notice  I have removed from this presentation any pictures that may still be under copyright.  As far as I know all the pictures that remain are in the public domain.  If you find a copyright picture, please let me know, and I will remove it. Thank you.

the sons of the giant a study on Christian Victory by ken chant

The story of David and Goliath is probably familiar to you.  You may even have sung this song about David’s great triumph...

Only a boy named David, Only a little sling. Only a boy named David, But he could pray and sing. Only a boy named David, Only a rippling brook, Only a boy named David, But five little stones he took. And one little stone went in the sling And the sling went round and round And round and round and round and Round and round and round and round, And one little stone went up in the air And the giant came tumbling down.

introduction Why five stones?  Because Goliath had four sons! – see 2 Samuel 21:15-22; 1 Chronicles 20:5-8...

“Once again war broke out between the Philistines and Israel. David and his army went out to do battle, but as he fought against them, David fell down exhausted. Then Benob, one of the sons of Goliath, whose spear had a bronze tip weighing 5kg, and who was wearing a new sword, took David prisoner and made ready to kill him....

“... But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, came to David’s help, struck the Philistine down, and killed him. Then David’s officers took an oath that he should never again go out with them into battle, for his death would leave the country bereft of leadership....

“... Some time later, war with the Philistines broke out again in Gob. It was then that Sibbecai of Hushah killed Saph, another son of the giant. In still another war with the Philistines in Gob, Elhanan, the son of Jair of Bethlehem, killed one of Goliath of Gath’s sons, even though he had a spear whose shaft was like a weaver’s beam!...

“... In yet another war in Gath a giant appeared who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He too was one of the sons of Goliath, but when he defied Israel, Jonathon, who was David’s nephew, killed him....

“... These four giants were sons of Goliath of Gath, but they all fell at the hands of David and his men.”

The surviving Hebrew texts of those stores are defective.  Consequently, translators and commentators are uncertain whether the four “giants” were Goliath’s sons, brothers, cousins, or had an even more distant link with him.

But for our purposes, it is convenient to call them his “sons” (which some translations do allow).  We can affirm three things –

1. They were all there when David fought Goliath. 2. They ran away on that day. 3. They later returned to trouble Israel.

your goliath may have a son

David and Israel probably thought that the menace of Goliath was gone for ever!  But it was not to be, for Benob appeared more terrible than his father!

Most of us have similar experiences –  a former temptation  an old sickness  a weakness formerly unknown  and the like.

We are tempted to despair!  Especially when we find that we can’t just run away from it!  As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote...

Travelling is a fool's paradise. Our first journeys discover to us the indifference of places. At home I dream that at Naples, at Rome, I can be intoxicated with beauty, and lose my sadness. I pack my trunk, embrace my friends, embark on the sea, and at last wake up in Naples,...

... and here beside me is the stern fact, the sad self, unrelenting, identical, that I fled from. I seek the Vatican, and the palaces. I affect to be intoxicated with sights and suggestions, but I am not intoxicated. My giant goes with me wherever I go. (“Self Reliance,” para. 41)

But we ought never to despair!  If Goliath fell, how much more will his sons!

pebbles won’t conquer an army!

Pebbles were useless in this later battle  David hardly made it with a sword!

So don’t get locked into a single method –  Notice the variety in ancient Israel  We should be like the leaders of Issachar...

“Issachar had 200 remarkable commanders, men who knew what Israel should do and the best time to do it!” (1 Ch 12:32; GNB)

Or think about the “whole armour of God” (Eph 6:11- 17)  Indeed, let us use every weapon, every resource, that God has placed in our hands.

Then be prepared for hard battle as well as easy victory!  Thus Christian’s struggle against Apollyon...

Then APOLLYON straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and said, "I am void of fear in this matter: prepare thyself to die! for I swear by my infernal den that thou shalt go no farther; here will I spill thy soul." And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breast; but CHRISTIAN had a shield in his hand, with which he caught it, and so prevented the danger of that.

Then did CHRISTIAN draw, for he saw 'twas time to bestir him; and APOLLYON as fast made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail; by the which, notwithstanding all that CHRISTIAN could do to avoid it, APOLLYON wounded him in his head, his hand, and foot. This made CHRISTIAN give a little back; APOLLYON therefore followed his work furiously, and CHRISTIAN again took courage, and resisted as manfully as he could.

This sore combat lasted for above half a day, even till CHRISTIAN was almost quite spent. For you must know that CHRISTIAN, by reason of his wounds, grew weaker and weaker. Then APOLLYON, espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to CHRISTIAN, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall: and with that, CHRISTIAN'S sword flew out of his hand.

Then said APOLLYON, "I am sure of thee now"; and with that he had almost pressed him to death, so that CHRISTIAN began to despair of life. But as God would have it, while APOLLYON was fetching his last blow, thereby to make a full end of this good man, CHRISTIAN nimbly reached out his hand for his sword, and caught it, saying,...

"Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I shall arise” (Micah 7:8 ); and with that, gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give back, as one that had received his mortal wound. CHRISTIAN perceiving that, made at him again, saying, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us". And with that, APOLLYON spread forth his dragon's wings, and sped him away, so that CHRISTIAN for a season saw him no more.

set yourself to defy the defier

Of the last of the four giants, it was said that “he defied Israel”.  There will always be someone who wants to build boundaries  but note 2 Co 3:17-18.

Paul’s prescription for boundless living rests upon two necessities – 1. Keep your eye on Jesus. 2. Keep full of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion –  David was rescued by Abishai, but we have a Greater Warrior on our side!