“And
the Philistine said, ‘I defy the armies of Israel this day! Give me a man, that
we may fight together!’ When Saul and
all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly
afraid.” ( 1 Samuel 17:10, KJ21)
The
Bible story of David and Goliath is a story almost everyone everywhere knows
quite well. Some people may nothing of
the Bible or Christianity but they probably know this story. They may know the story because the theme or
moral of the story. In fact the story has become a cliché even in our secular
society, as people refer to someone championing against all odds as a, “David
versus Goliath” type of battle. Many
people delight in seeing the underdog win against a mighty foe which is the
essence of what happened in this story.
Many
Christians view this story as a faith story, with David being the example of a
true hero of the faith. David indeed stands as a hero in this story, as someone
who believes in the power of God when no one else believes and stands up to
fight when everyone else is running away or cowering in their tents. David had dealt with fear many times as a
shepherd in the open country on dark and lonely nights. He had learned to trust
in God and be brave knowing God was with him.
David was not a big man but a rather small young man with a tremendous faith
in a living God.
David
tries to encourage the men of Saul’s army to take up the challenge and destroy
this physical giant of a man. None of them … would even consider fighting
Goliath, even as they tell of the great reward to be given anyone who defeats
this giant. David refuses the armor of
Saul and the logical weaponry of the soldier.
Instead he chooses stones and a sling. David wins the battle against all
odds and Goliath the mighty undefeated giant is killed.
Have
you ever considered what really motivated David to fight this giant and was
really so offensive, to David, that he would be willing to risk his life over this
situation? We know that he was the bravest of all the men in the army of Israel
and that his faith was stronger than anyone else. We know David believed God would deliver him
from this giant, just as He had delivered him from the wild animals when he was
shepherding.
This
fight was not a contest of superior strength and fighting skill to David. It
was question of standing for the mighty God whom he knew so well. Goliath the
arrogant giant was mocking David’s living God. David could not allow this
offence to continue. Today our God is discounted and pushed aside by giants in
power as they arrogantly declare their superiority before us. We are not called to engage in hand to hand
combat for our God in a literal way, but we should be willing to stand in faith
to declare His honor. The giants in our land most likely are not named Goliath,
but we are still called to follow David’s example and through faith, stand in the
power of the living God against them.
“Then
said David to the Philistine, ‘Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear
and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God
of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver
thee into mine hand. And I will smite thee and take thine head from thee; and I
will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls
of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know
that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord
saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give
you into our hands.”(1 Samuel 17:43-47, KJ21)
Suggested
Reading … 1 Samuel 17
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