers to these questions need not be spiritual in nature. The intention is for practical real life responses.

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1) Why are children afraid of the dark? Because of shadows; because they can’t see their parents anymore; because everything takes on a different look when the lights are out.

2) What creates fear in people’s lives? Bad experiences; they are taught to be afraid of things by parents or friends; pressure to succeed.

3) What are your fears? Getting fired; death; losing my family; getting cancer; nuclear attack.

4) How do you deal with fears? I work extra hours and stay busy to try to cover them up; I drink; I chew my fingernails; I talk about them.

5) How can fear be negative to us? Can lead to bad habits that try to mask our feelings; can make it so we aren’t really living life; can control us and make us nervous, anxious people.

6) How can fear be positive for us? Can motivate us to do well; help us to deal with hard things in life; protect us from danger.

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Introduction

In today’s account, we see that the Israelites were struggling with a strong, life-long opponent: the Philistines. The history of the animosity between the Philistines and the Hebrews could be traced back to the exodus. At that time, the Israelites took the longest route to the land of Canaan in an attempt to avoid going through the land of the Philistines (Exodus 13:17). As the biblical history develops, we learn that for a very long time the Philistines were the bullies who suffocated life out of the Israelites.  In the account of David facing Goliath, we learn that the Israelites were really intimidated by Goliath. The Bible says, “…Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified” (1 Samuel 17:11). A fretful feeling seized the hearts of the Israelites every time the giant defied Israel. Yet, in the midst of their fears, they knew that the confrontation with the giants could no longer be avoided. 

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​Discussion

​There are many different ways that we could use this passage to make important life points. However, this lesson is focused on being controlled by fear. We find over and over again the mention of the fear of the Israelite soldiers. They were discouraged and afraid; they felt like there was no hope. Even King Saul, who was supposed to be their fearless leader, did not know what to do. Everything in the lives of God’s people was out of control; they were ruled by fear. Along comes David, childlike, trusting and ruled by God not by fear. David could have listened to the words of doom, the taunts and the laughs and Goliath might have won, but he didn’t. David’s unwillingness to be controlled by emotions, outside forces or the approval of others allowed God to work through the future king.  

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There are three truths to understand about giants in life:

1. Every “giant” introduces me to MYSELF: A crisis doesn’t make us; it only reveals what we already are. Negative situations or challenges only uncover what is inside of leaders. 

2. People who reach “giant positions” have DEFEATED giants: No team or person has ever achieved greatness without facing giant obstacles. In a 1962 study entitled “Cradles of Eminence,” researchers found one common thread running through all the outstanding lives they studied. Almost all of them had to overcome very difficult obstacles to become who they were.

3. Giants are often TOOLS God uses to shape us for bigger opportunities: Once young David knocked down Goliath, most people could see he was being prepared for national leadership.

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GIANT KILLER (1 SAMUEL 17)

1. They do not begin as giant killers (1 Samuel 17:14-24)

2. When war broke out between the Philistines and the Israelites, David was young. While his brothers served as soldiers, David obeyed his father, taking food and checking up on them. He found the soldiers dressed for battle but never engaging the enemy. Goliath kept confronting them for forty days with an unwavering challenge.

   1. Observations on David and the soldiers:

      1. David was faithful in every one of his small tasks.

      1. The army was unfaithful in their very large task.

3. David was a meek musician, a humble shepherd, and an overlooked son. He was faithful in his talent, with his father’s sheep, and to God. By becoming a master over the small things, he became a master over the big things (Luke 16:10). Faithfulness is a common characteristic of uncommon spiritual achievers. Matthew started as a tax collector, Peter as a fisherman, Elisha as a farmer, and Jesus as a carpenter.

4. Have you ever considered that Jesus spent more years as a carpenter than a preacher? He was faithful in little things. God never calls an inactive or unproductive person. Every candidate had started something before they became a giant killer.

5. They see the potential reward of defeating the giant (1 Samuel 17:25-27)

6. Most people see a giant as an obstacle, while only a few see it as an objective at which to aim. What separates the fruitful leader from the unfruitful one is that fruitful leaders see the impact and reward of taking a risk, and they take it. For others, the risk seems too high. On the day David faced Goliath, everyone had the same opportunity. However:

   1. The army saw Goliath; David saw God.

   1. The army saw the problem; David saw the potential.

7. We cannot evaluate a situation in terms of what we see. What is observable is real, but it is not the ultimate reality. Behind what we see is an all-powerful, loving God, and we must remind ourselves of this reality.

8. Life rewards risk and actions, but Satan will whisper words of fear and anxiety in your ears to minimize the reward and magnify the risk. Yet the truth remains that GOD IS A REWARDER of diligent seekers (Hebrews 11:6)! The belief that “God is greater” is the essence of a faith that persists in the face of fear. Fear is Satan’s weapon to paralyze you, while faith is God’s weapon to mobilize you. So, depend on God, challenge the giant, and join the ranks of God’s giant killers.

9. They do not listen to doubting critics (1 Samuel 17:28-33, 41-44)

10. You can quickly determine the caliber of a person by the amount of opposition it takes to discourage him. Like David, we must do three things to handle critics:

    1. We must get by the Eliabs’ who intimidate us emotionally.

    1. We must get by the Sauls who intimidate us with their position.

    1. We must get by the Goliaths who intimidate us with their ability.

11. David’s critics said: “You don’t belong here.” “You’re too young.” “You are full of pride.” “You are inexperienced.” It was tough because the criticism was continual. It came from respectable people in his life; they questioned his motives and abilities. Remember that everyone who has never killed a giant will tell you it is impossible.

12. In David’s day, they fought ‘by representation.’ One man would fight for the nation, and the country of the losing warrior became subservient to the country of the conquering warrior. That meant everybody did not have to die. So, David versus Goliath was really Israel against the Philistines. It was a one-on-one contest; the winner takes all. David’s victory over the giant was achieved with faith, a stone, and a slingshot. Yet scripture tells us he picked up not one, but 5 smooth stones. It was not because of a lack of faith but because David knew that Goliath had four brothers (2 Samuel 21:15-22).

    1. A giant never stands alone. Somewhere behind him are his supportive brothers – pain, guilt, loss, and shame. David was prepared with 5 stones – one each for Goliath and his 4 brothers. With God’s help you can conquer both the giant and his support team.

13. They are not overwhelmed by the challenge (1 Samuel 17:32)

14. The Israelite army cowered in fear. They assumed their anxiety was legitimized by the fact that Goliath was the most fierce and powerful opponent they had ever seen. Contrarily, David wanted to know who it was that defied the armies of the living God. The army saw Goliath as too big to hit. David saw him as too big to miss.

15. Never allow your fears to overwhelm your faith. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) says that “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Fear will feed on the failures of the past. Therefore, you must not allow yesterday’s failure to overwhelm today’s faith.  

16. They build upon past successes (1 Samuel 17:34-37)

17. David’s confidence was based on God’s protection in successful encounters with a lion and a bear. He reminded himself and the people of the faithfulness of God.

18. Accomplishments that bring us a sense of pride typically involve challenges. You probably felt some self-doubt initially but eventually gave it your total commitment. After the challenge is over, we often forget the initial self-doubt we felt. When we remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness, we can defeat self-doubt in the future.

19. They convince others they will be successful (1 Samuel 17:37)

20. What you believe means more than anything else in tough situations: more than what you earn, where you live, your social position, and what anyone else may think about you. Jesus said, “…According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29).

21. Self-confidence causes others to believe in you. God-confidence causes others to believe in God. Saul eventually said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”

22. They do not try to be someone else (1 Samuel 17:38-40)

23. King Saul offered David his armor and weapons. David tried them on out of courtesy but realized they did not fit who he was. Often, you will find yourself in this same kind of situation. Note that:

    1. During a crisis, people will try to make you like them.

    1. You will never defeat the giants in your life with fleshly weapons.

    1. God only expects us to use what we have to overcome our giants.

24. They face the challenge with a higher purpose (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

25. David saw this challenge as being more than just a battle with a nine-foot-tall guy. He faced it with a higher purpose. David ran to the battle so that the world would know the Lord of hosts. He saw Goliath as an enemy without a covenant with the living God versus himself, who did have a covenant and represented Him.

26. The real test of a man is not when he plays the role that he wants for himself, but when he plays the role destiny has for him.” (Bob Buford)

27. They are eager to win (1 Samuel 17:48)

28. The first step to solving any problem is to begin. A challenge inspires overcomers, and they are passionate about winning the victory. David didn’t walk toward Goliath…he ran!

29. They take those around them to a higher level (1 Samuel 17:49-52)

30. The first sign of a crisis is when you have a significant problem, and no one tries to help you solve it. Once David solved the problem of Goliath, the armies of Israel ran to chase down the rest of the Philistine army. They only won the battle that day because David paved the way for them.

 

Summary

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Practical Principles

1. We all have giants in life. We all face severe hardships and seemingly insurmountable obstacles and temptations.

2. Identify the giant (and the type).  Decide what weapon in your arsenal to use.

3. Know that the battle belongs to the Lord. We’re afraid of these threats against us, but we need to remember that God is in control, and He’s more powerful than our adversary.

4. Attack your giants. You’ve got to bring it out into the light of day. Quit covering it up. Quit rationalizing it. Quit justifying it. Just deal with it.

5. Finish the giant off. We don’t have to defeat the devil in our strength. Christ has already done that, so we don’t fight for We fight from victory.

Relevant Reminders

• Whatever you’re going through, it’s not unique to you. Someone else is facing something similar.

• Use the spiritual weaponry that God has given to you.

• Make yourself accountable to others, and stay away from people or situations where you would be unnecessarily tempted.

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THREE BIG GIANT DEFEATING TIPS:

• FOCUS ON GOD'S PRESENCE...NOT THE PROBLEM OR PEOPLE

  • 2 Kings 3:11
  • ​1 Samuel 30:6-8

• BE FEARLESS IN GOD'S POWER AND GRACE

• REMAIN FERVENT FOR GOD IN PRAYER, PRAISE, AND PERSEVERANCE

 

How can I stay focused, fearless, and fervent?  Only in God!

1. Seek God

The first way we are instructed how to enter God’s presence is to seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 says:

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

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2. Pray to God

The second way the Bible instructs believers to enter God’s presence is with corporate prayer. Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20.

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3. Praise God

The third way Christians can enter the presence of God is to praise Him. Psalm 22:1-3 says:

“But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.” (Psalms‬ ‭22:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

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Conclusion:

As we face our own "giants" in life, whether they be fear, doubt, or temptation, we can learn from David's example. Like David, we must have faith in God and trust in His strength to overcome the obstacles in our path. We must remember that we are not alone in our struggles, and that God is always with us, ready to help us face whatever challenges come our way. So let us take courage from David's story, and remember that with God on our side, we can overcome even the greatest of giants. Let us trust in His faithfulness, and know that He will never leave us or forsake us. And let us give thanks to Him for His unfailing love and grace, which sustain us through every trial and tribulation.

 

We have numerous giant killers in the Bible. One thing that stands out above all else in their lives is the Presence of God. “…the Lord was with Joseph, …” (Genesis 39:2,21). When God is your ally, Goliath becomes a stepping stone to glory. Never lose the sweet presence of God when facing your Goliaths. One of the saddest passages in the Bible is Judges 16:20 (NKJV), “And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So, he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.” The secret of perpetual victory is in Psalms 16:11. The joy of His presence will make you giant killers indeed.

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Questions for Reflection

• Are you facing a giant problem or impossible situation? Stop for a minute and refocus. Can you see the case more clearly from God's vantage point?

• Do you need to take courageous action in the face of insults and fearful circumstances? Do you trust that God will fight for you and with you? Remember, God's opinion is the only one that matters.

 

Prayers:

• Worship His Majesty, the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, the Lord strong and mighty in battle. Praise Him, who has never lost a battle and will never lose over your case. SING: “You are God from beginning to the end; there’s no place for argument; you are God all by Yourself…”

• I confess all my sins and iniquities and ask for Your mercy, Lord, in Jesus’ Name (Romans 9:16). 

• O Lord God of Israel, fight my battles for me, and silence all the goliaths of my life, family, church, community, and nation, in Jesus’ Name.

• Father, help me never to lose Your sweet presence like Samson did, in Jesus’ Name.

• Lord, make me a giant killer, in Jesus’ Name. Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayers!