1 Samuel 17:42
“And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.”

Before we discuss how to fight, we must consider ” how not to fight.” To know how to fight correctly, you need to know how not to fight.

Let’s look at Goliath—how did he approach the battle with David?

Firstly, the Bible says Goliath, “disdained” David (verse 42). NLT says he, “sneered in contempt.”

Why did Goliath disdain and sneer at David in contempt? Because he considered him a youth, someone incapable of fighting with him. He basically looked down at David as a walk-over.

Lesson number one: Never look down at any opposition that comes against you because no matter how small he may look outwardly, you don’t know the powers working behind him. That was Goliath’s first mistake.

Secondly, Goliath dismissed David’s weapons of war (verse 43). He thought David was only carrying sticks (meanwhile, David only had one stick—his shepherd staff).

Because he dismissed David so quickly, he did not observe the sling and stones David had on him.

Lesson number two: Be vigilant when you enter into spiritual conflict. Open your eyes to see clearly, and be discerning.

Before you engage in battle, study the environment properly. Study your enemy properly. Try to understand what he may be planning against you.

Thirdly, Goliath was so boastful, cursing David by his own gods (verse 44). He believed he would easily overcome David, and promised to feed David’s flesh to the birds and beasts.

Goliath was a fighting man and had won many battles, so he had become very cocky in his thinking.

Lesson number three: Never be boastful in spiritual warfare. Never assume you have what it takes in yourself to have victory.

Whoever becomes boastful, even in his heart, has lost power with God. The boastful man trusts in himself. God is displeased with this.

In conclusion, we firmly believe God has called us into victorious living, and we will overcome our Goliaths. But we need to learn from Goliath how not to engage in warfare.

These lessons are important things to remember. Yes, we will win in Christ Jesus, but we must avoid being boastful, looking down on our opponents, and being careless.