Facing the Giant

"Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword, a spear, and 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 taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.' Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground. Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled." 1 Samuel 17.45-51

The battle line is drawn. On the one side is Goliath, the nine foot tall, fully armed and armored Philistine champion. Opposite him is his opponent, a young shepherd boy, armed with a club and a sling. Goliath hurls insults and curses both at David, and at God, and then tells him that his flesh will be food for the birds and wild beasts. David responds in faith, telling him that he comes to battle in the name of the Lord of hosts (armies), and that the God Goliath has taunted will deliver him into David's hands. It is Goliath who will be defeated, and the the world will know that there is a God in Israel.

The battle commences, and David charges the field, arms his sling, and hurls a stone at the giant. It strikes Goliath in the forehead, and he falls face down. David takes Goliath's sword and kills him with it, defeating the giant and saving Israel. The Philistines flee, Israel pursues them, and then returns to plunder their camp. David is victorious, and God is glorified.

Men, what giants are you facing? Or better, what giants do you see that taunt God and insult you? Poverty? Abuse? Trafficking? The list goes on and on. What makes you righteously angry? What giant's taunts make you say, enough is enough, and decide to do something about it? What giant are you willing to charge?

There are giants in this world that must be slain. Giants that defy God and insult human life and dignity. You can do something about it. You can prepare, charge the field, and slay the giant. David was a shepherd boy, armed with shepherd's tools, and he killed Goliath. His God was insulted and his people were threatened, and he refused to stand by and let it continue. He stood for justice and righteousness, and God gave him victory.

Let us stand like David did. Let us be men who are willing to do something, men who are willing to risk it all. Let us be men who will face the giant.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor