David and Goliath: A Battle of Beliefs

When I am facing a battle, whether it’s in my world or in my heart, I often turn to the story of David and Goliath for wisdom and instruction.  You know how it goes.  God’s people have something special and Goliath wants to take it away.  Day and night he intimidates and taunts them.  Morning and evening he goes after the peace in their hearts, the hopes they have for their families, the promises God has given.  God’s people begin living in dread of what might happen.  Until a boy named David shows up and shows them how to win.

David wasn’t bigger and stronger.  He was younger.  And smaller.  He didn’t have a big gun.  And he didn’t have a big bank account.  There was nothing in his possession that appeared impressive.  So what was his secret?  What was it that gave him the power to face and conquer an enemy that had everyone else biting their nails?  His secret was his faith.  And his faith was the victory.

So what did David believe?  First, he believed that God had given him and his people something wonderful, land.  He was sure God wanted them to have it.  And defend it.   “Wait a minute,” David said of his enemy, “Who does he think he is defying God and coming against us?  That’s not right.” (1 Samuel 17:26)

Second, David believed in God’s favor for his people.  He believed in it so much that it didn’t matter what others said.  When Goliath mocked and belittled David, he wasn’t even rattled.  He didn’t get embarrassed and retreat.  He didn’t get enraged and act rashly on his own- and outside of God’s grace.  David believed in God’s favor.

Thirdly, David was convinced that his life was in God’s hands, not his enemies.  So when Goliath calls up with a death threat, David not only answers the phone, he replies with some words of his own.  “Yes you are twice my size.  Yes your sword and your spear and your javelin are enormous.  But none of that matters in a fight like this.  The Lord will win for us.  And when he does, everyone will know that he is real and that he lives among his people.”  Click. End of phone call, beginning of down fall.

What battle are you facing today?  Don’t let your enemy shout you down or talk you out of the life God is calling you to live.

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down… and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.  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.”  1 Samuel 17: 45-47 NIV