Giant Slayer

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.” 1 Samuel 17:45 NIV

 

 

 

I had always envisioned David’s Goliath as this huge giant that was bigger than any oak tree.   But he wasn’t. By most accounts, he stood probably 6’9”. In today’s NBA, this would be a shorty compared to most of the athletes on the court.

 

But without a doubt, Goliath was a big man. He stood taller and wider than the rest of the Philistines. He was a fierce warrior and champion amongst the army.

 

And then there was David; a smaller man, average in height. We knew of him to be a shepherd, a harp player, a guy who kept to himself. Not the image of one who goes up against great warriors.

 

But we know he did.

We know that David inserted himself into the skirmish with this Philistine without being asked. This Goliath, this man who taunted and tormented Saul’s army for 40 days, was challenging any man to fight him and who instilled fear into every soldier of the army.

 

And little David stepped forward.

 

But before the slaying, before the fight, even before David meandered to the battlefield that day, David had done something very crucial. Something life changing. He surrendered himself over to the Lord through Samuel’s anointing a few years earlier. And I love the verse that follows this occurrence:

 

“The Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” 1 Samuel 16:13 KJV

 

You see to me, and hopefully to you, the story of David and Goliath is not in the size of the men, but in the size of God.

 

David stepped forward to slay Goliath because he knew God was big.  Bigger than any foe he could possibly face.  David had facts. David was rescued more than once, while rescuing his sheep.

 

“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:37

 

Man, don’t you just love David?

 

This shepherd boy who absolutely knew God was with him, put aside his fears because God had rescued him in the past. They had history together.

 

Why—why can I not see this in every minute of my life, too?

 

Do you know how many times God has delivered me from the paws of lions? Let me tell ya—many, many times over.

 

How about you?

Have you been delivered on more than one occasion?

 

I’m thinking you’re answering yes right about now.

 

Then why do we not respond like David when we’re up against our big problems?

 

Forgive me but I think I know.

 

It’s the size of our Goliath.

It’s the size of our God.

 

When my troubles come, when my enemy taunts me, it becomes the size of a giant. It becomes a mighty foe that takes on great status. It becomes impossible to defeat.

 

And the size of my God?

 

Well, he takes on a puny role. He takes on the “my problems are too big for God to handle”, “God certainly wouldn’t help me in this situation”, “I need to do this on my own” kind of God.

 

Really?

 

Do you see how we reverse the size of the two?

 

But there’s hope. There’s always Hope.

 

Just like David, we have an opportunity right now to allow the Spirit to consume us.   What if our day started, propelled, and ended with the request and understanding that the Holy Spirit leads our EVERY move?

 

We’d be unstoppable! We could become giant slayers.

 

Because we know they’re coming.

Oh, Goliaths will always come.

It’s part of life.

 

Maybe even right now you’re facing a Goliath.

Decisions to be made?

Enemies to face?

Changes that seem insurmountable?

 

It’s not too late to prepare.

 

May I suggest you seek not a sling and stone, but the power of the Lord? Because when that happens, the Goliaths in life become puny and God becomes giant. That’s the right order of things! That’s the way God intended it to be!

 

And you will able to say in confidence, “The Spirit of the Lord is with me from this day forward.”