When God Reminds You of Goliath: David Receives Goliath's Sword at the Tabernacle, 1 Samuel 21:9‑10 by Dr. Terry Harman

Goliath's Sword and Shield, photo by Terry Harman ⓒ 2010

Fear Over Faith

When new challenges rise like giants in your life, they can hit hard enough to leave you winded. Fear, doubt, and anxiety crowd in so quickly that you can feel defeated before you’ve even taken a step. In those moments, running away or reaching for any voice that sounds comforting, even if it’s the wrong one, can seem easier than standing still and turning to God.

David knew that kind of pressure. In 1 Samuel 21:9–15 and 1 Samuel 27:1–7, he isn’t facing Goliath in a valley anymore; he’s running from King Saul, a man eaten up with jealousy and determined to kill him. David heads for the tabernacle at Nob, asking the priest for bread to feed himself and his men, and is given the holy bread that has just been taken from the table before the Lord.

But God is doing more than filling an empty stomach. David receives Goliath’s sword, the very reminder of a past victory that whispers to his heart: “In the past, you’ve conquered giants in my name. I am with you in this new battle."

The Sanctuary in the Shadows: 1 Samuel 21:5  JPS 1917

David was hungry. He needed food, not fame; safety, not status. Ahimelech, unsure but merciful, offered him the holy bread, the same bread that had rested before the Lord.

“There is no common bread under mine hand,

but there is hallowed bread.”

That bread fed more than his body. It restored his memory of a God who provides in desert places. When life empties your table, God fills it from His own. You are never too far, too broken, or too fearful for His mercy to feed you.

When God Hands You a Memory: 1 Samuel 21:10 JPS 1917

David then asked the priest for a weapon. Ahimelech responded:

“The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah,

behold, it is here... if thou wilt take that, take it.”

That sword was massive, wrapped behind the ephod, and had been waiting. In that fear-driven hour, God gave His servant not a new weapon but an old victory. The grip of David’s hand around that sword reignited what fear had dimmed. The memory of the Valley of Elah came flooding back: a boy with faith, five smooth stones, and a God who never misses His mark. When fear silences faith, God places the sword of remembrance in your hands. He reminds you, you’ve already beaten giants before, not by might or training, but by trust.

The Giants That Still Roar

Giants never leave the earth; they only change their names. Some giants today wear the faces of emotional exhaustion, financial pressure, or abandonment. Some roar like trauma; others whisper like self-doubt. Every servant of God knows their voice, the voice that mocks your faith and threatens your future.

But notice what God did for David: He didn’t remove Saul immediately. Instead, He reminded David that victory wasn’t dependent on circumstances; it was rooted in the promised covenant. Your past victories are not memories of survival; they are monuments of His faithfulness. The same hand that held you steady in yesterday’s storm will not fail you today.

The Battleground of the Valley of Elah, prop created by Terry Harman, 2016

Remember and Rise

David left the tabernacle still hunted, but no longer haunted. The sword he carried wasn’t just iron; it was a symbol of victory. The sword that once silenced a giant now silenced his doubt. The same Presence that empowered a shepherd to fight a warrior when the army of Saul was incapacitated by fear, now emboldened a fugitive on the run to trust again.

And that same Presence lives with every servant who chooses remembrance over despair.

Your “giants” may roar today, shame, loss, exhaustion, but look to the past for hope.  The God of the Valley of Elah has already given you proofs of His faithful power. He placed trophies of former battles behind the ephod of your heart. Pick up your sword again. Lift your memories like banners of promise. Whisper to your fear, “I’ve been here before, and God met me there.”

When you cannot see the way forward, pick up what God already used behind you. Your remembered victory is the weapon for your next one. Run again to His presence, the holy place of strength. Eat the bread of faithfulness that sustains. Let Him remind you that every past deliverance was a rehearsal for today’s victory over the fear that tries to steal your faith.

The God who once armed David with courage at the Tabernacle now arms every servant who dares to remember.

Pause and Reflect

What sword from your past victory is hanging behind your ephod of forgetfulness today? What miracle, answered prayer, or season of unexpected strength has God given you before, waiting to be remembered now?

Please write it down. Please pick it up. Thank Him again. And walk forward with the courage of remembrance.

How You Can Thank Me

If you enjoyed reading this post and you're wondering how you can thank me, here’s what I ask: Take the inspiration you’ve found here and pass it on. Consider donating your time, talents, or treasure to a worthy cause in your community.

Maybe there’s a widow who could use help with her yard. Perhaps you know someone who’s recently lost a job and could use a helping hand. Maybe your local community center, homeless shelter, or school program that is looking for mentors; step in and support them.

Look within your own religious or spiritual community. What needs do you see around you? Where can you make a difference?

You don’t need a lot. Just do what you can, with what you have, to make this world a better place. Your kindness will ripple out farther than you can imagine. Thank you for being here, for reading, and for choosing to be a light.

Shalom, Terry