 Most are familiar with the story of David and Goliath. In fact, this famous historical event is often used outside of a spiritual perspective. It is a perfect example of the “weak” overcoming the “strong” or the “little guy” defeating a titan. It is an amazing story in building confidence and believing in victory, in what otherwise seems hopeless.
I can see why motivational speakers often use this story to help inspire their listeners. It reveals that anything is possible. However, a few key components go missing when this story is conveyed to the masses. These components are so critical that without them, one could wonder if there would be no victory at all. In the spring of 2019, Victor and I visited the famous “Valley of Elah” where this event took place thousands of years earlier. We also walked to the brook (the only one in the area) where David likely picked his 5 smooth stones. While we know his first stone “took care of business” what is interesting, and profound is the true “weapon” used to defeat the giant. “But David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear, and with a lance. But I come to you in the Name of YHWH of hosts, the Elohim of the armies of Yisra’el, whom you have reproached.” 1 Samuel (Shemuel) 17:45 There are a few things that I want to bring attention to from this story.
I discuss in detail the critical importance of YHWH’s Name in a previous blog “What’s in a Name” as well as pdf download on our webpage titled “Scripture verses regarding the importance of His Name”. This download lists all the verses I found regarding the significance and magnitude we should be placing on His “holy” or set-apart (qodesh) Name. “Then shall those who revere YHWH speak to one another, and YHWH listen and hear, and a book of remembrance be written before Him, of those who revere YHWH, and those who think (chashab) upon His Name.” Malachi 3:16 While our English versions translate the Hebrew chashab to “think” it has a much deeper meaning of regard, value, esteem, hold and purpose. 1 Samuel 17:45 makes it clear that no weapon is more powerful than coming in the Name of YHWH. We know this because David lists all Goliaths weapons - as if to take some inventory of comparisons: sword, spear, and lance. He then says “But”, in other words… all of those weapons are useless because he is entering this fight in the Name of YHWH of hosts, HalleluYah!
“This day YHWH shall deliver you into my hand…so that all the earth knows that Elohim is for Yisra’el, and all this assembly know that YHWH does not save with sword and spear, for the battle belongs to YHWH, and He shall give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel (Shemuel) 17:46,47 YHWH Elohim, Creator of the shamayim (heavens) and earth is “for Yisra’el”. Yisra’el is a special Covenant family chosen long ago, seeded from Abraham, a people set-apart to YHWH. This has not changed nor have they been replaced. However, the confusion seems to lie in identifying who “they” are. The people of YHWH are those who are dispersed all throughout the four corners of the world who have joined in Covenant with Him. They are described as follows: “Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the Commands of YHWH and the belief of Yahushua.” Revelation 14:12 “Blessed are those doing His Commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14 “Thus said YHWH, ‘Guard Right-Ruling, and do righteousness, for near is My deliverance to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold of it, guarding the Sabbath lest he profane it, and guarding his hand from doing any evil. And let not the son of a foreigner who has joined himself to YHWH speak, saying, ‘YHWH has certainly separated me from His people,’ nor let the eunuch say, ‘Look I am a dry tree.’ For this said YHWH, “To the eunuchs who guard My Sabbaths, and have chosen what pleases Me, and hold fast My Covenant: to them I shall give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than sons and daughters – I give them an everlasting name that is not cut off. Also to the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to YHWH, to serve Him, and to love the Name of YHWH, to be His servants, all who guard the Sabbath, and not profane it, and hold fast My Covenant – them I shall bring to My qodesh (set-apart) mountain, and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their slaughterings are accepted on My altar, for My house is called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” Isaiah 56:1-7 The beauty of this Covenant is that anyone can join. We can be “grafted” into the olive tree known as Yisra’el (Romans 11:17-25). This olive tree cannot be the religion known as Christianity as that had yet to exist when the epistles were written. That olive tree is clearly Yisra’el and if a person is grafted into that tree, they become Yisra’el. This is even more evident in the description of the 12 gates leading into the New Jerusalem. “And having a great and high wall, having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve messengers, and names written on them, which are the twelve tribes of the children of Yisra’el.” Revelation 21:12 With a repentant heart and the action of turning (teshuva) from the ways outside of YHWH’s plan, and toward The Way of righteousness we now have the hope of salvation. Thankfully, through the blood of Yahushua – He is the door that leads to life. Now whether we can enter through that door will depend on our understanding of repentance and living it out. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many might works in Your Name?’ And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness” (Greek: anomia = without Torah) Matthew 7:21-23 Our friend Todd describes forgiveness of sins and salvation beautifully in his latest book “Leaving Babylon”. Interestingly, Todd is the one who escorted my husband and I to the famous Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath. Todd writes: “The problem is that many going down this ancient path have been scarred by the Christian doctrine of grace. While they correctly understand that Yahushua died and shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins, they fail to understand that forgiveness is not the same as salvation. Forgiveness is for past conduct, while salvation is something that occurs after forgiveness is rendered. None of this is a decision that we make, by the way. The very Name of Messiah reminds us that “Yah is our salvation,” and “Yah saves His people.” …Salvation is not our decision, rather it is a decision that the Master makes. Christianity teaches that a prayer or a confession leads to immediate salvation, but the Scriptures provide that salvation comes at the end. We are ultimately saved when the King grants us entry into His Kingdom, and access to the Tree of Life. That is the only way that we obtain eternal life. Up to that point, we are not yet saved. The decision that we ultimately make is to repent, and repentance involves action. When we repent, we turn away from lawlessness, which is disobedience. We then keep turning toward YHWH until we are directly aligned with Him, and His righteous path.” Todd D Bennett chapter 9 of Leaving Babylon. So that is how you join Yisra’el. It is “guarding the Commands of YHWH and the belief of Yahushua.” (Revelation 14:12) Yahushua renewed the original Covenant that was broken at Sinai. He specifically states that “I did not come except for the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’el” (Matthew 15:24) Those who have gone astray, he is calling into the fold.
“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should reproach the armies of the living Elohim?” 1 Samuel (Shemuel) 17:26b David had no doubt that he belonged to the right army. His unwavering faith in YHWH reminds me of Caleb and Joshua. They were set-apart from the rest of the spies because of their faith. Remember this account also involved giants. While others had uncertainty, Caleb and Joshua just like David displayed trust and confidence in their Elohim. They believed in His promises. This is a lesson to be learned. Don’t allow uncertainty to become fear, rather use uncertainty to show your faith. Having faith reveals that we already know the outcome. We know YHWH protects, He provides, He hears, and He acts according to His perfect time and His perfect plan. And He does this for His people, Yisra’el. We all desire to be overcomers and to have things go “right” in our lives. While David faced a literal giant, there are “giants” in our lives that need to be overcome. It’s important we examine our lives to ensure that we are not showing up to the battle without YHWH or even showing up on the wrong side of the frontline. Could we be battling through this life without joining the right army? YHWH is perfectly clear that if we want things to go “right” then we need to live “right” before His eyes. There are blessings promised for those who live according to His righteous instructions and there are also curses promised for those who don’t. (Deuteronomy 28) This world is currently a chaotic mess. It is getting worse by the day with a rapidly growing infestation of lawlessness (Greek: anomia = without Torah). The tide has turned even further as lawlessness is being celebrated by the masses rather than condemned and rebuked. Now is the time for those who claim to love Him to revere His Name (Exodus 20:7), pick up their stake (Matthew 16:24,27), show and live the sign of the Covenant (Exodus 20:9-11), and to be set apart from this world (Leviticus 19:2, 20:7,8, Jeremiah 51:19 & 45, Revelation 18:4). He is coming swiftly, let’s be found doing the will of the Father and be ready for His return. **For a deeper study on the understanding of being set-apart, I encourage seekers to check out my latest book “The Transitional Period” Comments are closed.
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