Facts About Facing Giants

Facts About Facing Giants

2 Samuel 21:15-22

 

Illus. What do I do?

 

A “giant in life” is most often used in a metaphorical sense to describe an overwhelming problem or challenge. As we turn again to 2 Samuel 21 this morning, we continue in the final section of the book, and the text before us is looking back on certain situations or circumstances during the life and reign of King David. One of the most famous situations David faced in his life involved a giant, a very memorable giant named Goliath. It is such a powerful story that if you search “David and Goliath” in the dictionary, you will get this definition, “an underdog situation.” If you type Goliath into a thesaurus to find matching words, you will find words like “monster,” or “mountain,” “whopper” or “giant.” In other words, a Goliath is a giant that is an intimidating and seeming insurmountable problem or opponent. 

We studied the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. We saw how the Israelites were in fear of Goliath the great giant, and how David trusted in the Lord and had victory over Goliath. In that chapter we were given a strategy of sorts, for facing giants. At the end of that chapter, with David defeating the great giant Goliath we were encouraged to find victory, encouraged to put an end to the giants we are facing…But as we turn to 2 Samuel 21 this morning what we will see is that the story is true, David slew Goliath, but as we learn more about the story this morning, we will see that Goliath was a giant, and he had a family that was still living after Goliath’s ending. 

 

Read: 2 Samuel 21:15-22

 

2 Samuel 21:15-22 biblically is referred to as “the account of the giants.” We are not given all of the dates or specific times when the referenced battles took place, so we don’t know all of those details; however, we are given a parallel account in 1 Chronicles 20. What we know from both accounts is that Goliath was from a town called Gath, and from 1 Chronicles 20:8, we know that Gath was known for its giants, particularly a giant family consisting of Goliath and his brothers.

When thinking about giants, it is important to press this point because many can chalk the story of David and Goliath, particularly the facts about Goliath, as a fairy tale…But Goliath and his giant family were real. They were a real problem, put forth by a real enemy. And that is something I want to circle regarding the giants we often end up facing…

 

1. They Are a Real Problem Put Forth by the Real Enemy

 

2 Samuel 21:15-16, Now when the Philistines were at war with Israel again, David went down, and his servants with him; and when they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. Then Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, had strapped on a new sword, and he intended to kill David.

 

• From verses 15 and 16 we are reminded of a common enemy, and introduced to a new giant.

 

• The Philistines were seen as Israels enemies before David became king, during the time David was king, and though he subdues them, end up remaining a prominent enemy.

 

• One of David’s greatest victories was against the Philistine’s when he slew Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. Later, David ended up fleeing to the land of and befriending the Philistines when he was running from king Saul, but later after David became king, there would be more fighting with the Philistines (1 Samuel 27; 2 Samuel 5:17-25).

 

• They were a real enemy. They had won significant battles against the Israelites. In 1 Samuel 4 they won a battle, captured the Ark of the Covenant, killed the sons of the priest Eli, and took out 30,000 soldiers (1 Samuel 4:10-11)

 

• It was the Philistines to attacked Israel in 1 Samuel 31, fatally wounding many men, killing Saul’s sons, and wounding Saul to the point of death (1 Samuel 31).

 

• The Philistines were a real enemy, and from 1 Samuel 17 and then again here in 2 Samuel 21, we learn that sending giants to attack was a frequent part of their strategy.

 

• Sending giants out against the Israelites, then, was a strategy used at least 5 times when going to war with them.

 

• So, a real enemy was sending them, and the giants were a real problem.

 

1 Samuel 17:4-7, Then a champion came forward from the army encampment of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath. His height was six cubits and a span. And he had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze saber slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-carrier walked in front of him.

 

• Goliath stood at six cubits and a span. A cubit is about 18 inches and a span is about 9 inches. That puts Goliath at around 9 feet 9 inches. The armor he wore weighed five thousand sheckels of bronze (around 100 pounds) and the head of his spear weighed six hundred sheckels of iron, or around 15 pounds.

 

• Here we are introduced to his giant family.

 

Illus. Family Tree.

 

• While Goliath had a giant family, it is worth noting that they weren’t the first giant family referenced in Scripture.

 

• In Genesis 6, there is a people called the Nephilim. Genesis 6:4, the Nephilim (“giants” in Hebrew) were on earth in those days….

 

• In the book of Numbers chapter 13, Moses sent out 12 spies into the land promised by God to spy it out. When they got back, 10 gave a bad report lacking faith, and 2 gave a good report filled with faith.

 

• Those without faith were filled with fear, and they primary reason for their fear, what that they reported there being “giants” in the land. They said, “there are giants there and we are like grasshoppers in comparison.”

 

• Joshua and Caleb noted that there were giants, but they believed God would give them the victory.

 

• We know that the people did not respond in faith ultimately because of the reality of the giant enemies.

 

• But these giants had a particular description, the Anakim, or Sons of Anak. And in Joshua chapter 11, we learn that Joshua had eliminated most of the Anakim.

 

Joshua 11:21-22, Then Joshua came at that time and eliminated the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, Debir, Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and all the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. There were no Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod some remained.

 

• Like the real giants from a real enemy that David and his men were facing, so too, we have a real enemy, who sends real giants, real challenges, real problems to come against us.

 

John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 

Illus. Survey: A living being?

 

Ephesians 6:10-11, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

 

• The real enemy has real schemes. The words “schemes” in Greek is methodeia (meth Oh dyeuh), it looks similar to methods. It means trickery, craftiness, or to lie in wait.

 

Luke 22:31-34, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

 

1 John 4:4, …Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

 

1. They Have Descendants That Are Determined

 

2 Samuel 21:15, Now when the Philistines were at war with Israel again, David went down, and his servants with him; and when they fought against the Philistines, David became weary.

 

• With the Philistines at war with Israel again, and David out on the battlefield with his servants, we learn that David became weary during the fight.

 

• The word for weary here means to become faint, to flee or fly away, or become weary.

 

• The Philistines had caused David to become weary. This is a far different state and scene that what we saw early in David’s life when he was filled with faith and strength.

 

• We don’t know at what point exactly in David’s life this situation took place, but most believe this is later in David’s life.

 

• David was known for many years as the one who slew Goliath. It was known in Israel, is was known amongst the Philistines.

 

• The enemy was persistent, they seem to have waited a while, for the opportune time.

 

Luke 4:13, And so when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

 

Illus. No problem?

 

• After learning that David became weary, we are introduced to the giant who was on the scene.

 

2 Samuel 21:16, Then Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, had strapped on a new sword, and he intended to kill David.

 

• Form 1 Samuel 17, we learned that Goliaths spear was 500 shekels of bronze, or 15 pounds; and here we learn about another Ishbi-benob whose sword was 300 shekels of bronze, or around 10 pounds.

 

• The average spear size in that day is believed to be around 3 or 4 pounds. That said, while he didn’t carry a spear as big at Goliath’s, his was notably large according to ancient standards.

 

• From verse 16, we know that Ishbi-benob had a new sword, strapped it on, and went after David with the intention of killing him.

 

• At this point, David was weary, it was an opportune time for the enemy…

 

• Ishbi-benob, had every intention of killing him.

 

• He was among the descendants of the giant. He was from the family, and from the moment David took out Goliath, they probably began planning and plotting.

 

• Goliath had family that never forgot about what had happened.

 

• There is even some indication biblically that David had Goliaths family on his mind when he went against Goliath.

 

1 Samuel 17:40, Then he took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, that is, in his shepherd’s pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

 

Illus. 5 stones?

 

• Goliath had determined descendants. A descendent is someone who descended from a specific ancestor. It can also be something deriving in appearance, function, or character from an earlier form.

 

• Those listed in 2 Samuel 21 are called “descendants” of the giant. From these verses and 1 Chronicles 20, we get a good picture of just who these descendants were.

 

• First, we know Goliath, whose name means, “exposer,” or “exile.”

 

• The second one noted was Ishbi-benob, and his name means “mountain dweller.” The next descendant is named in verse 18.

 

2 Samuel 21:18, Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck and killed Saph, who was among the descendants of the giant.

 

• Saph is the third, his name means “threshold” or “border.”

 

2 Samuel 21:19 And there was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

 

• From 1 Samuel 17 we know that it was David himself who killed Goliath. NKJV gives further clarity, that it was not Goliath, but the brother of Goliath, and 1 Chronicles gives even further clarity.

 

1 Chronicles 20:5, And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi  the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

 

• Lahmi’s name means, “warrior.”

 

2 Samuel 21:20-22 And there was war at Gath again, 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 had been born to the giant. 21 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck and killed him..

 

• We aren’t sure of this giant’s name, but he was not only in the giant family, born to the giant, but he was notable for having six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot!

 

• Like the others, he came from Gath, and Gath means winepress. Where grapes were crushed and pressed.

 

2 Samuel 21:22 These four were born to the giant at Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

• There was a giant at Gath, and he had five sons. Four mentioned here, plus their brother, Goliath.

 

• The giant had descendants, “Exile,” “Mountain Dweller,” “Threshold,” “Warrior,” “Grape Crusher.”

 

• For David, these giants were real, but their names point us beyond their physical stature and to the physical, spiritual, personal and metaphorical giants David faces throughout his days.

 

Illus. David’s life.

 

• Verse 15 the Philistines were at war, David becomes weary, Ishbi-benob steps in against David, ready to kill him…Verse 18, there was war again…Verse 19, there was war again…Verse 20, there was war again.

 

Illus. Again and again.

John 16:33, These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

 

• Taking courage comes with a choice. It comes with an acknowledgement that the giants in my life may have descendants, but I am a child of God!

 

Illus. Point up!

 

Psalm 121:1-4

 

1 Peter 5:8-9, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

 

2 Chronicles 16:9, For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

 

III.   Their Downfall Requires Your Continued Dependence

 

• Later in his life, here faced with more giants, it was clear that David could no longer fight in the same way, he was weary.

 

• David had others who stepped in and stepped up.

 

• When David was weary, it was David’s nephew Abishai who stepped in and helped him.

 

• Abishai was always one who was looking out for and ready to protect David.

 

• In chapter 16, when David was leaving the city and his son was attacking him, a man named Shimei began to curse at and throw rocks at him…

 

2 Samuel 16:9-10, Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Now let me go over and cut off his head.” But the king said, “What business of mine is yours, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

 

• When David returned to the city, after his sons defeat, they run into the cursing man again. He saw David and said, “don’t take to heart what I did!”

 

2 Samuel 19:21-23, But Abishai the son of Zeruiah responded, “Should Shimei not be put to death for this, the fact that he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” David then said, “What is there between you and me, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?”  So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” The king also swore to him.

 

• There was a time in David’s life when everyone was skeptical of him, and he relied on God alone to give him victory before a giant.

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! (ESV)

 

• 1 Corinthians 12:20-27 tells us about the importance of all parts of the body of Christ. All parts are necessary, all parts connected, if one suffers, they all suffer, if one is honored, they all rejoice! YOU, Paul wrote are Christ’s body and individually parts of it.

 

Illus. Dependence.

 

• The Lord had provided many means by which David was saved from his enemies, here another helps him and it is important to see.

 

• When we turn to the next chapter David will express clearly however, that the Lord was the one protecting him.

 

2 Samuel 22:2-3, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.

 

• Perhaps this morning you are facing a giant and you realize that the old ways of going about it are only leaving you weary.

 

• When David fought the Goliath, it was the first giant he faced physically.

 

• The scene in 1 Samuel 17 is powerful to see. David, a young man, seemingly unequipped, but given the opportunity to go up against the giant that had the entire nation in fear.

 

• When Goliath sees David approaching, he looks at it almost as a joke. This kid coming to attack him? “Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?” He asked. Then he continued, “I am going to give your flesh to the birds of the sky and wild animals…” In other words, Goliath wanted David to see himself as a dead man.

 

1 Samuel 17:45-46(a), But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a saber, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me…

 

• David knew that if there was victory, and if he was going to win the battle, it was not him, but the Lord and what the Lord had given!

 

1 Corinthians 15:57, Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Joshua 1:9, Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

 

2 Samuel 21:15-22