When Giants Return — Lions, Giants & Bears, But God — Frank Santora

Devotional

Day 1: The Weary King’s New Giant

David stood breathless on the battlefield, his armor dented and his sword heavy. Years of war had worn him thin. Ishbi-Benob, a descendant of Goliath, lunged with a bronze spear—lighter than Goliath’s, but deadly. David’s strength faltered. Just as the giant raised his blade, Abishai rushed in, striking the enemy down. Victory came through another’s strength. [08:07]

Giants return in seasons of exhaustion. The enemy studies our weariness—the moments we lower our guard, skip prayer, or isolate. David’s story warns: yesterday’s courage won’t stop today’s attack. Vigilance isn’t optional.

Where has fatigue dulled your alertness? Name one area where you’ve let your armor slip. What small compromise have you tolerated, thinking, “This won’t matter”?

“Moreover, the Philistines had war again with Israel… and David grew faint.”
(2 Samuel 21:15, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal where weariness has made you vulnerable.

Challenge: Set a 5-minute timer tonight to pray Psalm 28:7 aloud.

Day 2: The Lamp Almost Quenched

David’s men swore, “You shall go out no more to battle.” They feared losing not just their king, but Israel’s light. The giant sought more than David’s life—he aimed to snuff out the hope of a nation. Abishai’s intervention preserved the flame. [15:45]

Satan doesn’t settle for wounding you. He wants your light: your joy, your testimony, your hunger for God’s presence. Like David, your survival isn’t about pride—it’s about sustaining Christ’s radiance through you.

When did you last feel your spiritual fire dimming? What habit, relationship, or distraction threatens to smother your light today?

“Then the men of David swore to him, saying, ‘You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.’”
(2 Samuel 21:17, NKJV)

Prayer: Confess one way you’ve allowed your light to dim.

Challenge: Write down three areas where your zeal has decreased. Burn the list as a surrender.

Day 3: Repentance Before the Spear

For three years, famine gripped Israel. David finally asked God, “Why?” The answer: unaddressed sin. Saul had broken a covenant, spilling innocent blood. David repented, made restitution, and God healed the land. Only then could he face giants. [25:27]

Unconfessed sin is an open door. The enemy exploits unresolved guilt, shame, or compromise. David shows us: victory begins with repentance. Don’t let yesterday’s disobedience sabotage today’s battle.

What “old giant” still haunts you? What broken covenant have you left unaddressed?

“So they performed all that the king commanded. After that, God heeded the prayer for the land.”
(2 Samuel 21:14, NKJV)

Prayer: Name one unconfessed sin blocking God’s favor.

Challenge: Text a trusted believer: “Hold me accountable to reconcile with ________ by Friday.”

Day 4: Abishai’s Timely Sword

David didn’t see the spear coming. But Abishai did. This nephew-turned-warrior had fought beside David for decades. Their bond wasn’t forged in crisis—it was built through shared battles. When David faltered, Abishai’s loyalty saved his life. [29:55]

God often sends help through people you’ve invested in. Pride says, “I’ll handle it alone.” Wisdom says, “Let my spiritual family fight with me.” Isolation extinguishes light; community guards it.

Who has God placed to “hold your arms up” in this season? Have you dismissed their help?

“Abishai… struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him…”
(2 Samuel 21:17, NKJV)

Prayer: Thank God for three people who’ve fought for your spiritual life.

Challenge: Call one person from your list and say, “I need your prayers this week.”

Day 5: Winning With Wisdom, Not Muscle

David’s men didn’t say, “Stay home because you’re weak.” They said, “We need your light.” Maturity shifts reliance from personal strength to God’s wisdom. The aged king traded his sword for influence, letting others wield steel while he stewarded vision. [43:16]

Wisdom outlasts giants. It discerns subtle attacks, chooses battles, and empowers others. Are you still trying to win with youthful zeal instead of Holy Spirit insight?

Where is God calling you to lead through discernment rather than force?

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”
(Proverbs 4:7, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God for wisdom in a specific decision you’re facing.

Challenge: Spend 10 minutes in silence today—listen more than speak.

Sermon Summary

We face seasons when yesterday’s victory feels like enough, and giants find their way back into our lives. We cannot live off a single triumph because the enemy waits for our weariness. We grow tired, we stop praying, and we let small compromises widen into open doors. The story in Second Samuel 21 shows older David, not the youthful slingshot champion, wearied by years of battle, confronted by a new giant related to the old one. The text reveals that returning giants often come when we tire, attack our spiritual light, dress their blows in subtler weapons, and exploit unfinished sin or broken covenants.

We must stay sober and vigilant. Maturity does not mean ceasing to fight; maturity means fighting smarter. Instead of relying on raw strength or past momentum, we cultivate endurance, discernment, and holy living so that the enemy finds no foothold. Repentance becomes a strategic weapon. When Israel dealt with the open door that allowed famine, God responded and the land found relief. Removing hidden compromise and making right what we ignored restores favor and shuts the enemy’s access points.

We also must refuse isolation. God frequently answers by sending people to help. The passage shows a kinsman stepping in to strike down the Philistine. Intentionally building and empowering teammates multiplies our capacity and secures longevity for the mission. Wisdom calls us to delegate, train leaders, and accept help without shame. Finally, we must seek God for discernment. Wisdom is not a quick trick; it arrives through relationship, listening, and dependence. One word from God can prevent years of pain, but God entrusts deep wisdom to those who press into him.

Therefore we guard our lamp, remove cracks in our lives through repentant hearts, cultivate a community that carries burdens together, and pursue God’s wisdom with patient devotion. We aim to finish with the torch still burning, not just to win races by speed. The call asks for vigilance, holiness, shared responsibility, and sustained intimacy with God so that when giants return, we stand and shine for the kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. Giants return when we are weary [08:07] Weariness opens strategic windows for the enemy. When our vigilance drops, small compromises multiply into footholds. We must treat spiritual rhythms as nonnegotiable disciplines that protect long-term faith. Discipline sustains momentum more than single victories. [08:07]
2. Giants aim to extinguish our light [14:28] The primary attack targets our relationship with God and our witness to others. Losing passion or prayer life matters more than losing comfort or status because it shrinks our spiritual influence. We must protect practices that keep the lamp burning. A faith that loses its light fails its mission. [14:28]
3. Repentance closes open doors [25:27] Confession and decisive turning remove access points the enemy exploits. Repentance does more than relieve guilt; it restores covenantal favor and releases breakthrough. We should root out tolerated compromises and pursue complete reversal. Radical repentance reconfigures destiny. [25:27]
4. We need others and empowerment [29:29] Isolation invites defeat while community produces victory. Receiving help and raising leaders multiplies impact and protects longevity. Empowerment is strategic humility, not loss of significance. We prepare others so they can carry us when we grow weak. [29:29]
5. Wisdom sustains mature faith [40:39] Wisdom reframes trials by God’s perspective and prevents costly decisions. Growing intimacy with God produces discernment that outlasts emotional fervor. We ask for wisdom in faith and spend the time needed to hear God’s voice. Wisdom turns short-term wins into lifelong fruit. [40:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:32] - When Giants Return
[08:07] - Giants and Weariness
[14:28] - Giants Attack Our Light
[25:27] - Repentance Closes Open Doors
[29:29] - God Steps In Through People
[40:39] - Wisdom for the Long Haul

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
2 Samuel 21:15-17 (NKJV)
When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”

Observation Questions

What specific detail does the passage highlight about Ishbi-Benob’s weapon, and why might this matter?
How did David’s men respond after Abishai intervened, and what reason did they give for their warning?
According to the sermon, what key difference exists between young David fighting Goliath and older David facing Ishbi-Benob? [08:07]

Interpretation Questions

Why might weariness create an opportunity for “giants” to return, as seen in David’s story and modern life?
The men of David say, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” What does the “lamp” symbolize, and why is protecting it critical?
How does repentance function as a “strategic weapon” against the enemy’s footholds, as illustrated in the story of Israel’s famine? [25:27]

Application Questions

Reflect on a season when weariness led to compromise or a loss of vigilance. What small steps could you take this week to guard your spiritual disciplines (e.g., prayer, Scripture, community)?
Are there areas of your life where you’ve tolerated “small leaks” (e.g., prayerlessness, subtle compromises)? What practical action could close those doors? [18:31]
Who are the “Abishais” in your life—people God has sent to help you fight battles? How can you intentionally lean on or thank them this week?
The sermon warns against isolation. What relationships or groups could you prioritize to ensure you’re not fighting giants alone? [29:29]
Wisdom is cultivated through relationship with God. What specific habit (e.g., silence, journaling, fasting) could you adopt to better “press into Him” for discernment? [43:16]
Are there unresolved sins or broken covenants you’ve ignored? What step of repentance (confession, restitution, accountability) could you take to restore favor? [25:53]

Sermon Clips

He's after your light. Second Samuel chapter 21 verse 17, but Abishai, the son of Zaruah came to his aid and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him saying, you shall go out no more with us to battle, lest ye quench the lamp of Israel. Notice the language, lest ye quench the lamp of Israel. This giant was not trying to wound David. This giant was trying to extinguish David's light. [00:14:40] (26 seconds) #GuardTheLight

When I get into the presence of God, you know what I wanna know? I wanna know what God has. Because if God gives me wisdom, if I can hear the voice of God, can I tell you need the voice of God? One word from God will change your whole life in an instant. It will save you years of pain, years of trouble. It'll cause you to catapult into your destiny in ways that you never thought you need the voice of God in your life. One word from God can change it all. But in order to hear that voice, you need to press in. And when God speaks to you and you get that wisdom, everything changes in your life. [00:47:02] (32 seconds) #HearGodsVoice

Notice this, the reason David had help when he needed it is because he spent time empowering people before he needed their help. In fact, Abishai was one of the leaders among David's mighty men. He was the brother of Joab. Joab was the the chief of the mighty men. He was the toughest. He was the strongest. And scripture describes him as a fierce warrior who once killed 300 men with his spear. And he fought beside David for years, which means David had spent years pouring into people who are now strong enough to help him when he became very weak. And now the very people David empowered were protecting David's life. [00:35:29] (39 seconds) #InvestInPeople

David is weary, the giant is prescient, his his light is under attack. God doesn't send an angel, he sends Abishai. One of the greatest lies of the enemy that the enemy whispers is you need to fight alone, handle it alone, struggle alone, carry it alone, hide it alone. Isolation is one of the enemy's tricks to not keep you free, but to keep you bound. That's why the bible says God brings all hidden things of darkness to light. [00:29:55] (29 seconds) #DontFightAlone

Most people are living on yesterday's victories. We get a victory in God and we celebrate and we're great and all that kind of stuff and then we kinda let our our armor down. We let our guard drop if you will. But the Bible teaches just the opposite. First Peter chapter five verse number eight says, be sober, be vigilant because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. In other words, stay alert. [00:04:09] (27 seconds) #StayVigilant

Stay discerning because the enemy does not just stop simply because you won one victory. And this is important because as we mature in God, we are supposed to grow. We're supposed to go from milk to meat. We're supposed to go from faith to faith. We're supposed to leave the elementary things of the gospel and move on to to the meatier things and grow into maturity. And many believers are not people mature believers are not people who just don't fight anymore. They're those who fight differently. [00:04:36] (30 seconds) #MatureInFaith

It's a scary verse, but it's actually a freeing verse. Because God is not trying to bring stuff to light in order to hurt anybody, God is trying to bring it to light so you could be free. Because when light comes, help is supposed to come. Let me say it again. When light comes, help is supposed to come. Let me say it again. When light comes, help is supposed to come. Not when light comes, judgment's supposed to come. [00:30:24] (23 seconds) #LightBringsHelp

Every man ought to think soberly of himself according to the measure of faith that God has given to him. Don't overestimate your strength. One of the things you gotta know is that your flesh is weak. Your spirit is strong, but your flesh is weak. Give it no place because it'll roar quick. All it needs is a little bit of food and all of a sudden it's wanting to go to the buffet, you know what I'm talking about. There's some battles you can't win on your own. There was a lame man. He couldn't get to Jesus all by himself, but he had four friends. [00:33:04] (31 seconds) #KnowYourLimits

I don't want you just blowing in here for a minute and then then forgetting about me the next minute. I don't wanna give you what I know just to give you what I know so you go wasted on all sorts of riotous living. Here's what I want, I want relationship with you. And when you come into relationship with with me, me, when we have a bond together, when we trust, I give you everything I got. No holds barred, But you need relationship. God wants to show up in wisdom in your life. [00:44:24] (45 seconds) #RelationshipMatters

Some some some of you want a career advancement, you should want wisdom. Because if all God does is ever fix the problem, you don't know how, you don't know the you don't have the keys that you need in order to maintain the upward progression in your life. But if you get wisdom, with comes everything else. If you get wisdom on how to be healthy, then you stay healthy and you live healthy. If you get wisdom on how to be wealthy, then you stay wealthy and keep getting more and more wealthy. If you get wisdom on how to have a successful marriage, then you don't just fix the fight. You grow in your relationship with one another and have a long lasting. You need wisdom. [00:47:42] (41 seconds) #WisdomForLife

What if he didn't have any friends? He would have stayed lame. But he had four friends. You know what they said? You can't get to Jesus on your own? We'll carry you to Jesus. And they carried them all the way to Jesus. And when they got to the house where Jesus was, you know, it was so packed because Jesus only preached to small groups of people. All the haters. All the haters. These big churches, they ain't biblical. I know what bible you're reading, but Jesus' crowds were so big, you couldn't even get to see him. You couldn't even get to come. So what did they say? They said, we gotta get to Jesus. We gotta get what did they do? They climbed up on the roof. They ripped a hole open in the roof, and the bible says, when he saw their faith. How many of you know sometimes you need the faith of somebody else to be strong when your faith is weak? [00:33:35] (46 seconds) #FaithLiftsFriends

Empowerment is not about losing importance. It's about multiplying impact. Let me say it again. Empowerment is not about losing importance. It's about multiplying impact. By the way, I'm at the stage in my life where the people I want to hire is people who are empowers. People who know how to develop team, not execute a task. I'm just helping you. You that's free right there, by the way. Tony Robbins would charge you over $10,000 an hour to receive that one statement. [00:36:10] (32 seconds) #EmpowermentMultiplies

I said, I know it's gonna hurt, Lord, but this relationship is not not of you. Why? Because it kept pulling me away from God. It kept making me disobey God. Yeah. Was I trying? Yeah. Was I trying? Yeah. But you know what? I was living in it. It's like expecting to to never drink alcohol after an alcohol and hanging out at a bar. It's foolishness. No matter how much you wanna pray, no matter how much you wanna ask God, there are certain things you need to be violent. I said, God, take this away, and here's why I want you to take it away, because God, nothing is more important to me than my relationship with you. I will not give up my destiny [00:27:58] (40 seconds) #ProtectYourDestiny