WHEN YOU FACE THE GIANT…

Series: Giant Slayer | Pastor Daniel Norris

Text: 1 Samuel 17:32–50 (ESV)

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:45–47, ESV)

Here is the lesson David teaches us about facing giants.

The voice you allow to become the loudest in your life changes everything

“When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” (1 Samuel 17:11, ESV)

Notice the order. They heard the words, and then they became dismayed and afraid.

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26, ESV)

Five Voices You Face The Battlefield

1. Philistines—The Voice of Intimidation

8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 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.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” (1 Samuel 17:8–11, ESV)

You become what you believe, and you believe what you behold.

Here is the lie… “Are you not servants of Saul?”

He reframes their identity.

“Dismayed” means shattered or broken.

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1–2, ESV)

David says where you sit matters and what you listen to matters.

What voice have you been hearing repeatedly?

2. Eliab—The Voice of Rejection

28 Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” (1 Samuel 17:28, ESV)

It’s not uncommon for the one who has lost faith, to challenge the person with faith

“I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons.” (Psalm 69:8, ESV)

“David turned away from him toward another.” (1 Samuel 17:30, ESV)

Not every voice deserves an answer.

“Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9, ESV)

3. Saul—The Voice of Limitation

33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33, ESV)

“The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37, ESV)

Faith does not ignore the facts. Faith acknowledges the facts and still trusts the one who is Faithful!

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Revelation 12:11, ESV)

4. Goliath—The Voice of Confrontation

“Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” (1 Samuel 17:43, ESV)

“With sticks…”

“You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts.” (1 Samuel 17:45, ESV)

Whoever controls the high ground controls the battlefield.

“The battle is the LORD’s.” (1 Samuel 17:47, ESV)

5. The Lord—The Voice of Vindication

“This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand.” (1 Samuel 17:46, ESV)

“David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:48, ESV)

Five Ways to Face Your Giant

1. Feed on the Word (Psalm 1:2, ESV)

2. Filter the Voices (1 Samuel 17:30)

3. Recall God’s Faithfulness (1 Samuel 17:37)

4. Remember Your Identity (1 Samuel 17:26)

5. Run Toward the Battle (1 Samuel 17:48)