Likewise, Jesus was born in Bethlehem and identified Himself saying, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
Next, David selects five stones from the river bed, comes against Goliath “in the Name of the Lord” with only a stone and a sling. David hurls the stone which hits Goliath right in the forehead. What happens next is compelling and relevant to us today:
1 Samuel 17:51-53 NIV David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. (52) Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. (53) When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.
So David uses Goliath’s own sword to cut off the head of the giant. The sword that had struck fear in the hearts of many, that had previously been used by the giant to kill God’s people, now was used by a shepherd from Bethlehem to both destroy the giant and deliver God’s people.
Question 5. According to 1 Samuel 17:52, how did David’s victory over Goliath affect the Israelites?
Yes, seeing David’s courage, seeing him kill the enemy gave the Israelites tremendous courage; they fought the enemy and won the victory!
And this is the story of our lives, too. We have a great enemy in this world known as the devil. He is stronger than we are, he is cunning and crafty and very experienced in temptation, able to take us captive and enslave us through the guilt of sin and the fear of death. We are no match for him, “on earth is not his equal.”
But God took on flesh and blood, was born in Bethlehem and became a shepherd. His purpose was to die, so that in taking death—the enemy’s own weapon—He would destroy the enemy, declare victory for all of God’s people and deliver us from fear and captivity.
Hebrews 2:14-15 (NIV) Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil — 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
So how do we experience this victory in our own lives? How do we have victory over Satan?
Well, it all hinges on faith! Real victory over Satan is found in placing our faith in the cross of Christ. This is the very reason why the Bible gives us so many stories like the one we’re studying today (historical events that happened) and all of them focusing us on some aspect of the cross. It is so that in believing the gospel once again, we would find victory.
1 John 5:4b-5 NIV This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (5) Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Question 6. According to 1 John 5:4-5, what gives us victory?