David Fought Goliath in the Elah Valley

There we stood. Trucks whizzing by on the Bet Shemesh-Qiryat Gat highway. We had pulled off the road just past a stream that ran beside two hills. To the west was the hill that nearly 3 thousand years ago the Philistines had occupied in their campaign to capture Socoh. They were already bitter enemies of the Israelites. To our immediate east on a hilltop was the Israelite camp. This was the Elah Valley, a legendary place that is often overlooked in the guidebooks of today.

Goliath from Gath was the Philistine champion. David from Bethlehem a mere shepherd boy was the Israelite representative. David won the battle by trusting the Lord. Goliath lost because he trusted in his own strength. Life is to each of us a commanding reality. It is hard for us to develop that inner sense of awareness of the presence of the Almighty. Goliath thought his struggle was simply with flesh and blood. The real struggle is taking place out of our sight in the spiritual realm. Great battles are fought in that realm in each one of our lives. We are constantly facing huge Goliath like challenges and so often never realize that there is even a battle.

Each one of us is precious to God. Satan knows this and tries his best to attack and destroy us. Anyone or just one is enough victory for Satan. He hates the Lord and as a result hates us. But, God is on our side. In Christ we have access to all of God’s resources. We are on a journey that unfolds day by day. Each day we are called to step one step closer to the Lord.