There is a common biblical theme that I was thinking about today. God “gives” us the land but He has delegated driving out the giants to us.

I have been meditating on this. I think most of us kind of hope that we could show up and take up residence in the “promised” land without raising a finger to fight. The reality, is the promised land was occupied by very intimidating residents. This is why the Israelites balked at moving in and refused God’s command to go. This is why they ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years instead of moving into houses they hadn’t built and eating food off of vines they hadn’t planted.

Isaiah 53 outlines several of the giants that need to go for us to “enter in to God’s rest”

Hebrews 4
King James Version
4 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

I will continue post in the comments so others can share and respond with comments of their own.

I will share my thoughts and the scriptures in the comments below. I think there is just so much in these verses that we can likely never plumb the very depths of them. I would love to hear your insights as well so do reply and share your comments too.

The term Jehovah Nissi appears only once in scripture. It means the Lord is my banner, the Lord is my Victory. I believe the story of David and Goliath reveals keys to victory against the forces of darkness, not a ritualistic formula but elements that reveal why and how David came through this encounter victorious. As always, I encourage you to avoid formulaic thinking or creating a script out of what is revealed here.

Some things I see in this passage:

1. God had provided everything on site that David would need to be victorious. The enemy provided some extra props that could have distracted David from God’s provisions and led to disaster instead of victory
2. David’s heart was prepared for the battle by His time and well established relationship with the Lord. He was victorious in part because he saw Himself as an extension of God and His Kingdom. His confidence was in the Lord.
3. David had no tolerance for anyone or anything that would defy God.
4. David had so much confidence in the Lord that he refused to be intimidated and to take stock of how things looked in the natural.