How to Read the Bible + “War of Words”
Download the handwritten version of “How to Read the Bible + “War of Words” here.
Download the “How to Read the Bible + “War of Words” audio/episode here.
War of Words.
1 Samuel 17
As I began to read and re-read the story of David and Goliath a few weeks ago, the first thing that caught my attention was WORDS. The Bible introduces the battle (v. 1-3) and the bad guy (v. 1-7). The first thing the bad guy does? Talk. Goliath stood and shouted a taunt from across the mountain. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me.”
This is how the story starts, and this is how the story continues. In analyzing Goliath’s strategy, I see classic bully. Classic intimidation. He uses words to point out his size. He uses words to point out their inadequacies. He uses what they see and what they hear to convince them to give up and keep them locked in fear. All he did was get close and talk...the Word says, “He drew near” 3 times, and it says “said,” or “spake,” or “cursed” 6 times. Was it effective? Well, it depends on who Goliath’s words were to.
To Saul and the entire Israelite army, this bad guy and his battle strategy were effective: “When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.” (1 Samuel 1:11) Saul doesn’t say anything back. No one in the Israelite army talks back. They shake in fear and hide in their tents. They allow Goliath to set the parameters for the fight. “Send me A man.” They listen, but don’t respond. They are held hostage by what they hear. For them, the words were effective.
But, there came a day, after 40 days, (v.16) that Jesse said to David: take some provisions to your brothers. (v. 17) Upon his arrival at the battleground, and, as he’s talking with his brothers, Goliath comes out and does his thing: “As he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, …and spake according to the same words. And David heard them.” (v. 23) The same words have the same effect on the army this 41st day: “And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.” (v.24) They run away, but David? David starts talking.
V. 26: “And David spake.” “What will a man get for killing this Philistine? And ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?
David uses his voice to get the facts.
V. 29: “ …and David said…is there not a cause?”
V. 30: “…and David turned from him to another and spake after the same manner.”
David uses his words to point out a reason to fight. His words show purpose.
The result? David’s word are rehearsed to Saul, and David’s words find him in audience with the king…his first words to Saul?
V. 32: “And David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go fight for him.”
David uses his voice to alleviate the fear of others and offer himself to fight.
Now…David has already heard the tormenting taunts of the enemy. David has already heard the fearful response of his fellow Israelites. (vv. 24-25) David is about to hear his inadequacies spoken by the king. “And Saul said to David,” You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight him, for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.’” (v. 33)
David is not daunted. David keeps talkin’.
V. 34: “And David said unto Saul…” David goes on to share stories of personal victory. He relays the stories of hand-to-hand combat with a lion and a bear, and how he had won.
David used his voice to testify of past victories.
V. 37: “And David said, ‘Moreover, the Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this uncircumcised Philistine.”
David uses his voice to credit the Lord for past victories and declares credit to Him in advance for future victories.
And Saul said unto David: “Go but not without first trying to force David into his mold and outfitting him with his armor. Saul places his helmet and coat of mail on David, and David puts Saul’s sword on.
But once they were on and David tried to move with them, he spoke up:
V. 39: “And David said unto Saul, ‘I cannot go with these, for I have not proved them.”
David uses his words to declare that he is going to stick with what works.
David picks up stones form the brook, and advances toward the enemy. When Goliath sees him coming, he speaks his final words, “And Goliath said to David, “Am I a dog? That you come to me with sticks?” Then he curses *#^&*&!@*$^&^#)$ David, and continues talking: “Come to me, and I will give your flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.”
Scripture does not state how those words made David “feel,” it just goes on to say what David said in response to an enemy champion who spoke death threats.
V. 45: “Then said David to the Philistine: You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou has defied. This day will the Lord deliver you into my hand; and I will smite you and take your head from you; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day into the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and with spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
David used his words to prophecy the destruction of the enemy by the power of God and for the glory of God. David used his words to speak faith in God’s capability and David used his words to credit God and the entire Israelite army with the victory.
The story goes on with the part everyone knows: Goliath draws near. David runs to meet him with raw courage. David takes the first stone out of his bag, slings it, and hits the fearsome, brutish Goliath square in his forehead. Goliath topples. David advances with no sword, stands on top of Goliath, takes Goliath’s very own sword out of it’s sheath, and cuts off the giant’s head. The Philistines see that their champion is dead, run in fear, and are pursued by the now bolstered Israelite army who defeat them. The Israelites then come back and spoil the Philistine tents. But David? The record of the spoil he takes is this: “And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.” Goliath’s head and Goliath’s armor went home with this youth who was willing to use his words and step out in active faith. (Maybe the armor went next to a bear tooth or a lion tooth?) I think maybe David wanted a future reminder that the “the battle is the Lord’s.”
David’s words worked. Words always work.
While I have never faced a literal giant who shouts taunts from the other side of the valley, I have faced another bully known as “the Accuser of the brethren.” (Revelation 12:10) He accuses day and night. He reminds me a lot of Goliath. He uses classic intimidation to leave the people of God hiding in fear. He uses his words to point out the vast scope of societal problems and our inability to affect them. He points out my size. He points out my inadequacies. He uses what I see and what I hear with my physical senses to demoralize and downgrade. He uses his words to cripple. He uses his words to clutch hearts with guilt, shame, and condemnation. He uses his words in an attempt to set the battle parameters. I have heard his words on repeat: “Who do you think you are?” “You have nothing to offer.” “You are unworthy.” “Why would God love you?” “God could never use someone with your past.” And on and on and on and on… “God doesn’t love you…if He does, why is all this happening?” “God doesn’t care.” HE drones on endlessly. He’s had millennia to perfect his craft, and he knows those lines that touch that nerve.
Do his words work? That depends on who hears them. Goliath didn’t count on David to talk back. The Accuser doesn’t count on me to talk back.
But, like David, I’ve fought a couple of battles and I know the goodness and the capability of God. And like David, I choose to use my words in direct defiance of every lie and every accusation.
Revelation 12:11 goes on to say (the brethren) “overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and word of their testimony.” The Accuser is defeated by the perfect, spotless, sacrificial blood of Jesus and by my confessing that perfect work in my life. His voice is shut down by Jesus’ blood and my voice.
Like David, I will start talking. I will use my words to declare that there is a cause! There is a reason to fight! I will use my voice to help alleviate the fear of others. I will use my voice to testify of past victories! And to credit God for FUTURE victories! I will use my voice to boldly proclaim that the battle is STILL the Lord’s and that He will win victory for His people!
I made up my mind a long time ago that my voice would be known in heaven and my voice would be known in hell. I refuse to allow the biggest bully of all time to silence my prayers, my worship, my encouragement, or my declarations of faith. I refuse to be quiet, because it’s a WAR OF WORDS and words work.
“The battle is the Lord’s.”
Thank you, David, for leading the way and proving that size and age and personal capability are not the key factor. Thank you for showing us how to talk back and step out in bold confidence based solely on Who’s side you’re on, and Who’s power you’re walking in. Thank you for your fearless action motivated by previous victories and a deep walk with God. Thank you, David!