Boast in the LORD's Victory, not Your Effort

"And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent." (1 Samuel 17: 54)

Most of us all love to reminisce about our victories, to take pride in all that we have done. Sometimes, we relive the glories of the past so that we can face a difficult present or an uncertain future.

David the Shepherd Boy who later became King did not trust in his own effort to take down Goliath:

"David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee." (1 Samuel 17: 37)

"The LORD will deliver me." Our victories are in Christ, not in ourselves.

"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)

This love is more than some sentimental feelings, but a witness through the Cross that all of our sins are forgiven:

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10)

Returning to the account in 1 Samuel 17, Goliath of Gath was covered in brass, from head to toe, a type of condemnation and of the Enemy who reproaches us. David "The Beloved" represents Jesus Christ, whose death has made us Accepted in Him (Ephesians 1: 6).

Just as David defeated Goliath and brought the giant's head back to Jerusalem, so too Jesus defeated a greater enemy, Satan, at Golgotha.

David brought the head of Goliath to Jerusalem to prove the victory. David did not prove his victory, since he left his armor in his tent. Armor represents our own efforts, our own attempts to provide and defend ourselves.

David was rejoicing in the LORD's victory:

"And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17: 47)

Every day, rejoice in the victory which you have in Christ, that all of your sins have been forgiven (Colossians 2: 13), and that you have received His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5: 21). His forever-victory has nothing to do with us, for we are saved by grace received by faith (Ephesians 2: 4). Jesus' victory gives us victory every day:

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2: 14)