Fighting Giants: Domestic Violence Read 1 Samuel 17

All of us face giants in our lives. A giant is something or someone who has the strength and ability to defeat us. Cancer, anxiety, depression, loss of income, feeling rejected and isolated are all potential giants in our lives. Domestic violence is a giant in the lives of many people and it has the potential to effect directly and indirectly the lives of people both individually and corporately. October is Domestic Violence awareness month. At our church members are asked to wear something purple on the fourth Sunday in recognition of domestic violence. In this article I will state a few things that I believe that every Christian and church should be doing to fight this giant. I suggest that the reader take the time to read 1 Samuel 17. It is the story of David a teenage shepherd boy fighting against a well equipped, seasoned experience warrior who has overwhelming physical size and strength. In this story we can draw parallels that will help us to fight any giant that confronts us, and in this case the giant is domestic violence. In this story King Saul and his army are confronted by a Philistine warrior named Goliath. He challenges the army of Israel to select a man to fight against him. They will represent their army and the winner of the fight will claim victory for his army (vv. 1-11). Now, let me back track a little. When I was a kid we had bible story books in our home. One of the favorite stories was about the little shepherd boy David who fought and killed the giant. At this time I thought only about a physical battle. The story, however, has strong implications about the life of David. It tells us something about his mental capacities and outlook. It tells us about David’s emotional stability. It tells us about David’s spiritual well being; his faith in God. Domestic violence is a giant. It is a disease that affects both the perpetrator and the victims in all areas of their lives. David’s defeat of the giant or his loss to the giant will have an effect upon Saul’s whole army and will extend to the nation Israel as a whole. Although this space will not allow me to cover the entire scope of domestic violence, I want to suggest that the church has the responsibility to take on the role of David and stand against this giant that affects all of us. First, we must be aware of the giant’s existence. In the story David takes food to his brothers that are serving in Saul’s army. He hears the challenge of the Philistine warrior (v. 23), and he asks the soldiers who this giant is and what will be the reward for defeating this giant that all of Israel’s army is afraid of (v. 26). Now, I think that it is a good thing for the members of our church to wear purple in recognition of Domestic Violence awareness month. However, we cannot stop there. Like David we must educate ourselves about domestic violence. What is it? Why does it happen? Who is affected? What is domestic violence? Domestic Violence is primarily about power and control. Domestic Violence is more than a woman or a man beating up on their partner and inflicting physical pain and suffering. As stated above it is a disease, and as Christians we must recognize and acknowledge that domestic violence is a sin. It is a sin because it violates the law of love. It violates the fact that every person regardless of socio-economic status is created in the image of God. Why does domestic violence take place? The variables are too many to mention here, but we can say that domestic violence is a learned behavior. It may be learned in childhood as the child is abused. The child may have witnessed abuse and understood that violence was a means of maintaining control in the family. Who does it affect? It affects the perpetrator, the victims and those who are in relationship to those who have been victimized by it. The second thing that we should do is to acknowledge its power. We have already stated that Goliath is physically superior to everyone else in height, size, and war equipment and experience. Let us be clear. Domestic violence is a formidable foe. It has the capacity to destroy people and often it leads to death. It disrupts the stages of development stated by Erik Erickson. The ability to trust is destroyed and mistrust is the norm for the affected person. There have been countless marriages that have failed because of the inability of one or both partners to trust their mate or to develop intimacy in the relationship. Children become depressed, feel inadequate, and isolated. Their inability to concentrate keeps them from getting a good a needed education. In the story David responds to the Giant’s challenge. He is not afraid of this giant and he does not believe that Goliath is as bad as he thinks that he is. David asks “who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God’” (v. 26, NASB). In verse thirty-one David is introduced to the king. In his interview with the king David persuades him to allow him face the giant. He is confident that he will be victorious because in the past God had given him the strength and ability to defeat a lion and a bear and the Philistine giant will be no different (v. 36). David does not have the size, experience, and battle weapons to face this giant, but he does have what is needed to gain the victory. First, he has faith in the Lord (v. 37). God gives him strength, and God has taught him how to use effectively the weapons that he needs to win. This brings us to the final point. We must fight with what the Lord gives us. The world is searching for solutions to its problems by using human knowledge and methods. David tells Saul that his armor and weapons does not fit him, and he does not know how to use them (v. 39). David takes weapons that he familiar with. He faces the giant with a sling and five smooth stones from the brook (v. 40). He moves toward the giant and answers his taunt. He declares that he will defeat this giant because he comes to the battle in the name of the Lord (vv. 45-47). David takes what the Lord has given to him and defeats the giant (vv.48-51). The world treats domestic violence as a social problem and a criminal offense. This is true, but this is not the root of the problem. As stated above domestic violence is a sin. God has not authorized civil authorities to fight giants by spiritual means. The church is the voice of God in the world. It has the responsibility to face sin in the name of the Lord. The church must begin to treat domestic violence as the sin that it is. Ephesians 6:12-17 identifies the giant, and instructs us how to use the weapons that the Lord gives us. Our challenge is to teach Christians to walk by the Spirit so that they will not carry out the desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16).