David and Ishbi-benob (Fighting Giants)

2 Samuel 21:15ff  Now when the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. (16) Then Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David.  (17) But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him.

  1. Giants “again” keep coming on, v15.  They were there in the beginning of David’s life and now yet in the end.  Sin and Satan do not let up.  The war against the saints continues.  Adversity continues.  The adversary continues.
  2. David was still fighting giants. He was still in the battle, fighting the good fight.  The Christian life is a fight to the finish.
  3. Giants are deadly.  Ishbi-benob had a “new” sword, that is, it was sharp.  He “intended to kill” David, that is, sin and the powers of darkness are not playing.   Sin would like to destroy us.
  4. David formerly had no trouble with giants (Goliath), but now we find him “weary”, v15.  Sin is opportunistic.  The giant hit him when he was down.  Be strong in the Lord at all times.
  5. David received help.  Abishai “helped him”.  We do well to admit we are not independent.  Paul expected help from the prayers of the saints.  All sin is “too strong” for us, 22.19.  We would not have victory over the least sin without help from above.
  6. David received help from someone who formerly frustrated him, Abishai was sometimes a frustration to David, 19.22.  But God may use such a fellow in our lives to be a real help on occasion.  Remember then the story of David and Ishbi-benob.

Bob Jennings

(1949 - 2012)