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David and Goliath: an end-time view
As the return of Jesus Christ draws ever-nearer so will the powers of darkness muster all that they can muster to defeat the purpose of God. The Bible tells us that these attempts will fail, but the conflict will be immense.
extracts by Hadyn Olsen
 Recently, after reading the account of this historic meeting between David and Goliath, I was struck by the significance of it's message concerning the end time period that we are entering into.
Far more than a children's story, this account speaks of the collision of two kingdoms. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.
There are a number of times in the Scriptures that we witness such a dramatic encounter between these two kingdoms. We may think of the time of Moses and the exodus from Egypt, the plagues and the Red Sea. We may think of Joshua and Jericho - or Elijah on Mt. Carmel. Then of course there is the Lord Jesus Himself and the many occasions of His demonstrating the kingdom.
We are coming to a time when we shall witness another great collison between God's kingdom and Satan's. No doubt it shall be as great, if not greater than all the others that have preceded it. And it shall be a time when once again, God displays His all-surpassing greatness and dominion over Satan.
To this end our spirit's cry, 'Come Lord Jesus'.
As we read in 1 Sam. 17 of the battle between David and Goliath we can first of all see that there are three principal characters which may represent three different peoples.
Firstly there is Goliath and the Philistines. They represent the world, or more specifically unredeemed, rebellious man. There is something about them which may be encompassed by the term, 'The spirit of this age'.
There they stand, full of defiance and mockery. Wilfully and arrogantly railing accusations upon God and His people. They represent man, in the fullness of self power and self glory.
We may notice in the description of Goliath that there is reference to the number six. The number of man. He was six cubits in height, he had six pieces of armour, and his spearhead weighed six hundred shekels.
We could say that he represents everything that the term 'anti-christ' may speak of, as he stands there mocking all that is of God and calling God's people into battle.
As we look out out upon the world today we can see Goliath readying himself again. We can hear the challenges ringing out saying, 'Where is your God' and the accusations pouring forth to belittle the church and call her to war. This has always been the very essence of that antichrist spirit.
The second character in this story is King Saul and his army. This group represent the people of God, but they are the people of God under the dominion of the flesh.
They are a defeated company. They stand there facing Goliath, fearful, intimidated and without anointing or strength from God. We may ask, 'Why is this?.. How can it be?'
How can the people of God find themselves in this kind of a situation and such a condition? The answer is, that although they are the people of God they are still ruled and controlled by the spirit of this world. They are under the dominion of King Saul - the flesh.
Let us take a look at them.
They stand there in all their wordly armour. They are fitted out with everything that the world counts for something. They have their horses and chariots and weapons of flesh - and of course they have their king who stands so tall above the rest. They look just like all the other nations in so many ways.
I cannot help wondering how many of our denominations and church organisations are just like the armies of Saul. They are full of the ways of the world and their strength comes from money, organisation, and the power of the flesh. We see in them the same spirit of this world that promotes itself with gimmicks, sales techniques and all manner of human ability.
There is also another characteristic that is common to the Saul church. That is, disobedience to the word of the Lord.
King Saul cared more for the outward appearances of success and power than for obedience to God's word. He would obey God as long as it suited him and as long as it didn't threaten his own ambitions and desires to be successful in the eyes of the people.
It is the same today in the denominations. Success power and outward appearances are the most important considerations. God's will and His purposes are often compromised for the sake of human interest and human traditions.
For that reason they will stand alone on that day that Goliath confronts them. They will discover that Goliath is far stronger in terms of this world than they are themselves, and they will realise that they are no match for him.
How frightening it will be on that day... although today they are so full of their own strength and hypnotised by their own praises and positive confessions.
Thank God there is a third group in this story. It is the group that is characterised by David.
Yes, David was one of the people of God. But he wasn't a part of Saul's army. In the same way today there is a third group. Tbey are scattered around. They have no special organisation or place to call their own. Yet they have two distinguishing characteristics that set them apart; They have a heart after God and... they are not of King Saul.
This David company, like David of old, is small, insignificant, unimpressive and unimportant. Yet God's hand is upon them.
David was out in the wilderness tending his sheep when the call came to enter into the battle lines. He was doing that which God has placed in his care - even though it was insignificant and outwardly of little importance.
David knew nothing of Saul's ways. He hadn't been in any of Saul's training schools. He didn't know how to even polish his armour let alone wear it into battle...
But this is God's way. He always takes the lowly things, the foolish things, and the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.
Likewise God is preparing a people today. They are nothing now. Some have left denominations, some are still amongst them wondering why it is that they no longer feel a part of it all any more. They can no longer get excited by the latest seminar or out-reach. Instead they sigh and groan at the lack of God's presence in the church, and they are grieved by the way human power has filled the gap.
When David arrived on the scene, he had no organisation backing him. There were no credentials or any such thing. There was only the anointing. God knew where He wanted David to be. God brought things together as He always does.... in the fullness of time.
David could stand before Goliath because God was with him. Nothing more and nothing less. His spirit was stirred against this monster. David was not afraid. He knew that there was one far greater who was standing with him.
When David spoke to Goliath to challenge him, it was not so much David speaking as God Himself speaking. When David took the stone and placed it in his sling, again it was God choosing and preparing.
When David sent his stone flying toward it's mark.. it was God guiding it to just the right place. Such is the way with all true ministry. It is God in man doing the work and bringing forth the fruit.
God desires a people who are dead to man's ways... He is preparing a people who will wait for Him, and move as He moves them, and who will work according to His power that works in them mightily.
It may take Him a long time to get a man or woman to that place... yet God has time.
That day is coming when that great conflict will arrive. Which company will we be a part of? Will it be Goliath's? or King Saul's?... or will it be David's? It may be hard to say right now, but the day will declare it. Nothing is surer... That day will declare it... For then we shall find ourselves in the place that our hearts have chosen.
Let us call upon the Lord today, while it is still today... asking Him to change our hearts and take us into that David company. May we seek to learn to walk with God and be faithful unto all that He may call us to do. May we learn the ways of humility and be satisfied with simply living before Him each day. May we also be careful to remain free from the ways of King Saul.
Praise God for His all-surpassing greatness and glory.
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Hadyn Olsen, 26/10/2010
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Paul Whitworth |
28/10/2010 13:38 |
What do people who contribute to these forums think about the conclusions made in this article? I know many of you have left denominations and are inbetween churchs or are perhaps seeking a different approach.
I agree with the sentiment of the article as I am interested in eschatology and the typology of the David and Goliath narative certainly points to the final conflict.
I see no revival or 'awakening' of the army here. What are your thoughts?
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Martin Lisemore |
28/10/2010 17:05 |
Paul, some denominations prefer to ignore eschatology, hoping things to go on as they are. If it's too difficult drop it in the too hard box!
Like you, I'm also interested in this subject, although haven't made a thorough study, yet, so some of my words might seem half baked.
I read the above piece several times over, and read the relative Scriptures, slowly and carefully. I can certainly agree the typology points to an end times conflict. However, this may be too simplistic, relying on other Scriptural accounts to pad out the detail. In principal, then, yes, this is the bare bones. To take it on board as complete in every detail could be a mistake.
Last evening I read many older posts on this website relating to revival - and there are many sound opinions expressed, among them, I believe, some of yours. The chief thing which sticks in my mind is that revival comes when the Body is least expecting it, but when the need, according to God's purposes, is greatest. Could that be now? I don't know. But please God, yes!
Revival can be so localised - I'm thinking Coverdale in North Yorks in I believe 1904. It just didn't spill over anywhere else at that time.
There has been so many claims of imminent revival in the last twenty five years - I'm thinking Kansas City Prophets etc., - none of which witnessed affirmatively with me at the time and none of which came to pass. Actually, the Kansas City brigade have been exposed as charlatans, false prophets and show men, like so many other men proclaiming revival is on the door step.
I'll put my neck on the block. There's bound to be an outfall from this! If I were pressed, I would say, I believe we are seeing a personal revival, here and there. An institutional revival, I don't see any sign today, but tomorrow might be different. Daily I pray for revival in any way the Lord cares to send it.
I'll go for double jeopardy! Neck on block again! So many Bible scholars, and others, have made sense of Daniel and Revelation, well according to their versions. Yet there isn't consensus among them, as I know it. In as much as Daniel was told to shut up the book, (depending on the translation you use) so I float the idea, it's still shut to us. I think so, as is the depth of understanding of major parts of Revelation.
What do you think?
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Paul Whitworth |
28/10/2010 17:57 |
Revival as preached these days makes little biblical sense in my opinion as everything has been given for salvation and asking for a move of the Spirit to assist is folly, you are wide open to the decieving spirits that way. Repentance is still the only way but that word is currently out of fasion as it implies that the individual is wrong, and thats bad for self esteem!
I don't think a revival is not possible with great amounts of repentance, but I don't see that as very likely. I do however see a great falling away and the love of many growing cold. Not a falling away from a faith but a falling away from truth and sound doctrine. And not love disapearing but love for self and not others.
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Martin Lisemore |
28/10/2010 23:07 |
Paul, for the most part I couldn't agree more. Sin is not preached against. Oh for the days of local preachers thundering against personal sin from chapel pulpits in North Yorkshire. I guess it would be against people's human rights these days, to hear they might be wrong.
'Revival as preached these days makes little biblical sense in my opinion as everything has been given for salvation and asking for a move of the Spirit to assist is folly, you are wide open to the decieving spirits that way.'
Paul, I can only speak about England, but the situation was no different in the eighteenth century when Wesley and eleven other evangelical preachers were moved of God, and thereby we had the Evangelical Revival. The same could be said of other more local revivals, Coverdale, South Wales, and we might also stretch across the Pond to Azuza Street in I think 1904. You might wish to question if that was a revival.
I would agree the likelihood of more demonic interference is greater these days (thereby hangs a great debate) but we have safeguards, if we're will to read mark learn and inwardly digest them.
Yes, to my great sadness, there has been a great falling away, and the love of many has grown cold - but not everyone. There is always the remnant, at the least.
But truth and sound doctrine, ah, well. The media, which I know just a little about, is very persuasive, and particularly God TV channels. If one wants to be persuaded against a clear Biblical truth, then that's the place to go. We also have to consider the effect of many pulp fiction Christian paperbacks, sold in their hundred thousands, to people seeking teaching. Not for nothing does James warn those who would be teachers in the Body of Christ, they will suffer more harsh sanctions for leading people astray.
I'm pleased for any move of the Holy Spirit on men, wherever they are.
But we could both go on a very long time on this one.
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