"The Valley Of Elah" Part 4

"Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand.  And he drew near to the Philistine. So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him." 1 Samuel 17:40-41
      -----------------------------------------------------
Today, in part four we are going to look at the second clue that shows that David knew that God was going to show Himself strong. In part three we looked at the five smooth stones as the first clue these two verses contained and the second comes in what is stated next. I think it is important to note for that very reason. It is what he does next. He doesn't wait! He chooses his weapon and he simply goes. The next words say, ...and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand.  And he drew near to the Philistine. So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him."

He picked out his stones, put them in his pouch, and with his sling in one hand and his staff in the other he went down into the valley to take the giant on. Stop and think for a moment, In verse 16 it says, "And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening." Morning and evening he would come out and issue his challenge. Not all day long. Morning and evening. He didn't stand there all day in the heat in his armor. Morning and evening he would come out. The Bible tells us that David took Saul's armor off, went, got his stones, and then, then he went down to drawn near to the Philistine. He went down and waited for the Philistine to come. He wasn't just answering the challenge at this point he was making it!

David went and drew near first and then it says, so the Philistine came,  and as he drew near he got a good look at who had come down. He got close enough to see who dared to challenge him. 'then he started drawing near to David,...And when the Philistine looked about and saw David he disdained him for he was but a youth, ruddy and good looking." verse 42  This was any other day for Goliath. He didn't know when he made his morning challenge that there was a new arrival in the Israel's camp that had heard it. He didn't know that this day was different and someone was going to respond. For forty days he had challenged and for forty days no one responded. He wasn't hanging out waiting. That is why it makes a point of saying 'So the Philistine came' and then it talks about him drawing near to David. First he had to come back out. He was sent for because someone had come down into the valley from Israel's camp. Someone had answered the challenge. Someone was in the Valley of Elah waiting and as he drew near he realized that he had come back out to fight a boy with a staff in his hand. It says that he was angry because of it and 'disdained him.'  If he had been in the valley waiting and watching David come down he would have seen all that and wouldn't have had to drawn near before he knew.

David went down to take the battle to the one who would defy His God. He didn't wait for Goliath's next scheduled challenge. He didn't wait and allow him another opportunity to spread fear or to defy God. He went on the offense! No hesitation. No waiting for the enemies next move. He picked his weapon and then with his confidence inas  God to deliver he immediately stepped out in the strength of His God, or  in this case down into the Valley of Elah.

What about you and I? Do we understand that the battle is the Lord's? Do we go on the offensive to prevent the enemy from doing harm. Do we even know what our weapons are? Do we understand that just because the enemy puts on a good show of strength for forty days, morning and night, that it doesn't mean he can't be defeated?  Are we on the defense because we see the enemies strength or are we like David? Do we go on the offense because we know the strength of our God?

"... and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:18-19

Remember the Valley of Elah and what happened there! The battle is the Lord's and He alone is our deliver. Trust Him!