Sunday, January 17, 2010
I saw a picture in the newspaper recently of the world’s tallest man towering over the world’s shortest man. The 2’5” Chinese man stands just above the knee cap of the 8’1” man from Turkey. Looking at these extremes, I’m reminded of the way the 9’1” Philistine giant Goliath must have dwarfed Israel’s David. To make matters worse, Goliath was armed in full battle gear giving him the intimidating outward show of a fierce warrior, in contrast with David’s simple shepherd’s frock and slingshot. But David held a weapon far greater than any outward show. He held on to his faith in God.
Saul tried to dress David up in his own coat of armor, bronze helmet, and sword. I guess he tried to empower the young, seemingly defenseless shepherd boy by outfitting him with the implements of war. After walking around in his new garb, David realized that someone else’s tools just don’t work. In order to slay the giant, he would need to rely on what he was familiar with, the skills and faith that God had empowered him with instead of what man thought he needed. Have you ever tried to use someone else’s gear to get a task done? Have you ever tried to slay your spiritual giant with someone else’s weapons? Like David, we need to look to God for our strength in dealing with our obstacles.
David approached this battle with more experience and confidence than his outer shell might have indicated. You see God had already provided David protection when he fended off a lion and bear that were attacking his flock. David knew that the God who delivered him from the lion and the bear would deliver him from the giant. Notice his reasoning skills. He makes a parallel connection between the lion and bear and the Philistine. David must have reasoned, “I will act in the same manner of faith in God with this giant as I did with the lion and the bear. Since God is the same, the result will be the same. God was faithful to me then; he will be faithful to me now.” Oh, that we would adopt the same logic by reasoning, “I have had problems in the past; God was faithful. I have problems in the present; God will be faithful.”
While it’s helpful to seek wise counsel when we’re trying to overcome obstacles and slay our spiritual hindrances, in the end we must be the one to go face to face with our giants. We must do as David and divest ourselves of anything that hampers our movement toward the giant. Then we can freely and with confidence place our trust in God to deliver us.
Saul tried to dress David up in his own coat of armor, bronze helmet, and sword. I guess he tried to empower the young, seemingly defenseless shepherd boy by outfitting him with the implements of war. After walking around in his new garb, David realized that someone else’s tools just don’t work. In order to slay the giant, he would need to rely on what he was familiar with, the skills and faith that God had empowered him with instead of what man thought he needed. Have you ever tried to use someone else’s gear to get a task done? Have you ever tried to slay your spiritual giant with someone else’s weapons? Like David, we need to look to God for our strength in dealing with our obstacles.
David approached this battle with more experience and confidence than his outer shell might have indicated. You see God had already provided David protection when he fended off a lion and bear that were attacking his flock. David knew that the God who delivered him from the lion and the bear would deliver him from the giant. Notice his reasoning skills. He makes a parallel connection between the lion and bear and the Philistine. David must have reasoned, “I will act in the same manner of faith in God with this giant as I did with the lion and the bear. Since God is the same, the result will be the same. God was faithful to me then; he will be faithful to me now.” Oh, that we would adopt the same logic by reasoning, “I have had problems in the past; God was faithful. I have problems in the present; God will be faithful.”
While it’s helpful to seek wise counsel when we’re trying to overcome obstacles and slay our spiritual hindrances, in the end we must be the one to go face to face with our giants. We must do as David and divest ourselves of anything that hampers our movement toward the giant. Then we can freely and with confidence place our trust in God to deliver us.
All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands. I Samuel 17:47
1 comments:
My favorite part of that story is David's speech to Goliath as they face off in battle.
This day the Lord will hand you over to me...and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel... for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
David based his trust on what he knew to be true of God. When we fixate on His character, the fact that He is all-powerful and all-loving, and is always good, all of the time, then we can trust His decisions for us are the best. Even when they don't make sense to us.
Great post.
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