Jesus, the Rock—Our Victory in Spiritual Battles
Bible Study: 1 Samuel
Jesus, the Rock—Our Victory in Spiritual Battles
Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 17:38-40
"Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, ‘I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.’ So David put them off. Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine."
Rejecting the World’s Identity
Right before David faced Goliath, Saul tried to prepare him for battle in a worldly way—by giving him his own royal armor. But David knew it wasn’t meant for him. He had never tested it, and more importantly, it was not how God had prepared him to fight. Instead, David chose to rely on what he knew—his sling, his faith, and most importantly, his trust in the LORD.
How often does this happen before a breakthrough in our own lives? Right before stepping into what God has called us to do, voices from the world try to shape our identity, offering us things that do not fit. They say:
“You should do it this way.”
“You need to look like this to be successful.”
“You’re not ready yet—you need more status, more influence, more skills.”
(Side-note, as you go through the study, ask yourself how often we, even with good intentions, try to dress others in armor that wasn’t meant for them? We sometimes impose our own expectations, experiences, or fears onto others, rather than encouraging them to trust in what God has equipped them with.)
But like David, we must learn to reject the world’s version of success and rely on what God has already prepared in us. The world will always try to define you, but God has already called you by name.
Artist: Julius Kronberg (1850–1921) | Title: David and Saul
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Jesus, the Rock That Defeats Our Giants
David didn’t fight Goliath with a sword—he fought with a simple rock. And in the same way, we fight our battles with the same rock,
The Rock—Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:4 – “…for they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”
Psalm 18:2 – “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge…”
David’s victory wasn’t in the stone itself, but in who he trusted to guide that stone. When we fight our battles in faith, using the truth of God’s Word, it is Christ Himself who secures the victory.
The Refining Before the Battle
It’s no accident that right before the big battle, David had to make a choice—to trust in the world’s way or to trust in God. This happens to us, too.
Sometimes, we delay our own breakthrough because we listen to the wrong voices. We wear the world’s armor instead of standing firm in the identity God has already given us. And yet, even when we falter, God is sovereign. Our delays, our doubts, our struggles—none of it surprises Him. He uses every moment to refine us, to prepare us, to make us more like Christ.
Romans 8:28 – “…for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
Application: How to Fight Like David
Reject the World’s Armor – What expectations or labels have others placed on you that God never intended? Cast them off.
Hold Fast to What God Has Taught You – David had already seen God’s faithfulness when he protected his sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-37). Remember how God has prepared you.
Rely on the Rock—Jesus Christ – Your victory does not come from your own strength, but from trusting in the power of God.
Trust the Refining Process – If you feel delayed or discouraged, remember—God is never late. He is preparing you for the right time.
And Here We Find Grace…
GRACE perfectly encapsulates the transition from striving, to resting, in God's presence—which is at the heart of the message. Grace is the unmerited favor of God, and it's through His grace that we are able to move from struggle to peace. I invite you to pause and reflect on God's presence, how you can connect to God’s grace in a meaningful way.
Our GRACE Method™ is meant to encourage you so you can experience YHWH, Immanuel, and the Holy Spirit, in a deeper way, on a regular basis, through thought provoking Bible Study, Prayer, education, and Worship.
A practical way to apply this study to your life:
G – Grounding in Scripture
David knew that victory was not found in a sword or in Saul’s armor, but in the name of the Lord. When we face battles, we must first ground ourselves in God’s Word, just as David did when he declared, “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). Our strength comes from knowing who God is, not from what the world offers.
→ Reflection Questions:
What Scripture has strengthened you in past battles?
How can you remind yourself daily that the battle belongs to the Lord?
1 Samuel 17:38-40 – David rejects Saul’s armor and trusts in what God has already prepared.
1 Corinthians 10:4 – Jesus is the Rock who gives us victory.
Isaiah 55:8-9 – God’s ways are higher than ours; He refines us for His purpose.
R – Reflecting on Context
Before David met Goliath, he had already faced battles in the wilderness—fighting off lions and bears to protect his flock (1 Samuel 17:34-36). His past experiences, though difficult, prepared him for this moment. God is always at work in our lives, using every challenge to refine and equip us for greater things—even when we don’t see how He’s preparing our path. Just as God was refining David, He was simultaneously bringing down Saul, orchestrating His plan in ways we often don't understand at the time.
→ Reflection Questions:
Can you recall a time when God used a past struggle to strengthen you?
How does remembering God’s faithfulness in the past give you confidence for today’s battles?
Why do you think Saul wanted David to wear his armor?
How does this story reflect how the world tries to shape our identity?
What does this passage teach about trusting in God’s preparation rather than man’s expectations?
A – Applying to Your Life
Saul tried to dress David in his own armor, but David cast it off, knowing it wasn’t for him (1 Samuel 17:39). How often do we feel pressured to take on someone else’s expectations in our spiritual battles? God equips each of us uniquely—our strength is not in man’s wisdom but in trusting what He has already given us.
→ Reflection Questions:
Have you ever felt pressured to fight a battle in someone else’s armor?
How can you discern between worldly expectations and God’s calling for your life?
Are there ways in which you’ve tried to “wear Saul’s armor” in your own life?
What has God already given you that He wants you to trust in?
What “Goliaths” are you facing that require you to rely on The Rock (Jesus)?
Have you ever felt pressured to fight a battle in someone else’s armor?
Have you ever unintentionally placed that pressure on someone else?
C – Communing with God
David didn’t step into battle alone; he came in the name of the Lord (1 Samuel 17:45). Prayer is our direct communion with God—it reminds us of His presence and strengthens us for what lies ahead. Before taking action, we must first surrender our fears, doubts, and battles to Him.
→ Reflection Questions:
What burdens do you need to surrender to God in prayer today?
How can you deepen your daily prayer life to prepare for spiritual battles?
Spend time in prayer, asking God and the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas where you are relying on the world’s approval instead of His. Thank Him for being your Rock and ask Him to strengthen your trust in His plan.
E – Exalting God
David’s victory over Goliath wasn’t just about overcoming an enemy; it was about glorifying God. True victory is found in exalting God above all things, even in the midst of battle. Worship shifts our focus from the size of our problems to the greatness of our God.
→ Reflection Questions:
How can you turn your battles into moments of worship?
What are three things you can praise God for today, even in the struggle?
Question: How can I worship God in spirit and truth today?
Worship through music (see songs below!)
Praise God for how He has equipped you.
Declare victory over your battles in Jesus’ name!
God’s love is relentless. He pursues us even when we do not see Him. He calls us to worship in spirit and truth, revealing His glory to those who seek Him. Once we truly know the gift of God, once we recognize Jesus for who He is, everything changes—and we will never be the same.
Bible Verse: “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:23)
“Who You Say I Am” – Hillsong Worship
Watch on YouTube
Description: This song is a powerful reminder that we are who God says we are, not what the world labels us as. David refused to let Saul define him—he knew he was chosen by God. In the same way, we must embrace our identity in Christ.
“Battle Belongs” – Phil Wickham
Watch on YouTube
Description: This song beautifully captures the truth that the battle is the Lord’s. Like David, we don’t have to fight in our own strength—we simply need to trust in God’s power and stand in faith.
“Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” – Cody Carnes
Watch on YouTube
Description: This song is a declaration that Jesus is our firm foundation. Just as David trusted in the Rock (Jesus) rather than Saul’s armor, this song reminds us that when we build our lives on Christ, we will never be shaken.
Closing Prayer
Father, I thank You that You have already equipped me for the battles ahead. Help me to reject the world’s expectations and to stand firm in Your truth. Jesus, You are my Rock, my foundation, my victory. Strengthen my faith and refine me in Your perfect timing.
In Jesus’ name, Amen+Amen!
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