Everybody likes to cheer for the underdog. We pull for the tortoise to beat the hare. We thrill over the Alamo. We cheer for the underdog in sports. Why? It’s so easy to identify with the underdog. We all feel that way from time to time in life. That’s why we pull for the underdog. The Bible is full of underdog stories: Daniel and the lions, his friends and the fiery furnace, Moses at the Red Sea, Joshua and Jericho, Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Mordechai and Naaman. Perhaps the best known and loved is the story of David and Goliath. David’s victory over the giant gives hope for all us little guys as we face giants in our lives.
THE CRISIS It was larger than life. For generations the Jews were oppressed by the Philistines. The Jews were no match for them because the Philistines had iron and giants. Only with God’s help would they ever win. During the time of Saul things got particularly bad. It seems each arm was drawn up on opposite sides of a canyon that was as much as 20’ deep (1 Samuel 17:1). Each army taunted the other to attack, for whoever attacked would be at a very severe disadvantage. To break the stalemate without endangering their whole army, the Philistines, who were the aggressors, decided to send their best fighter to take on Israel’s best fighter. This was common practice among the city-states of Greece, where the Philistines originally came from. It kept whole armies from being wiped out. In battle even the victor’s army was weakened and prey to other armies.
The champion the Philistines sent out was a giant named Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4), a descendant of the giants that were in the land when Joshua conquered it (Josh 11:22) and one of the reasons the Jews were afraid to enter under Moses 40 years earlier. He was over 9 feet tall and wore armor that was almost 200 pounds (( Sam 17:4-7). Humanly speaking there was no way any of the Jews could face him. We, too, face giants that are way too strong for us: cancer, bankruptcy, divorce, addiction, rejection, fear, loneliness, sin patterns, etc.
It defies our power. Not only are these giants present in our lives, but they seem to taunt and challenge us, mocking us for inability to remove them. This is what Goliath did to the Jews (v. 8-11). They felt helpless and powerless. Indeed, in themselves they were! Without God sending a deliverer they would never prevail (v. 12-15).
It will not go away. Since they were unable to defeat Goliath in their own strength the Jews just hoped he would go away, but he didn’t (v. 16). You can’t ignore a giant that is challenging you. They don’t go away. Marriage problems don’t just disappear. Rebellious teens don’t just outgrow it. A friend making destructive choices isn’t going to just wake up. That sin which keeps defeating you isn’t going to just go away on its own. Giants need to be attacked and destroyed in God’s strength (1 Samuel 17:17-27).
David immediately seized up the situation as the powers of darkness challenging God and His people (v. 26). He didn’t look at his own resources and compare them to the giant, He looked at God’s resources compared to the giant. The giant was big, but God is much bigger (I Jn 4:4). But before he can remove the giant he has to deal with opposition from his brothers.
THE CRITICS They are obsessed with the trivial. David’s brothers mocked and criticized him for what he was about to do (v. 28). They should have supported him, but they were either jealous, guilty or just bitter inside. They were more concerned about the sheep than David!
They believe the worse about people. Even worse, they unfairly and inaccurately attributed self-centered motives to David (v. 28). Don’t you hate it when people accuse you of wrong motives? Aren’t you glad God knows the truth?
David handled it the only way those things can be handled — he ignored the talk and went ahead with what needed doing (v. 29-30). Even Saul criticized him (v. 33). He didn’t fight them, nor did he let them distract him from the job he knew God needed him to do (Prov 17:14).
THE CONTEST David used God’s weapons. David remembered God’s past deliverances against a bear and a lion (v. 34-37) so he knew God could do this, too. It’s important to remember what God has done for us and others in the past and not just think of the present or future. The greatest work of God for us was on the cross. If He could have victory there He can and will have it now!
David refused to fight the giant the world’s way — with Saul’s armor (v. 37-39). We can’t fight the giants we face in the world’s way, either. Things like bitterness, pride, anger, forcing our way, sneaky things, etc., won’t work. God’s weapons are spiritual, for it is really a spiritual battle we face (Eph 6:10-18). It isn’t the cancer or bankruptcy as much as it is Satan behind it using it to defeat and discourage us. That’s the real battle. That’s why we, too, need God’s power to fight. The fruit of the flesh is fear, worry, anger, etc. But the fruit of His Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). That’s what He expects us to have to fight back with against discouragement and fear. These seem laughable to the world. But then so did a sling shot and a stone.
A sling was a string with a leather pouch in the middle. Both ends of the string were held while the pouch was swung in a circle, gaining momentum. Then one string was released and the other held, allowing the stone to fly free. Actually, David had five stones. Why? There were four other giant relatives of Goliaths (2 Samuel 21:15-21). David had to be ready for them all. God had him fight them one by one at future times, though. He couldn’t worry about future giants at the moment, but had to be prepared for them nonetheless. One at a time, though.
David refused to be intimidated. David’s giant tried to intimidate him (v. 41-44), to fill him with fear. Fear is one of Satan’s biggest tools to defeat us. Even a small problem can become a giant when viewed with fear. Don’t let your giants intimidate you. Face them in Jesus’ name and strength (v. 45) not your own. Have faith in God’s power as being greater than whatever you face (v. 46-47). Make sure God gets the credit (v. 46-47).
Don’t run from your giant. There comes a time to boldly attack in God’s strength and He will give the victory! That’s what happened with David. He used what little battle skill he had — slinging stones. One could be quite accurate with a stone (Judges 20:16) but there was no guarantee the stone would hit its mark. It was David’s job to do his best, to face the giant and give it his best shot. From when the stone left the sling, though, God took over and made sure it hit its mark. We aren’t to hide at home, simply praying, when its time to face our giants. We do our best, trusting that God will take it and use it for His glory and our victory. That’s what happened with David (v. 49-54). If there is a giant in your life, face it in God’s strength (Lk 9:1).
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through [a]Christ who strengthens me.
What crisis or giants are you facing in your life?
What giants has God given you victory over in the past?
What lessons can you learn from David to face current giants?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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