Next Practices

The story of David and Goliath is commonly known.  From the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel chapter 17, we read about the young shepherd David who went to deliver some goods to his older brothers in battle.  While there, David was alarmed that nobody on the Israelite side of the battle line was willing to stand up against the Philistine giant Goliath.  David volunteers to do so, not because of confidence in himself and his own strength, but because he believes in the power of his God to lead to victory.

Young, small David can’t wear the heavy armor offered him, so he sheds it in favor of his sling and five smooth stones he chooses from a nearby brook which he puts in his shepherd’s pouch.  I love the image of 1 Samuel 17:48, “When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.”  David then killed Goliath with one stone from his sling.

I like verse 48 because of the phrase “David ran quickly toward the battle line.”  It stands out because it shows that David was eager to face what many believed would be his downfall.  I’d like to say that David ran toward his fears, but the truth is that David didn’t fear Goliath.  He had supreme confidence that what he was doing was the right thing and that the God he was serving was more than capable of protecting him from even a giant like Goliath.

When was the last time you ran toward your fears to face them head on?  It isn’t easy.  Just as so many other men in that battle in 1 Samuel saw Goliath and turned the other way, we have a tendency to avoid situations where we think the odds are against us.  Too often we refuse to face our fears, and too often we fear because we fail to place our trust in our Creator who is supreme over all of his creation.

David declared with confidence to Goliath, “The battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.”  Oh, that we would face with such confidence the battles we face.

Run at your Goliath.