Facing Life’s Foes

“When the words which David spoke were heard, they told them to Saul, and he sent for him. David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ Then Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.’ But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.’

And David said, ‘The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and may the LORD be with you.’ Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, ‘I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.’ And David took them off.
He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:31-40

“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.”
1 Samuel 17:49

In the life of each person are taunting, towering giants - looming like Paul Bunyan before us, mocking our faith in Christ. Giants, however, are made to be stoned. Our enemies can be vanquished as we learn the biblical techniques of giant-killing.

First, we must confront the giant. While Israeli soldiers hunkered down in fear, David rose up to meet Goliath (verse 32). No victory is possible until we quit compromising, rationalizing, or excusing our ongoing defeat.

Second, identify your giant as a foe of God. Your sin is a greater abomination to God than it is to you. What you hate, He hates. Goliath wasn’t just David’s adversary; he was one who “taunted the armies of the living God” (verse 36).

Third, since your giant is God’s enemy, the battle is His and, therefore, must be fought with His weapons. Determination, resolution, weeping, and religion won’t do. David won with his slingshot. You will win with the armor of God - His word, your faith in Him, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Though they may seem as unlikely to conquer giants as “five smooth stones” (verse 40), they will - in God’s power - overcome your Goliath and give you the joy of victory.

“Daring sees God, not the giants...the promises, not the impossibilities.” - V. Raymond Edman