Facing the Giant
"Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you.’"1
Of all the great narratives we read in the Old Testament, the thrilling story of David and Goliath remains one of the most powerful and impactful. Imagine David, the shepherd boy, approaching the three-meter giant, carrying a sling and five smooth stones in his pocket, and entering the battlefield.
I imagine David stepping forward and explaining to King Saul how he planned to defeat Goliath. Before even facing the Philistine enemy, David had to fight his way through battles more familiar to him such as the scorn of detractors and the objections of his brothers.
At first glance, David was terribly unfit for the task of confronting Goliath and defeating him. It was not a fair fight, but with God's support, Goliath was not David's rival, but the Lord's because he was at his side. David's courage and confidence are compelling. God's faithfulness in private gave David the conviction that God would come to his defense in public. Defeating the lion and the bear involved private victories that no one had ever seen or heard.
David was not worried or distracted by the size of the giant in front of him, because he already knew that in his previous struggles the size of God was unrivaled.
The question is not whether the giants will appear before us, but whether we will have the courage to shoot our slingshot and use what we have when the challenge comes. Simply put, when the giant appears, will we trust the size of our God more than the size of our problem?
You may imagine David on the battlefield, moving forward hesitantly, frightened, and trembling. Maybe you're right to think so. Faith is not the absence of fear, but the presence of Christ in the midst of all the fears we face. When God is on our side, the fight is decided, and we can be sure that He will give us victory.
David's trust in God was well-founded and proven, and ours will be as well. Where human strength fails, God's power is revealed.
Worry and fear are no match for the Lord of Heaven, and David's experience shows us that God has a history of helping his children take aim and hit the mark.
If David could defeat Goliath with a single stone from his slingshot, think of the power of God that has been prepared for you!
Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I recognize that I am overwhelmed by the giants in my life and forget that you have given me the special power to fight the battles with what you have placed in my hands. Strengthen my trust in you so that I can use my gifts and determination to bring down the giants that threaten me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
1. 1 Samuel 17:36-37 (NVI).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.