1 Samuel Chapter 17
David versus Goliath!
Everyone knows this story. We heard this story since we were young. We sang songs about it. We even watched videos of how a young boy defeated the mighty giant with just one stone!
Despite all this, reading this chapter today once again filled me with excitement and awe. A young boy – without an armour – with only 5 stones in his pouch, a staff in his hand BUT with the “name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” – knocked out Goliath with just one stone slung from his hand.
Wow! Double Wow!
Needless to say, victory was Israel’s after days of taunting by the Philistines.
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
~ 1 Samuel 17:45 ~
The key to David’s success was clear. It was not the stones. It was not the backing of Saul. It was all because he had faith and conviction that the God of Israel is greater than anything in the world.
Sometimes in our lives, we are faced with situations where the odds seem insurmountable. We keep on thinking we cannot do it. We are not tall enough. Strong enough Smart enough. We are not capable. We do not have the resources. We focus only on our limitations and magnify our weaknesses.
In our Bible readings of the historical books, we have seen time and time again how the people of Israel were often faced with situations that looked impossible to overcome. And many a times, the Israelites failed as they focused on themselves and not on God.
David was one of the few that alway knew that God is greater than any obstacle in front of him. And he knew that if came “armed” with the name of the Lord of hosts, there is no enemy that can withstand him.
What about us?
Do we see God when problems surround us?
Another thing I learned when reading today’s passage was this. David did not suddenly have faith in God to fight this giant taunting Israel.
His faith was built up over time. Before facing off Goliath, David was tending sheep. But in his shepherd duties, he needed to fight and kill bears and lions! And this he did with God’s help.
Being a shepherd can be quite boring. Just imagine watching after the gentle sheep grazing, sleeping and strolling in the fields. And one can imagine that being the youngest in the family, he was straddled with this mundane job. But David did it responsibly and fended off attacks by the wild beasts.
And it is these situations that helped prepare him for bigger challenges. So when he saw Goliath’s challenge to Israel, he was full of faith that God will help him overcome Goliath – just as He helped him overcome bears and lions.
Jesus said, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much … ” (Luke 16:10)
Consider in our lives have we been faithful in our everyday situations where we think are trivial. Instead of relying on God, we depend on ourselves and only desperately call out to God when the going gets too tough or hard for us to handle.
If we learn to start trusting God over the small, mundane things in our lives, will we start to learn to trust God in everything for His provision and protection. So that when a Goliath appears in our horizon, can we confidently say, “I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts!”