Victory in the Valley of Elah
“Valleys are impartial, inevitable and purposeful.”
(Impartial – Onpartydig)
(Inevitable – Onvermydelik)
(Purposeful – Doelgerig)
Tonight, I would like to share with you a well-known story, or event that took place in the Valley of Elah (Anybody?)
Many of you will know this story well, but I really believe that God will, through the power of the Holy Spirit reveal something new to you tonight, Amen? Are you ready to receive from God Church?
So, I would like to take you back to that day that will forever be carved in history, and one of the most significant battles ever, in the Valley of Elah.
1 Samuel 17:16 (NIV) – For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.
For 40 days and 40 nights Goliath came out from the Philistine camp and taunted and provoked the Israelites with insults and remarks.
Goliath almost 3meters tall, not only challenged the army of Israel, but also mocked them, saying: “This day I defy the ranks of Israel give me a man and let us fight each other.”
1 Samuel 17:24 (NIV) – Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.
They all fled from him with great fear. Saul and his army were dismayed and terrified.
And like King Saul, we will all find ourselves in a valley at some stage. Guaranteed!
Can I just say, church, that everyone here tonight and those watching via the media will have to face a giant sometime in your life! It’s biblical church.
James 1:2 (NIV) – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds.
It’s inevitable (onvermydelik), impartial, but part of God’s plan for each and everyone of us.
Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV) – But now this is what the Lord says- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
The Bible teaches us that no-one in the whole of Israel was prepared to take on this giant of a man Goliath. Until…
UNTIL SOMEBODY DECIDED TO FACE THE GIANT!
After hearing and listening to the insults of Goliath, David asked, 1 Samuel 17:26b (NIV) – “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?”
“Wie dink hy is hy?” Who gave him the right or authority to “defy the armies of the living God?”
Can I just say: that many times we give the enemy the authority and right to taunt us and to run havoc in our lives… yes?
1 Samuel 17:37 (NIV) – “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
David decided (he committed himself) to face and deal with the giant. It’s time that you face and deal with the giant in your life, church! For if you don’t deal with it, it will deal with you! No two ways about it.
You see church, David was so filled with faith (and confident assurance) that God will give him the victory in the valley of Elah!
He was not intimidated by the size of Goliath but motivated by the size of his God! (Not going to rally in the valley)
He was not going to camp in the valley but go through it.
Psalm 23:4 (NIV) – Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
There was no time for a “pity-party” no! He was on a mission, focussed, it was his intention to get it over and done with. His mind was made up, amen!
“Tot hier toe, en nie verder nie; genoeg is genoeg!”
One of the things about this confrontation that I love most, is the fact that David took 5 stones why? Goliath had 4 brothers!
A stone for Goliath and each of his 4 brothers. He was going to take them all out. Fuelled by faith in his God who “will never leave you, nor forsake you!” (Take them out, not for lunch, but kill and destroy) and then, that famous conversation between David and Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:43 (NIV) – He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
1 Samuel 17:45 (NIV) – David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
Its time that you address your giant, church
Do not allow the enemy, the giant a seat at your table, church!
What came to mind as I prepared was that Goliath was a dead man, even before the stone pierced his skull.
You see David defeated Goliath not because he had a superior weapon or military strategy, but because he had a supreme confidence in the Lord, to give him the victory!
He made a commitment, fuelled by faith to overcome to be victorious. To be a “giant-slayer” and so should we church!
Goliath taunted and haunted the Israelites for 40 days and 40 nights and maybe you’ve been haunted and taunted by the giant for longer than that, maybe even years!!
Or maybe you’re in a position like the army of Israel, with no plan or way out of the valley of Elah! You cannot see yourself overcoming this challenge, this constant attack, this unbearable lifestyle, this ungodly and unholy habits, you’ve allowed them to become giants and you’re about to throw in the towel…
Its time to draw the line, give it your best shot and if at first you don’t succeed, try again and again.
Like Sir Edmond Hillary said to Mount Everest after failing to summit its peak: “You cannot grow any bigger, but I can, and I will be back.”
And we know the rest of the story… he faced and conquered the giant! Amen!
Like King David and so many others, he left a legacy of achievement, that will live on in the hearts of many, forever! So, what about you tonight, church?
Even as many of you made new years resolutions to face and fight your giant; can I just say that it will stay a resolution (voorneem) until you commit to face and overcome, because you can!
You are destined to Reign, child of God. You are more than an overcomer a royal priesthood and a conqueror of note. Amen church!
Conclude: By asking you to listen to a song and make this your war cry; that the God of the mountains is still God in the valleys too!
