Son of David and Goliath
“Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:67-74)
Hello Saints,
The Christmas narrative is such an incredible and inspiring story of hope, fulfilled promises, deliverance, joy, and most of all salvation for those held hostage by their enemies. For all of us who have personally experienced Christmas in all its glory by receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior, we hopefully understand how Zacharias, under the influence of Holy Spirit could be so exuberantly excited about the good news he had received. As a faithful Jew and priest serving in the temple (Luke 1:5-6), Zacharias most likely knew of the scriptures that prophesied of a coming Deliverer. He had heard the angel’s prophecy concerning his son John, and most likely had heard of the wonderful news that his relative Mary received: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31-33). David becomes a prominent figure in the Christmas story even though he has been dead for a thousand years. And why not? Jesus is the ‘Son of David’ by whom the Davidic Covenant of 2Samuel 7:8-14 would be fulfilled.
Now beloved, the Old Testament writings speak of Jesus (Luke 24:27; John 5:39; Rom. 1:2; Gal. 3:24). One of the most loved stories in the Bible is that of David and Goliath. It is so popular that “David and Goliath” has become a common metaphor whenever an underdog defeats a larger opponent, almost as common as Christmas itself. If the Old Testament speaks of Jesus, then the story of David and Goliath must certainly as well. Indeed, it is the Christmas story of deliverance and redemption. Picture the scene of 1Samuel 17 (now would be a good time to read it 😊). We have the people of God trapped and immobilized, at a standstill unable to defeat this giant of a foe who is taunting and accusing them and insulting their God, the only wise God. This Goliath wants to take them captive and make them slaves (17:9). The people of God are “dismayed and greatly afraid” (17:11,24). They are helpless and know not what to do, and this had been going on for 40 days, which is the number of testing and judgment in the Bible…in other words, there needed to be a breakthrough, or they were doomed! They had chosen a leader of their own liking (Saul) to deliver them, but he was afraid and unable, and he had been rejected by God as incompetent and disobedient (1Sam. 15:26). Man can never get himself out of his own spiritual bondage and slavery to the enemy. It would take a God anointed one to come and rescue God’s people – David was just appointed that man (1Sam. 16:13) – the anointed one (literally Messiah) filled with the Spirit! Zeal for the Lord had consumed him (17:26, 37; Psa. 69:9) and despite the mocking, despising and rejection of his brothers (17:28-30; Isa. 53:3) and without any carnal, typical weapons (17:39), he voluntarily stepped into the arena to face the giant/enemy that held his brothers captive. With fearless boldness, and complete confidence in his God, David valiantly marches into the valley of the shadow of death and strikes the enemy in the head, cuts it off and immobilizes him (17:49-51; Gen 3:15), and renders defeated forever the one who held God’s people captive. Now the ones held captive are released to lay hold of the enemy’s plunder and advance God’s kingdom (17:52-53).
Christmas is the story of the least likely one, who was the most chosen one, coming to rescue His siblings from the enemy by defeating the giant called Satan. He had to face sin and death head on, laying His life on the line, trusting wholly in His father to bring the deliverance. The Son of David, born in the city of David, accomplished the greatest victory, by being the Anointed One who set the captives free (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus, our faithful King and Deliverer came to the rescue, to “release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:15). At just the right time, when certain slavery and defeat were imminent, God sent forth His Son, the Son of David, to defeat forever the enemy of our souls, the accuser of the brethren, to release His brethren into the fullness of being children of God (Gal.4:4-5). Christmas is the time to remember and rejoice that Jesus has set us free from our Goliath, to enjoy the liberty of the children of God (Rom. 8:21).
Good Christian friends rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye need not fear the grave
Jesus Christ was born to save
Peace and Joy,
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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