The story of David and Goliath is a classic. The story portrays a defining moment in the life of David, the son of Jesse
David and Goliath is a pro-typical narrative of good versus evil that has stood the test of time. It never gets old. It front-loads the climax of many of the great films of our time. Underdogs and heroes grasp our hearts because that perfectly defines us in every circumstance.
David, the shepherd boy, becomes a hero in one defining moment. You know the story. David is a teenager who serves God and has the courage to dive into a hand to hand combat with a warrior named Goliath. Goliath is a trained soldier and a man that stands 9’ 9″ tall. That is taller than Shaquille O’Neal. The once star center for the Los Angeles Lakers. The teenager, David, was likely about 5’ in stature.
But remember dynamite comes in small packages.
How does David have the confidence to take on this giant?
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” (1 Samuel 16:13, NKJV).
Notice the game-changer. The Spirit of the Lord came upon David. The truth is Goliath never had a chance. Your giants don’t have a chance either. If God is with you, who can be against you?
Our challengers look bigger than our ability. Sickness, disease, poverty, and loneliness are all gigantic. There are more. Depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, and job pressures all loom larger than life.
Let’s look a little deeper
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. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you.” (I Samuel 17:45–46a, NKJV)
- He took the challenge head-on
- His self-talk was empowering
- He ran at his enemy
- David had faith that God was with him
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17, NKJV)
The just shall live by faith. How? By faith. David killed Goliath by faith. David has faith in the God he worships. David did not possess the knowledge, talent or ability to defeat Goliath. All the odds were against him. Including the weapons he chose.
David used unconventional weapons.
Unconventional but effective. First, a slingshot and then a sword. Like David, you’re underrated, but it never means you cannot win. Especially if God is on your side. And He is. After David knocked the giant down, he took the sword of Goliath and killed him with his own sword. Then it happened.
What? A defining moment. David’s life changes forever. God has defining moments scheduled for you.
Some things are irreversible.
The choices we make at certain intersections will define the circumstances that follow. When David killed Goliath, it was a moment that forever formed the way people saw David.
Let’s look a little closer.
“As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head. ‘Whose son are you, young man?’ Saul asked him. David said, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.” (I Samuel 17:57–58, NKJV)
How ready are you for a God-ordained change? David’s entire life and lifestyle changed in an instant. The victory over Goliath thrust David into the limelight and a life that he never imagined. David is now a national hero. So how did David handle fame?
Search your heart.
David’s priority is to examine his own heart. David invites Jonathan to speak into his life. David not only wants God to search him he also invites Jonathon to examine his personal life. David tells Jonathon to end his life if he has done anything worth death.
WOW! Let’s take that as full disclosure. God desires full commitment regardless of the challenge. David reveals his total commitment to the Lord repeatedly.
David asks God to search his heart.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23–24, NKJV)
David became the King of Israel. He was not perfect. Like us, David sinned and failed God frequently. And yet, God called David a man after his heart.
“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (I Samuel 13:14, NKJV)
David possessed no outward signs of greatness. He failed God many times. He committed adultery and murder.
God used David despite his sins and failures and He wants to use you.
Defining moments are never determined by your perfection, but by God’s choice.
My hope is this post encourages you to keep moving toward God. God has great things in store for you.
Please leave me a comment and share with me your challenges or your opportunities
This post was originally posted at Medium.com.
