- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 5
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 13
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 17
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 9
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 11
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 25
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 12
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 26
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 27
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 18
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 28
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Mark 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 22
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Mark 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 27
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 2
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 28
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 37
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 39
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 40
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 16
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 41
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 18
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 42
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 19
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 43
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 20
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 44
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Luke 24
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 45
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Genesis 50
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 1
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 2
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 3
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 4
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 10
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 5
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 13
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 6
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 14
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 7
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 15
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 8
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 16
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 9
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 17
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 10
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 20
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 11
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: John 21
- 365 Key Chapters of the Bible: Exodus 12
- Acts 1: The Ministry of the Gospel
- Exodus 13: Paying the Price
- Acts 2: Faith Founded on Fact
- Exodus 14–18: When Security Vanishes
- Acts 7: Eternal Glory
- Exodus 19: The Covenant to Come
- Acts 8: Counterfeit Gospels
- Exodus 20: The Holy Splendor of God
- Acts 9: From Persecutor to Proclaimer
- Exodus 32: God’s Inexpressible Glory
- Acts 10: The Gospel Goes to the Gentiles
- Leviticus 16: The Holiness of God
- Acts 13: Paul’s Missionary Journeys
- Numbers 13: The Book of Wanderings
- Acts 15: How Are We Saved?
- Numbers 14: The Faithfulness of God
- Acts 16: Interrupted Plans
- Deuteronomy 1: “Beware Lest You Forget”
- Acts 17: How to Spread the Good News
- Deuteronomy 2: Knowing God
- Acts 18: Encouragement through Fellow Believers
- Deuteronomy 3: Mercy and Judgment
- Acts 19–20: The Power and Word of God
- Acts 20–21: The Cost of Following Christ
- Deuteronomy 4: Leaving a Legacy
- Acts 22: Common Ground without Compromise
- Deuteronomy 5: The Purpose of the Law
- Acts 23: The Centrality of the Resurrection
- Deuteronomy 6: The Pitfalls of Prosperity
- Acts 24: Living in Light of the Resurrection
- Deuteronomy 7: Warnings about the World
- Acts 25: The Witness of Waiting
- Deuteronomy 8: Our Daily Bread
- Acts 26: Agents of Eternal Change
- Deuteronomy 27: A Covenant of Obedience
- Acts 27: Surviving the Storm
- Deuteronomy 28: Idolatry of the Heart
- Acts 28: Service and Encouragement
- Deuteronomy 29: Anticipating the New Covenant
- Romans 1: A Practical Theology
- Deuteronomy 30: God’s Merciful Covenant
- Romans 2: The Universal Moral Law
- Deuteronomy 32: Learning from the Past
- Romans 3: Righteousness in Christ
- Deuteronomy 34: The Death of Moses
- Romans 4: The Grace of Justification
- Joshua 1: Listening to the Lord
- Romans 5: Reconciliation with God
- Joshua 2: Rahab’s Faith
- Romans 6: Fighting the Flesh
- Joshua 3: Relying on God
- Romans 7: A Struggle with Sin
- Joshua 4: Setting Up Memorials
- Romans 8: Living in the Spirit
- Joshua 6: Obeying God
- Romans 12: Putting Faith into Practice
- Joshua 23: Remembering God’s Faithfulness
- Romans 13: Christians and Government
- Joshua 24: Reviewing God’s Purposes
- Romans 14: Harmony in Diversity
- Judges 2: A Pattern of Idolatry
- Romans 15: Who Are We?
- Judges: In Need of a King
- 1 Corinthians 1: The Foolishness of God
- Judges 6–7: Severe Mercy
- 1 Corinthians 2: Relying on the Spirit
- Judges 14: Resisting Our Flesh Signature
- 1 Corinthians 3: Only One Foundation
- Judges 15: The Power of the Spirit
- 1 Corinthians 6: A Call to Imitate Christ
- Judges 16: The Consequences of Disobedience
- 1 Corinthians 7: Marriage and Celibacy
- Ruth 1: A Faithful Remnant
- 1 Corinthians 8–10: Tempering Knowledge with Love
- Ruth 2: A Cameo of Grace and Goodness
- 1 Corinthians 9: Surrendering Our Rights
- Ruth 3: Behind the Scenes
- 1 Corinthians 13: The Love of Christ in Us
- Ruth 4: The Backstory of a King
- 1 Corinthians 15: Resurrection of the Dead
- 1 Samuel 1: Presenting Our Prayers to God
- 2 Corinthians 1: A Ministry of Comfort
- 1 Samuel 2: A Humble Honor
- 2 Corinthians 4: Living Letters
- 1 Samuel 3: When God Speaks
- 2 Corinthians 5: Groaning for Glory
- 1 Samuel 8: Hope for the Future
- 2 Corinthians 8: The Generosity of Christ
- 1 Samuel 9: Trusting the True King
- 2 Corinthians 9: Radical Generosity
- 1 Samuel 10: Our Gracious King
- 2 Corinthians 12: Evidence of the Faith
- 1 Samuel 15: A Rebellious Redefinition
- Galatians 5: Freedom from the Law
- 1 Samuel 16: The Deception of Appearances
- Galatians 6: What Is Salvation?
- 1 Samuel 17: Spiritual Excellence
- Ephesians 1: The Blessing of the Father
- 2 Samuel 5: Hidden Sins
- Ephesians 2: Peace in Uncertainty
- 2 Samuel 7: Honor God in Your Work
- Ephesians 3: In Christ
- 2 Samuel 11: Midlife Crisis
- Ephesians 4: A Worthy Walk
If you ever went to Sunday school, you’ll know the story of David and Goliath. But let’s not dismiss this story merely because it is familiar. Instead, let’s look at it with fresh eyes and learn from it.
As we consider the battle, David’s spiritual excellence in the midst of spiritual warfare gives us an example of how we, too, can be a witness to God’s glory in the midst of opposition.
Spiritual Excellence
Goliath would have been an intimidating man. He was massive, wearing around 120 pounds of armor. Day after day, he and the Philistines defied the Israelite army, challenging them to send out a single man to fight Goliath. Not one man of the Israelite army responded to the challenge. They were all afraid.
David, however, had not been trained in the fear that they had all bought into. He had been cultivating his interior life, his trust in the Lord, his entire life. His spiritual excellence sustained him in this moment of testing. As a result, when he heard Goliath’s challenge, he did not fear. He knew that the Lord would be with him.
When you read the text, notice that David took on this challenge because the Philistines were mocking the living God. He accepted the fight because of his heart for God. He didn’t want to achieve glory for himself, though his brothers attributed that to him.
David’s spiritual excellence shines in this moment, making him stand out from the rest of the Israelites.
Spiritual Warfare
David knew that the fight he faced was no ordinary battle. This was spiritual warfare: Goliath had slandered the name of God.
Despite the apparent inequity of the fight, David knew God would have the victory. As a result, he said:
You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. (1 Samuel 17:45).
Can you imagine hearing these words before the battle? David must have seemed insane. Yet what a witness for God! His confidence in the living God shone clearly in this spiritual warfare.
As we read this story, we need to remember that truth is not determined by a majority vote. The people of Israel did not trust God, and they were in the wrong. Only David demonstrated spiritual excellence by trusting in the living God for deliverance.
Likewise, when we are in a minority in our culture for following Jesus, we need to continue to pursue God. In doing so, we will be a witness for His glory.
Looking for a resource to deepen your interior life? Purchase Ken Boa’s Conformed to His Image, revised edition.
This teaching is based on Ken Boa’s Handbook to Scripture.
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