How To Defeat A Giant

The story of David defeating Goliath is a story rich in revelation knowledge about our walk with God. The giant represents an enemy to our spiritual walk that stands as a domineering, controlling, merciless obstacle to spiritual growth. As long as the giant stood in defiance, Israel's progress was stopped. Israel could do nothing as long as the giant loomed over them. Goliath's challenge came to Israel for 40 days, every morning and every evening. He was a constant reminder in their face that they were under his control, and they could do nothing as long as he was there. The enemy of our walk is constantly standing against us, and trying to exert his control in our lives. We must defeat the giants that stand against us. But before David could even go against the giant, he had other things to deal with first. David's oldest brother, Eliab, came with words of ridicule and intimidation which were meant to belittle David. 1 Sam. 17:28 says, "Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, 'Why did you come down here? And with who have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know the pride and insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle. ' " The oldest brother has influence over the younger siblings, and he is expected to encourage and support the younger ones in their battles. It can be very disheartening to have someone older in a place of influence speak words that hurt and discourage. But David did not fall under this negative influence. He rejected rejection! He could have quit at this moment, and said to himself, "I tried to help. I offered my service, but I was rejected, so I'm going back home." But David's heart rose up in faith and courage and said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" Eliab represents the nature of the flesh. Eliab responded with anger, and a cruel mean spirit toward David. The flesh is capable of every wicked thing in this life, and if we are going to rise up and defeat our giants, we are going to have to overcome the flesh. Paul admonished the church in Corinth to overcome their flesh when he said in 1 Cor. 3:3, "For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal, and behaving like mere men?" David overcame the rejection and criticism of Eliab before he came against Goliath. We too must rise up above the works of the flesh, to defeat the giants that stand against us.