"The Valley Of Elah" Part 2

I love that David, a shepherd boy, who, because he spent time getting to know God while out in the field knew the outcome of the battle before he stepped into the valley of Elah. He declared it to Saul in verse 37 ..."The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."  He proclaimed the battle to be God's to Goliath himself..."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." And the outcome?  Just as he had spoken it. He took the head of Goliath!

As believers we all have times and situations that can be considered "A Valley of Elah." A place, a time, or even a day that as Joshua put it, where we must, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" Joshua 24:15. Goliath issued a challenge every day to the Israelites. He said, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." 1 Samuel 17:8-10

Did you catch it? Did you catch the key to what he said to cause doubt and fear in the hearts of the children of God? The words they heard were, "Choose a man to fight." which caused the to be dismayed and greatly afraid. His challenge put their focus on a mans strength and ability to fight rather than on GOD! He called them servants of Saul, (a man) A man? They were the children of GOD! At his challenge what filled their minds and hearts was fear because what MAN could fight this monster of a man? They were afraid because their focus was on choosing a man. When David a shepherd boy, who, because he spent time getting to know God while out in the field shows up and brings His opinion of Who God is with Him. His choice is already made. He choose to God to fight for him. He has chosen God to be His deliverer. He has already chosen God to fight on His behalf. His focus isn't on a man's strength but on Gods.

He has already chosen God to be God in everything that pertains to him. He declares Him as the one who has delivered him in the past. (verse 37 from the lion and bear) and because he has delivered him in the past he declares him to be his deliverer in this battle to Saul in verse 37) and he declares Him to be his deliverer in the future as he declares to Goliath that the battle is the Lord's. The point here is......its not about a man's strength, but Gods. The enemy had the Israelites focused on a man's strength. Goliath, even though he was luge, and strong, and fierce, and scary, and intimidating was still just a man. David, a shepherd boy, who, because he spent time getting to know God while he was out in the field, looked at Goliath and knew he could be beat because he KNEW God to be faithful. He knew that God was stronger! He recognized that Goliath, while large and scary, was still just a man And That God Is God And Is Way Stronger!

David knew that its not about choosing a man to fight. He knew that man's strength, even his own, was not enough. David, a shepherd boy, who, because he spent time getting to know God, Knew that with God nothing will be impossible. The point is ...no matter what giant is challenging us in our Valley of Elah the secret to our victory is not trusting in man's strength (even our own) but in trusting in His. Get to know Him as God and then the giants don't look so scary. The point is. ...CHOOSE to know Your God!