Day 268.
And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants. And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck him down. These four were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. (2 Samuel 21:16-22 ESV)
Did you know there were real giants? These were formidable warriors, carrying weapons that few could wield. They were champions in battle and people fled before them, except for David and his men. We read time and time again about David’s mighty men who fought giants and faced impossible odds in battle and yet won. David and his might men foreshadow Christ and the church battling against the ruler of this age, the devil, and the spiritual forces of evil that seek to destroy God’s people. The apostle Paul explains, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV) These forces look daunting and are strong enough to cause any man to run. But Jesus is stronger and as we trust in him so are we, just as David and his mighty men were stronger.
Are you ready to be a mighty man of God by trusting in Jesus? Read Eph 6:10-20 for how.
Thank Jesus this morning for his defeat of Satan and his empowering of the church to be mighty spiritual warriors in Christ!
McCheyne’s Bible Reading Plan: 2 Sa 21, Gal 1, Ez 28, Ps 13-14
I’m ready! Giants are awesome and big but they are sometimes scary. I’m ready to put the armor of God on and slay the giants with Jesus. and David killed one with his little rock thingie. That’s all I can think of.