Facing Your Giants

I’m sure you’ve heard of the story of David and Goliath. You immediately picture small little David, slinging up some stones, and one hits Goliath, killing him.

But let me break this story down for you a little bit. There are some details in this story that are easy to overlook, that makes this story even more miraculous! I hope in some way it encourages you in your own battles.

Goliath was a championed, OVER 9-foot-tall, bronzed-covered monstrosity. Goliath started shouting to the ranks of Israel, like kind of a “I dare you to challenge me”. As I would probably respond too, Saul and the Israelites were completely terrified. And it’s not like this was a one day gig. For forty days, Goliath waited. Israel and the Philistines finally faced each other. Meanwhile, Goliath once again, arrogantly came forward and the Israelites ran from him because they were afraid. Yeah. You can about imagine how this battle is about to go! I mean seriously, the set up tells us that Goliath is going to just destroy whomever he comes into contact with. Imagine running into someone who is NINE FEET TALL! And wants to go to battle! Yeah, I’ll run the other way too.

The thing is, there was a lot at stake. Whoever won, the king would give great wealth to the man who kills him, give his daughter in marriage, and exempt his father’s family from taxes. A lot was at stake. David wanted to make sure he heard correctly that that was what would be earned, so he asked a few people. But his oldest brother started to get frustrated and even called him conceited, thinking who are to think you could fight Goliath?

Well, David went to Saul and told him he wanted to fight him. You can about imagine Saul’s response: you’re only a boy and Goliath is a seasoned fighter! Then David explained how he killed lions and bears, to protect his flock of sheep, and compared Goliath to that lion and bear, saying he could do the same to him, because he defied the armies of the living God. He had FULL confidence that God would deliver him from Goliath. Not going to lie, I’m not sure I could do ANY of those things. A lion? A bear? GOLIATH? Wowzas.

And you know what Saul said? Go for it. Saul helped him get a coat of armor on and got him all geared up. David tried to get used to the garb, but couldn’t handle it, and took it all off. Instead he took his staff, 5 smooth stones from a stream, put ’em in a pouch, took his sling, and approached Goliath.

Goliath was insulted that David would only come to him with “sticks”, but David spoke truth and told him he came in the name of the Lord Almighty, who Goliath defied. He told him who was boss and that he’d strike him down and cut his head off and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and beasts of the earth. Yikes. That’s a visual! All so that the whole world would know that there is a God in Israel.

As Goliath approached David, David ran to the battle line, reached into his bag, took a stone, slung it, and struck good ole Goliath, right in the noggin. He hit him so hard, the stone sank into his forehead and he fell face to the ground. I don’t know about you, but my forehead is pretty hard. I can’t imagine a stone sinking into it!

David didn’t need a sword, like Goliath had. He had God. He took Goliath’s own sword and used it to cut his head off. Now this time the Philistines turned and ran, and the Israelites chased after them. They plundered their camp and David took Goliath’s weapons in his own tent. At this point Saul is like, “What in the world just happened”? So he had David come over, meanwhile David was still carrying Goliath’s head (wow, that’s a sight), and Saul asked him whose son he was? David replied with, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”

So what can we learn from this story?

Our looks, height, resources, you name it, nothing can limit God. Don’t look at yourself and think, “God can’t use ME”. David was a young boy and the youngest of his brothers. It’s not like they stepped up to the plate! Anything is possible with God. Miracles aren’t just set aside for Biblical stories. God is working miracles everyday. Sometimes we are just so focused on our earthly matters that we fail to see him working in impossible ways. Remember that nothing can limit him and don’t forget to look for those ways that he is working.

God will always be with you. No matter what you are going through, whether you are slinging stones at the giants (big circumstances) in your own life or just trying to get through the mundane of laundry, cleaning up after kids, going to your 9-5, healing in a hospital, trying to just survive life. whatever it may be, God is with you. He promises to never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:8). Let that be a comfort to you today.

Have courage for whatever you may be facing. David stepped up to the line when everyone else ran away. He kept going, despite the fear that everyone else had. What if we all stepped out with courage, despite the fear we are facing? To stand up for Christ when it may be a little scary or out of the ordinary? Be courageous.

David’s faith didn’t waiver. He had full confidence that God would help him. His faith gave him courage and he was a fearless warrior. Is your faith strong enough to the point that it gives you courage? Does it push you forward, knowing God is with you every step of the way? Or does your faith waiver when things get difficult? Like when you face your giants? Let your faith carry you forward, in full trust that God is with you.

Don’t worry about what other people think of you when you are following God’s truths and will. David’s brothers hassled him and called him conceited when he wanted to fight Goliath. But David didn’t let that stop him from doing what he felt God calling him to do. In our world. you might have to step out and do what’s uncomfortable. You may have to keep your kids from doing something because you don’t want it to infringe on your family time. You may have to not buy something just to keep up with those around you. You may have to stand up for what you believe, even when it’s not popular opinion. Let God be your standard, not the world.

Finally, always give God the glory. Do ALL things for him. When David was going to go into battle, he said, “For the battle is the Lord’s”. David knew what was at stake, but in the end, he still wanted to ensure he honored God and gave him the glory. Do you do that with your own life? Whatever you may be going through, do you do it to give glory to God? Do you do ALL things to glorify God? Or do you do some things for personal gain?

There are so many lessons we can learn from the story of David and Goliath. What is your biggest take away? What challenges you most while you face your own giants?