The Solitary Stand

By Dr. Derek Carlsen

Believers should not doubt the importance of receiving counsel when determining actions, strategies, or direction in their lives (Proverbs 12:15; 15:22), however, depending upon counsel is not an absolute. There can be times when the counsel one receives goes against what one should do, and there are situations when counsel is not accessible/possible and thus one has to make a solitary stand.

David’s Question

David, in obedience to his father’s instructions, visited his brothers serving in the military during the Philistine conflict, and having witnessed the standoff asked why no one had responded to Goliath’s foolhardy challenge. The response (counsel) from David’s oldest brother was a rebuke for his childish naivety (1 Samuel 17:28). David refused to back down.

Cowardice

When King Saul heard about David, he interviewed him. Remember, Saul was the tallest man in Israel (1 Samuel 10:23)—head and shoulders above all of his soldiers and yet he cowered at Goliath’s challenge. Saul quickly accepted the youthful David as Goliath’s challenger. Saul knew that armor was imperative even for a slim chance of victory, however, when no armor was suitable, he still allowed David to take up the challenge (1 Samuel 17:30). Saul believed that David’s death would buy him time to escape to safety—why else would he allow an inexperienced, unarmed youth fight a hardened warrior? (Cowards only care about themselves).

David’s Rock and Tower

David told Saul that when a lion or a bear came to take one of his sheep, he challenged them every time, and won (1 Samuel 17:35). David said that he had entered into “hand to hand” combat with lions and bears many times and killed them (1 Samuel 17:36—plural of lions and bears). David knew that his victories over the lions and bears was all God’s doing and he trusted that the Lord would accomplish the same over Goliath (1 Samuel 17:37). David’s Rock and Tower was the Lord, not his own ability or strength (Psalm 61; 1 Samuel 17:47).

Goliath’s Shield-Bearer

The “mighty” Goliath had his shield-bearer stand in front of him, protecting him from a boy who had no armor, carrying merely a staff and a leather sling (1 Samuel 17:41). Goliath mocked David from behind this bronze shield. No one from Israel’s military descended into the valley with David; no one offered to carry a shield for him; no one in Israel’s army advanced one step to assist in the challenge. David went alone; everyone else regarded him as a dumb, naïve scapegoat. 

David’s Faith

David understood how to overcome his enemies and therefore confidently advanced against Goliath knowing who would give him the victory (1 Samuel 17:45, 47). Goliath ridiculed the only true God and His covenant people, thus David acted upon the biblical premise that you don’t mock God (Psalm 74:10; Isaiah 37:23). The Lord fought for David and routed the Philistines. David courageously embraced truth, by faith, whereas Saul and his army embraced doubt and fear, thus forsaking truth. 

Abraham’s Dilemma

When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, there was no one he could seek counsel from. He had to make a solitary stand for God’s cause.  Through this, Scripture again shows us that there are situations where counsel is either unavailable or would go against God’s purposes. Abraham had God’s word telling him that Isaac was the future of God’s people, but he also had God’s word telling him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham acted alone upon the second word (to sacrifice Isaac), believing that Isaac would still be the future of God’s people. Abraham pressed ahead with the sacrifice because he had reconciled the two apparently contradictory revelations (Hebrews 11:17-19). Only Abraham understood the details and he responded with faith.

Daniel’s Line

When king Darius sought to make the leaders in his vast kingdom accountable, he appointed Daniel to be over them. These politicians didn’t want accountability and so they conspired together to kill Daniel. They persuaded the king that unity in his kingdom would be advanced if he made a decree stating that no one could petition any god or person, other than king Darius, for thirty days. “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” (Daniel 6:10). Daniel refused to comply with the law and made a solitary stand, leaving the outcome in God’s hands.

Paul’s Resolve

When Paul was journeying to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit, on two different occasions, revealed what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem and those around him twice counselled him not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4, 12). This counsel was wrong, thus Paul had to make a solitary stand, and in obedience to God’s will, he continued on his journey. 

Conclusion

There are many other examples of solitary stands in Scripture and believers need to be prepared to do the same in our days. Faith and courage are needed to fulfill God’s will for our lives. Our times are crying out for believers to stand strong for God’s truth in every area of life, even if it means making a solitary stand and going against counsel that exhorts us not to stand. “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13).