Killing Giants – 3

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Goliath has struck fear into the entire Israelite Army for 6 weeks! Morning and evening the soldiers rally their spirits, get their gear on, and prepare for battle. As they run to the front line to face their enemy, Goliath steps forward and bellows his treats and the soldiers turn and run. In Killing Giants part 1 we took a look at our own giants that strike fear in our hearts and how we can face the fear by trusting who God is, and who he has declared us to be…

David enters the story by fulfilling his father’s request to take supplies to his brothers who are in the army, and to find out how his brothers are doing. Upon arrival to the camp David witnesses the whole scene. He watches the soldiers run into battle only to run away freighted when Goliath bellowed his intimidating challenge. In Killing Giants part 2 we saw how David’s warrior heart rose up to question how that uncircumcised Philistine could be allowed to defy the army of the living God? When David’s older brother heard David’s question he reacted to the vulnerability and shame he felt by being exposed. We all become defensive when we feel shame, and we have armor to deflect the shame away from us. David’s brother ripped David a new one in an effort to minimize David’s heart and intent.

Wow, I don’t know about you, but I am pretty sure I would have hung my head and walked away. But here is the amazing thing about David in this story…he isn’t fazed by the harsh words of his brother. Why? What is it about David that he was able to push through that situation? That is what we are going to find out.

Photo by Peter Forster on Unsplash

A few of the soldiers that heard David’s question went and told Saul about this young shepherd boy, and Saul sent for David. Listen to what David said to Saul. “Don’t let anyone lose heart on account of this Philistine, your servant will go and fight him.” Wow, this kid has balls of steel.

Saul’s response is what any of us would expect in this situation. “Um, David, you can’t go out against Goliath…for you are just a young boy and he has been a warrior since his youth.” There it is again; did you hear the diminishment? I mean, I get where Saul is coming from. He has watched his trained army run away from Goliath 80 times in the last several weeks. I am guessing that each one of us would think or say the same thing. Again, David is not fazed by Saul’s response. He replied to Saul by recounting the times that he encountered a lion and a bear attacking the sheep he was responsible for.

“I went after it and struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth…oh yeah, when it turned on me I grabbed it by the hair and struck it and killed it. I killed both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he defied the armies of the living God. The God who rescued me from the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine” At this point I am reminded of the question Steven asked William Wallace after his speech at the Field of Sterling; “fine speech, what do we do now?” Wallace looked at him and said, “just be yourselves.” And that is exactly what we see David do.

But before Saul sent David out, he offered to let David wear his personal armor. That is what any trained soldier would offer. No one in their right mind would go up against a foe without the proper armor. David tried Saul’s armor on, however, he wasn’t used to wearing it, and told Saul thanks but no thanks. Now you could conclude that David was either foolish, or maybe his brother was right to call him conceited. I believe there was something much deeper. David new who he was, and he knew that if he tried to fight with Saul’s armor, he would not be able to fight the way he was trained.

Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash

Think about it. How often do you and I try to be someone we are not? The world that we live in, and often even the church, tells us what we need to wear, how to act, what to say, or what we are capable of. And because we are often not sure of who we are, or perhaps we don’t believe we have what it takes, we try and live and fight the giants we face in ways that are not true to who God has made is to be.

Could it be that like David, our training has been happening every day of our lives to prepare us for such a time as this? It doesn’t matter what we do for a living, or even what we have done in the past, God has uniquely created us each with specific things in mind. This means that we have what it takes simply because we are the Beloved Sons of God.

Ephesians 2:10 says…”  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” God has been preparing us all along.

• What does David’s story stir in your heart?
• Where have you allowed others, or the world system, to convince you that you need to live or react in certain ways that are not being true to who you are?
• What unique qualities or strengths ae imbedded in your story that will allow you to do amazing things for the Kingdom?

Ok, let’s wrap this up. After David refused the King’s armor he reached back into his experience and headed out to face the Giant. He grabbed his Shepherd Staff and five smooth stones. Wait, what? Can you imagine what the other soldiers were thinking? They were probably already imagining what life would be like under the Philistines. I wonder if any of them considered stopping David, and trying to talk him out of it?

This is the part we have all been waiting for. So much hangs in the balance of what happens next. David goes out to face Goliath. Goliath bellows, “you come at me like a dog with your stick, come here and I will give your flesh to the birds and wild animals.” David didn’t flinch. He replied to Goliath by saying, “you come against me with a sword and a spear (big ones I would add), but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Angel Armies. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I will strike you down and cut your head off.” I wonder what his brother is thinking now?

Photo by Awais Jamil on Unsplash

David was not afraid because he trusted that because God had delivered him before, he would deliver him this time. He also knew that he had what it takes (he relied on his training), and he knew what he was fighting for.

The giant in this amazing story, and in our own, most represents the spiritual battle that we face daily. Satan relentlessly bellows his lies and threats in an effort to intimidate us. We have a choice. We can continue to believe them and turn tail and run, or we can step forward in the power and authority we have in Jesus Christ and do what so many others are unwilling to do.

You have what it takes.

-Pete

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