The Return of the Giant
Hi everyone, Marie here. For this week's blog, I will reveal not one, not two, but three secrets!
Let’s have a Bible trivia quiz!
Q. What was the name of the giant that David fought?
Did I hear you say “Goliath”? Yes, we remember that name.
But hardly anyone remembers “Ishbi-benob”.
Sunday school is filled with Bible stories of Adam and Eve, Samson and Delilah, David and Goliath. But David and Ishbi-benob???
Check out 2 Samuel 21:
“. . . There was war again, between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary. (15)
And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David.“ (16)
In his youth, David confronted a giant named Goliath. Goliath was threatening the soldiers and armies of Israel. David wasn’t his main target; he was just a kid sent on an errand, and happened to hear the news.
Despite his young age and lack of military experience, David was amazingly successful in killing Goliath with minimal methods: a slingshot and 5 stones.
Simple faith and youthful zeal combined. What a victory!
“And David lived happily ever after. . . ” That’s how it should end right? The good guy wins. The End.
I thought that was the way the Christian life should be. You follow Jesus and you will have a blessed life. Goodbye Giants! Goodbye Challenges! But turn on the news and you’ll find more problems. The same thing happened in David’s time.
In 2 Samuel chapter 21, we find a much older, more battle-seasoned David. He is now King of all Israel. He is no longer the “Boy Most Likely to Succeed”, but the “Man Who Has Succeeded”—the famous, spiritual and political leader who shaped his country, won battles, accumulated wealth, made women swoon, and sired a lot of children. A man of outstanding achievements, yet still described as a “man after God’s heart.”
Now this original Giant-Killer was about to face a sad fate in the hands of another giant.
What sobering secrets I’m learning!
Secret # 1: Success doesn’t automatically protect you.
How many times have we heard of preachers who have committed adultery after preaching about it from the pulpit? Or Christians who can’t be corrected simply because they know “so much”?
Your achievements are not your protection against the enemy’s schemes. They could even be a distraction, if you are not careful. The young, inexperienced David wasn’t wearing an “armor of success”, yet he knew where his strength and protection came from:
“And David said, “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.” 2 Samuel 17:37
Secret #2: Never outgrow your dependence on your Savior, because Christ is your defense against giants always.
This was how Daniel faced his giants in Daniel 3: 17:
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand.”
This was also how Paul faced his in 2 Timothy 4: 18:
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever.”
Secret #3: Don’t fight your battles alone.
We need spiritual family that will pray for us, support us, and even correct us at times.
“. . . And David grew weary. And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants. . . who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him.” (2 Samuel 21: 15-17)
Thankfully, David’s fellow warrior, Abishai, came to his rescue! Alone, David fought one giant and won. With a team, he defeated four giants more:
“These four were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.” (2 Samuel 21: 22)
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