David went up against a giant. Everybody thought he was crazy. Yet he won.
It’s always been a story of the miraculous deliverance of God. David being the underdog, unequipped, and full of faith.
In the book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell, I got a new perspective. It helped me look at the story in a new way.
What if David wasn’t the underdog?
I’m not saying the victory would have happened without God. It wouldn’t have. But maybe there are some things we need to look at differently. I think we can see some things that will empower us in our battles today.
David didn’t enter into the battle with Goliath, with blind faith that God was miraculously going to kill Goliath.
Why do I say that?
Look at what David said.
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD be with you!” – 1 Samuel 17:34-37 NLT
Four reasons David had confidence in God’s deliverance
- God’s track recordAs we read in 1 Samuel, David knew God was going to deliver him as he had with the bear and the lion. David knew from experience God would help him defend what belonged to him.
- David knew his skillThis reason goes against the religious idea of humility. David knew how good he was with a sling. David’s ability with the sling wasn’t supernatural. He had developed it. He had to work on it. Did it still take courage and did it still take faith? Absolutely, because Goliath was still huge. David had trained and he knew his abilities. He knew his strengths. That’s true humility.
- David made his own rulesDavid knew he didn’t need to play by the enemy’s rules. All of Israel had spent 40 days being tormented and letting fear grow because they were letting the enemy set the expectations. David was confident the enemy of God’s people should be defeated and he was willing to use the skills he had to do it. David knew that Goliath battled with a spear and a sword. It was like David was taking a gun to a knife fight. Goliath was prepared for hand to hand combat and that didn’t stand a chance against David’s sling.
- David had an assignment from GodDavid knew his assignment from God that hadn’t been carried out yet. He was anointed King of Israel and he hadn’t been king yet. He couldn’t die. God had already anointed him king and he’s still taking care of sheep and bringing lunch to his brothers. He wasn’t even part of the army, but it didn’t let that bother him.
What are the lessons for us, especially in this season?
1. Look at God’s track record in your life
What has God done for you in the past for you to anchor your faith in for when you face a new, bigger enemy? We’re facing a Coronavirus, an unknown enemy that we’ve never faced before. Have you faced other scary things? Who has been God been for you in those? What has He already done for you?
2. Know your strengths and skills
What skills and abilities has God given you that you can develop so that when He calls you to face a giant you are ready? What has He already done through you?
3. Ask God what rules and weapons to fight with
Where have you been stuck playing by the enemy’s rules? Looking at your skills and your story what is the best way for you to enter the fight and win?
4. Know your assignments
Is there something God has for you to do that hasn’t been completed yet? Hold onto that when the enemy tries to tell you he is going to take you out.
Share your story
I encourage you to write your story. Share it with someone. David had his story of when he killed the lion and the bear. He knew the story of God’s anointing him to be king. In a way, David went after the giant with his story.
