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David vs. Goliath at the Valley of Elah |
Everyone has heard about David, the boy with the courage
to face the giant, Goliath. Against all odds, using his sling, young
David killed the giant warrior with the help of the God of Israel. With
that successful shot, David shattered the confidence of the Philistines
and, for a time, ended their attempt to conquer the tribe of Judah.
[1 Samuel 17:4-51]
This famous battle took place in the Elah Valley
[1 Samuel 21:9]
This panoramic view of the Elah Valley from the south is
an approximate view of what the Philistine army saw as they faced the
Israelites in the battle commonly known as "David vs. Goliath." The
Philistines were encamped on the south side of the valley and King Saul's
forces occupied the hill on the northern side.
I have been blessed to travel to Israel two times in my
life. (Thank You, Jesus!) Never have I seen the Valley of Elah (not
unless we passed through it and was not aware) one of the most famous
battlefields of all time! Why? It's still there! Hills on both sides, and
a valley in the middle where David and Goliath fought.
The best view of the valley, as shown above, is from the
commanding hilltop of Azekah. This strategic city was wisely
fortified by King Rehoboam, and it was one of the last cities to fall to
the Babylonians in the invasion of Judah in 586 B.C. The valley
below it was the location of the battle of David and Goliath.
You can even see the stream where David got his
rocks/stones. Had I seen this stream I probably would have loaded up
every pocket, purse, backpack, etc. As it was, I only brought back one
suitcase full of rocks!
The Brook Elah
The Brook Elah is famous for the five stones it contributed to the young warrior/shepherd, David. Some say that David chose five stones instead of the one needed in case he needed to face Goliath's four brothers.
You might ask me why I didn't see the Valley of Elah.
Well, unlike most of the Holy Land which is geared to tourism, there is
no church, synagogue, or bus tour there. There's no real signs, nothing
to get your attention and say,
"This is the Valley of Elah where David vs.
Goliath fought."
It's off the side of a road, but you wouldn't know it.
It's amazing! One of the most famous stories in the Bible and probably
one of the most famous battlefields and you don't know it's there. People
ride through the Valley of Elah all the time and don't even know it!
So, what can we learn from the Valley of Elah?
The greatest battlefields of the L-rd are hidden away.
They don't happen in the limelight, center stage, front row, etc, but are
in hidden places. Like your prayer closets! The real victories in
your life will not be seen by the world around you, but inside, that
secret place of the Most High.
The real battle must be won first in prayer, in the Secret
Place, or you won't win at all!
If you can't win there, then you will never win anywhere!
If you are not victorious alone with G-d, then you won't be victorious
anywhere else.
Psalm 91:1-2
"He that dwelleth in the secret
place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I
will say of the L-rd, He is my refuge and my fortress: my G-d; in Him
will I trust."
So, get off your duff, get your slingshot and go to Elah,
your prayer closet, your Secret Place. Lift up to the Most High, Adonai
Tzva'ot...the L-rd of Hosts, those things in your life that need His
Blessings, those battlefields that are taunting you.
Elah is hidden away, but it is at Elah that Giants
are slain!
A famous anecdote about Moshe Dayan 
The story of David and Goliath has been
invoked countless times over history as a source of inspiration and
encouragement to the weak. A famous anecdote about Moshe Dayan, the
Minister of Defense when the Six Day War broke out in 1967, recalls how
Dayan called his senior officers together on the eve of the war for a pep
talk.
When he proceeded to read to them from
1 Samuel 17 the soldiers were outraged: “We’re about to be
attacked and he’s reading to us from the Bible?” But Dayan used
David to illustrate how the smaller, weaker side can gain the upper hand
by identifying and attacking his opponent’s weak points.
Goliath was weighed down by heavy weapons and moved slowly; David, unburdened, was agile and light on his feet. A heavy suit of armor protected Goliath’s body, but his face remained vulnerable; David aimed his sling at the one place he knew he could do the most damage. Israel’s ultimate decision in 1967 to pre-empt an Egyptian attack by flying under their radar and destroying the air force on the ground bore all the marks of David’s strategy. 
Shalom and Blessing
In Yeshua/Jesus' Love and Service
Billye Jeane
 Sha'aloo shalom Yerushalayim |
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