Jesus the Giant Slayer
- Michelle Stepp
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
“The bloody scene was to show all who saw it that the Lord alone saves.”
“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. 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, 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.’ When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.” 1 Samuel 17:45-50
When we hear the story of David and Goliath, we often are taught it’s about slaying the giants in our life. Or that through Christ, we can do anything. Philippians 4:13, right? Well, I’m going to take us down a little bit of a different path.
In verse 46, David tells Goliath he’s going to cut off his head, and after David knocks out Goliath with a stone, David does just that (verse 51). I don’t know about you, but I feel like this is a detail left out in Sunday school. David used Goliath’s own sword to cut off Goliath’s head! This was no doubt a bloody sight, and David said it was “that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear” (v. 47). The bloody scene was to show all who saw it that the Lord alone saves.
The cross of Christ was also a bloody scene. Jesus was whipped, beaten, mocked, and spit upon. His blood surely dripped along the path He walked to Calvary. Scripture says that His crucifixion was so violent that Jesus was unrecognizable (Isaiah 52:14). And Jesus poured out His blood on the cross (John 19:34).
Jesus willingly laid down His life. His death was necessary to open a way for His chosen people to be justified with the Father. To bring us from being dead in our sin to having eternal life, the Son of God had to die. The sinless blood of the Lamb of God had to serve as the all sufficient sacrifice for our sins.
Yes, we can slay the giants in our life. But the biggest giant we’ve ever faced was how to be reconciled to God, and that giant was slain by Christ. May we rejoice in the salvation won for us by the blood of the Lamb!
Faith Follow-Through:
This week, take some time to grow in motherhood and faith:
Monday:
Today, reflect on how the story of David and Goliath points to the gospel of Jesus.
Tuesday:
Listen to “Come Ye Sinners” by Sojourn Music
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Spend time in prayer, thanking God for your salvation and praying for the salvation of those around you
Written by Michelle, mom of 1
