Long ago the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle. Saul and the men of Israel came in battle array to face the Philistine army. The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, while Israel stood on a mountain on the other side with a valley in between them. A champion came up from the camp of the Philistines, name Goliath who stood about 9 feet tall. He wore a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. He had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. They say his armor weighted about 150 pounds. He had a staff with a spear and even had a shield bearer who walked in front of him.
As he stood before the Israelites he shouted out to them, ” Why have you come out to line up for battle? I am a Philistine and you are the army of Saul. Choose one of your men and let him come down here. If he is able to fight and kill me, then we will surrender to your army and become your servants. But if I win and kill him, then you will become our slaves. I dare you to send me someone who can beat me.” The Philistines words demoralized and frightened the army of Israel. The Giant came out day after day.. taunting King Saul’s Army. For forty days and nights straight. Israel was dismayed and shook with great fear in their armor.
Now it just so happened that a young man named David, was at the battle site purely to bring food and supplies to his three brothers who were solders in the King’s Army. David witness Goliath’s challenge and wondered why they were so afraid. He had killed a lion and a bear with his own hands protecting his father’s sheep. He asked if he could answer the challenge. Soon he was placed before the king, and was able to convince the soldiers and Saul that he was strong enough to take down the giant. David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the bear and the lion will deliver me from this Philistine”. Saul agreed to let him fight. So they suited David up in the King’s armor and sword…but it was too big and he decided to face the Champion with just his staff, rocks and a sling.
The Giant looked at David and couldn’t believe what he saw, so he shouted, “Am I a dog, who you will battle with sticks?” He cursed David and threatened to give his flesh to the birds and beasts. David said to Goliath, ” You face me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord God and the armies of Israel who you have taunted and challenged. On this day, the Lord will help me take you down. I will take your head and give the carcasses of your camp to those same birds and beasts… and all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel!”
So David and Goliath took their places opposite each other. David took a stone and put it in his sling and struck the giant in the forehead so deep that it sank into his head. The Philistine fell on his face to the ground. David prevailed and killed him. He then stood over the giant and cut off his head with Goliath’s sword. When the Philistine army saw that their champion was dead, they ran. The Israel Army pursued them and conquered them and plundered their tents. The glory of this victory was the Lord’s.
Have you ever been faced with a challenge in your life that was so great that you were stuck with fear. The fear being so terrible that it scared you to the point that you shook and couldn’t move? Have you ever had trouble come upon your path of life that was so vast and so large… that it felt like a giant? A hugh champion so strong that could possibly knock you down and you would never recover? Have you ever been taunted with words that cut deep into your soul? Words possibly coming out of very your own mouth that made you feel demoralized and worthless, even powerless? How many times have you let the enemy of fear conquer you?
We all have difficulties and trauma in our lives from time to time. We make decisions that affect us both good and bad. Life presents challenges that can threaten and scare us and possibly even destroy us if we let them. You have heard the saying, ” That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”? We at the very least need to make an attempt. We have all been successful overcoming our troubles and opportunities. We have failed from time to time. Dare I say, we have trembled in our armor with fear. I admire and am inspired by David’s courage to face the fear of an entire army and be victorious in the name of the Lord. He trusted that God would give him the ability to conquer the giant even with insurmountable odds.
Sometimes we are placed in situations where we can either face the fear of success and failure, or run and hide and be defeated. The fear is so great that we give up and don’t even try. Sometimes we come to a fork in the road where we have to decide which path to take. Maybe it’s a job opportunity that if we chose to take it… we will have to leave the security of a life we are comfortable. Maybe it’s a new relationship. Maybe we have settled with a safe life. It may mean stepping out onto a path that we are not sure will hold our weight. We may have to let go of the rope that is holding us to grab another that will take us to an unfamiliar but possibly fantastic place. The fear of possible failure may cause us to remain immobile and shake with fear in our armor. That is when we need to stand firm, trusting in the Lord and face the giant! Whether we rise or fall… we take the risk. We go forward with dignity and courage. The blessing, that the Lord has waiting on the other side of the fear may be so amazing- it will bring Glory to the Lord. Those around us may possibly see our God and praise His name through our success. Conquering fear that comes our way can be an amazing testimony of the power God puts at our disposal. Because of our faith and actions…the battle and the Glory is the Lord’s.
David’s words to the Giant, before he slew him and heard by all the witnessing armies was this, “Then all this assembly will know that the Lord does not save with a sword and a spear…for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”
Faced with insurmountable odds… high chance of failure… and slim chance of success…but with the Power and trust in the Lord at your side…could bring miracles that which cause heads to turn…to look at the face of God.
Story of David and Goliath can be read in I Samuel 17