GOLIATH - A Classic Insight
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
published on this List before.
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"DAVID AND GOLIATH - An End-Time View"
-by Hadyn Olsen. [First published - 1980's].
Recently, after reading the account of this historic
meeting between David and Goliath, I was struck by the
significance of it's message concerning the end time
period that we are entering into.
Far more than a children's story, this account speaks
of the collision of two kingdoms. The kingdom of God
and the kingdom of Satan.
There are a number of times in the Scriptures that we
witness such a dramatic encounter between these two
kingdoms. We may think of the time of Moses and the
exodus from Egypt, the plagues and the Red Sea. We
may think of Joshua and Jericho - or Elijah on Mt.
Carmel. Then of course there is the Lord Jesus Himself
and the many occasions of His demonstrating the
kingdom.
In all these events we see something of the nature of
these two opposite kingdoms, and of the superiority of
God's kingdom over Satan's. We may also learn
something concerning our own lives and of the conflict
we face from day to day. Each of these historic events
may teach us of the things God wants us to know and
the victory He wants us to share.
We are coming to a time when we shall witness another
great collison between God's kingdom and Satan's. No
doubt it shall be as great, if not greater than all the
others that have preceded it. And it shall be a time
when once again, God displays His all-surpassing
greatness and dominion over Satan.
To this end our spirit's cry, 'Come Lord Jesus'.
As we read in 1 Sam. 17 of the battle between David
and Goliath we can first of all see that there are three
principal characters which may represent three different
peoples.
Firstly there is Goliath and the Philistines. They
represent the world, or more specifically unredeemed,
rebellious man. There is something about them which
may be encompassed by the term, 'The spirit of this
age'.
There they stand, full of defiance and mockery.
Wilfully and arrogantly railing accusations upon God
and His people. They represent man, in the fullness of
self power and self glory.
This is the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and
Evil come to maturity. The Pride of Life that looks
down upon God from it's own lofty height. The fullness
of man which seeks to be 'as God' and even to destroy
all that is of God in his quest to have dominion of the
earth.
We may notice in the description of Goliath that there
is reference to the number six. The number of man. He
was six cubits in height, he had six pieces of armour,
and his spearhead weighed six hundred shekels.
We could say that he represents everything that the
term 'anti-christ' may speak of, as he stands there
mocking all that is of God and calling God's people into
battle.
As we look out out upon the world today we can see
Goliath readying himself again. We can hear the
challenges ringing out saying, 'Where is your God' and
the accusations pouring forth to belittle the church and
call her to war. This has always been the very essence
of that antichrist spirit.
The second character in this story is King Saul and his
army. This group represent the people of God, but
they are the people of God under the dominion of the
flesh.
They are a defeated company. They stand there facing
Goliath, fearful, intimidated and without anointing or
strength from God.
We may ask, 'Why is this?.. How can it be?'
How can the people of God find themselves in this kind
of a situation and such a condition? The answer is, that
although they are the people of God they are still ruled
and controlled by the spirit of this world. They are
under the dominion of King Saul - the flesh.
Let us take a look at them.
They stand there in all their wordly armour. They are
fitted out with everything that the world counts for
something. They have their horses and chariots and
weapons of flesh - and of course they have their king
who stands so tall above the rest. They look just like
all the other nations in so many ways.
I cannot help wondering how many of our denominations
and church organisations are just like the armies of Saul.
They are full of the ways of the world and their strength
comes from money, organisation, and the power of the flesh.
We see in them the same spirit of this world that promotes
itself with gimmicks, sales techniques and all manner of
human ability.
There is also another characteristic that is common to
the Saul church. That is, disobedience to the word of
the Lord.
King Saul cared more for the outward appearances of
success and power than for obedience to God's word.
He would obey God as long as it suited him and as long
as it didn't threaten his own ambitions and desires to
be successful in the eyes of the people.
It is the same today in the denominations. Success
power and outward appearances are the most important
considerations. God's will and His purposes are often
compromised for the sake of human interest and human
traditions.
For that reason they will stand alone on that day that
Goliath confronts them. They will discover that Goliath
is far stronger in terms of this world than they are
themselves, and they will realise that they are no match
for him.
How frightening it will be on that day... although today
they are so full of their own strength and hypnotised
by their own praises and positive confessions.
Thank God there is a third group in this story. It is
the group that is characterised by David.
Yes, David was one of the people of God. But he
wasn't a part of Saul's army. In the same way today
there is a third group. Tbey are scattered around. They
have no special organisation or place to call their own.
Yet they have two distinguishing characteristics that set
them apart;
They have a heart after God and... they are not of King
Saul.
This David company, like David of old, is small,
insignificant, unimpressive and unimportant. Yet God's
hand is upon them.
David was out in the wilderness tending his sheep when
the call came to enter into the battle lines. He was
doing that which God has placed in his care - even
though it was insignificant and outwardly of little
importance.
In the same way today there are those that ask, 'What
are you doing for God? What has come of your leaving
the system?' They measure everything by outward
considerations and spend their lives racing around,
organising great things for God, yet in the end
accomplishing little.
David knew nothing of Saul's ways. He hadn't been in
any of Saul's training schools. He didn't know how to
even polish his armour let alone wear it into battle. All
David knew, he had learned out there amongst the
ordinary circumstances of daily life. He had learned the
simple things of truth, love and faithfulness. He had
learned how to walk with God each day.
But this is God's way. He always takes the lowly
things, the foolish things, and the things that are not,
to bring to nothing the things that are.
Likewise God is preparing a people today. They are
nothing now. Some have left denominations, some are
still amongst them wondering why it is that they no
longer feel a part of it all any more. They can no
longer get excited by the latest seminar or out-reach.
Instead they sigh and groan at the lack of God's
presence in the church, and they are grieved by the
way human power has filled the gap.
When David arrived on the scene, he had no
organisation backing him. There were no credentials or
any such thing. There was only the anointing. God
knew where He wanted David to be. God brought
things together as He always does.... in the fullness of
time.
David could stand before Goliath because God was with
him. Nothing more and nothing less. His spirit was
stirred against this monster David was not afraid. He
knew that there was one far greater who was standing
with him.
When David spoke to Goliath to challenge him, it was
not so much David speaking as God Himself speaking.
When David took the stone and placed it in his sling,
again it was God choosing and preparing.
When David sent his stone flying toward it's mark.. it
was God guiding it to just the right place.
Such is the way with all true ministry. It is God in man
doing the work and bringing forth the fruit.
There are many today who are trying to achieve great
things for God. They are using all of this world's
resources to try and do it. Yet God is not doing it.
They imagine that human effort is the key to divine
fruitfulness. They have missed God's way completely.
God desires a people who are dead to man's ways and
man's methods as far as kingdom work is concerned.
He is preparing a people who will wait for Him, and
move as He moves them, and who will work according
to His power that works in them mightily.
It may take Him a long time to get a man or woman to
that place... yet God has time.
That day is coming when that great conflict will arrive.
Which company will we be a part of? Will it be
Goliath's? or King Saul's?... or will it be David's?
It may be hard to say right now, but the day will
declare it. Nothing is surer... That day will declare it...
For then we shall find ourselves in the place that our
hearts have chosen.
Let us call upon the Lord today, while it is still
today... asking Him to change our hearts and take us
into that David company. May we seek to learn to walk
with God and be faithful unto all that He may call us to
do. May we learn the ways of humility and be satisfied
with simply living before Him each day. May we also be
careful to remain free from the ways of King Saul.
Praise God for His all-surpassing greatness and glory.
-Hadyn Olsen,
Lake Rotoma, New Zealand.
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