“and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by spear or sword for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” [I Sam 17:47]
The story of David and Goliath is a children’s favorite. It has all the necessary ingredients of a great story. There is good verses evil. David is a hero and Goliath stalks the pages of scripture as a villain. This is the classic story of the underdog. You have impossible odds and yet courage is put on display. This story has inspired millions and it easy to read right through it because you know the outcome. I was tempted to do just that.
I was reading this story in my devotion this morning and two things jumped out at me prompting to me write two articles about it. One thing that jumped off the page to arrest my attention was the fact that David confessed the battle belonged to the Lord. David had confidence and courage but the odds were stacked against him. Goliath was a giant and his military record must have been impressive. He had weapons of destruction and the ego to back up his boasts. For forty days he taunted the army of Israel morning and night. [I Sam 17:16]
David was not even a soldier. He was a young man who tended sheep but he was deeply offended that this pagan giant defied the living God over and over again. There were plenty of other soldiers who should have been willing to take up this fight. For forty days both at morning and night Goliath sauntered out to summon anyone to fight. There were no takers. Eighty challenges and no takers. The Israelite army was made up many cowards and men who were consumed with self preservation.
David heard the giant’s taunts and looked around in disbelief that everyone (including his three older brothers) refused to fight. David with no military training, no military rank, and no military weapons agreed to meet the challenge. Others had stepped back in doubt fear eighty different times. David stepped forward in courage and confidence but what made the difference?
The answer to this question plagues many children of God even to this day. We might not be facing a military giant but we have plenty of other battles that stare us down until our knees begin to buckle and we shrink back in fear. What giants are you facing? They loom large and seem to tower over us. They cast a menacing shadow and the shout of their voices can paralyze us in our tracks.
One such giant is the down turn in the economy. From the barber’s chair to the network evening news, from the front page of the paper to the talk at cafés many are talking about the news about people losing jobs, foreclosure of homes, drops in the stock market, and financial bail out packages seem to dominate our thinking. What are God’s people tempted to do? Panic. Doubt. Live in perpetual fear. Why? Because such thinking puts the outcome of the battle in our hands. David had a totally different perspective. He said the battle was the Lord’s to fight. He did not have fret, figure out an escape route, or finance someone to fight the battle for Him. God’s reputation was at stake and if there is anything God is passionate about it is defending and promoting His reputation.
David knew he could not defeat Goliath with swords and spears. You cannot defeat the economy by taking matters into your hands and trying to fix things on your own. You must lean on the Lord and trust Him for understanding. [Prov 3:5-6] This is His battle to fight for you. Seek Him for wisdom [James 1:5] and direction. Trust Him to be your provider. [Ps 147:8-11]
I know there are many battles you face day in and day out. For days on end you might have been staring in the face of a giant that both taunts and terrifies you. From your perspective you can see no way out so you sink in depression and sit paralyzed with anxiety about what will happen. If you could turn the battle over to the Lord you know what would happen at the end of this day? You would sleep like a baby because you would not be fretting about these things.
I was recently talking to a friend of mine about the tough economic times. As we talked about the challenges everyone is facing we were reminded of our children. They do not lie awake at night worried about groceries, gas, or mortgage payments. They eat what is put before them and trust that when they are hungry again there will be something on the table. They do not worry about paying for the utilities to stay warm on frosty nights or cool in the middle of a heat wave. They live in perfect trust. If you and I could learn that as David did and turn our battles over to the Lord we would trust the outcome to Him and also live with confidence and courage.
I face giants just like you. Mine are audaciously big and they shout and taunt me to give up and tuck tail and run in fear. God reminds me those giants are His battles to fight on my behalf. I am challenged by the Lord to trust Him and square off against each giant one by one in faith. He fights for me just as He fights for you.
Two armies watched as David declared the battle belonged to the Lord and that the Lord would win the day. In the same way I have children who are watching me to see what I really believe about God when the pressure is on. I have a congregation who listen to what I say and then watch what I do when the giants shout my name. I have readers who read my words and then sit watching to see what I really believe when the battle lines are drawn. I say the battle belongs to the Lord. Where He leads He will make a way where there seems to be no way, but here is the point. David believed the battle belonged to the Lord but he had to face Goliath in faith.
You may shout till you lose your voice that the battle belongs to the Lord but sooner or later you are going to have put your money where your mouth is. You are going to have walk down to the battle field where your giant or giants await to take you down. At that moment you are going to have to stand your ground with courage and confidence that God will fight for you and win the day. That will be the day when the watching world sees what you really believe about God. I admit this is easier said than done but David was a man of action. His faith led Him to defy the giant and as they say, the rest is History. We want to see our giants on the ground in defeat before we courageously take our stand. Faith does not work that way.
What do you really believe about God at this moment? Will you surrender your life and future into His hands and trust Him with the outcome. Will you do what He says, follow His principles, embrace His salvation, and let Him fight your battles? The ball is in your court. You can fight on your own and sooner or later you will fall in defeat (now or in eternity) and develop ulcers from worrying. You can stop, fall to your knees and cry out for God to fight for you and assume Lordship of your life. I know what choice I have made and will continue to make. Lord, the battles belong to You!
The story of David and Goliath is a children’s favorite. It has all the necessary ingredients of a great story. There is good verses evil. David is a hero and Goliath stalks the pages of scripture as a villain. This is the classic story of the underdog. You have impossible odds and yet courage is put on display. This story has inspired millions and it easy to read right through it because you know the outcome. I was tempted to do just that.
I was reading this story in my devotion this morning and two things jumped out at me prompting to me write two articles about it. One thing that jumped off the page to arrest my attention was the fact that David confessed the battle belonged to the Lord. David had confidence and courage but the odds were stacked against him. Goliath was a giant and his military record must have been impressive. He had weapons of destruction and the ego to back up his boasts. For forty days he taunted the army of Israel morning and night. [I Sam 17:16]
David was not even a soldier. He was a young man who tended sheep but he was deeply offended that this pagan giant defied the living God over and over again. There were plenty of other soldiers who should have been willing to take up this fight. For forty days both at morning and night Goliath sauntered out to summon anyone to fight. There were no takers. Eighty challenges and no takers. The Israelite army was made up many cowards and men who were consumed with self preservation.
David heard the giant’s taunts and looked around in disbelief that everyone (including his three older brothers) refused to fight. David with no military training, no military rank, and no military weapons agreed to meet the challenge. Others had stepped back in doubt fear eighty different times. David stepped forward in courage and confidence but what made the difference?
The answer to this question plagues many children of God even to this day. We might not be facing a military giant but we have plenty of other battles that stare us down until our knees begin to buckle and we shrink back in fear. What giants are you facing? They loom large and seem to tower over us. They cast a menacing shadow and the shout of their voices can paralyze us in our tracks.
One such giant is the down turn in the economy. From the barber’s chair to the network evening news, from the front page of the paper to the talk at cafés many are talking about the news about people losing jobs, foreclosure of homes, drops in the stock market, and financial bail out packages seem to dominate our thinking. What are God’s people tempted to do? Panic. Doubt. Live in perpetual fear. Why? Because such thinking puts the outcome of the battle in our hands. David had a totally different perspective. He said the battle was the Lord’s to fight. He did not have fret, figure out an escape route, or finance someone to fight the battle for Him. God’s reputation was at stake and if there is anything God is passionate about it is defending and promoting His reputation.
David knew he could not defeat Goliath with swords and spears. You cannot defeat the economy by taking matters into your hands and trying to fix things on your own. You must lean on the Lord and trust Him for understanding. [Prov 3:5-6] This is His battle to fight for you. Seek Him for wisdom [James 1:5] and direction. Trust Him to be your provider. [Ps 147:8-11]
I know there are many battles you face day in and day out. For days on end you might have been staring in the face of a giant that both taunts and terrifies you. From your perspective you can see no way out so you sink in depression and sit paralyzed with anxiety about what will happen. If you could turn the battle over to the Lord you know what would happen at the end of this day? You would sleep like a baby because you would not be fretting about these things.
I was recently talking to a friend of mine about the tough economic times. As we talked about the challenges everyone is facing we were reminded of our children. They do not lie awake at night worried about groceries, gas, or mortgage payments. They eat what is put before them and trust that when they are hungry again there will be something on the table. They do not worry about paying for the utilities to stay warm on frosty nights or cool in the middle of a heat wave. They live in perfect trust. If you and I could learn that as David did and turn our battles over to the Lord we would trust the outcome to Him and also live with confidence and courage.
I face giants just like you. Mine are audaciously big and they shout and taunt me to give up and tuck tail and run in fear. God reminds me those giants are His battles to fight on my behalf. I am challenged by the Lord to trust Him and square off against each giant one by one in faith. He fights for me just as He fights for you.
Two armies watched as David declared the battle belonged to the Lord and that the Lord would win the day. In the same way I have children who are watching me to see what I really believe about God when the pressure is on. I have a congregation who listen to what I say and then watch what I do when the giants shout my name. I have readers who read my words and then sit watching to see what I really believe when the battle lines are drawn. I say the battle belongs to the Lord. Where He leads He will make a way where there seems to be no way, but here is the point. David believed the battle belonged to the Lord but he had to face Goliath in faith.
You may shout till you lose your voice that the battle belongs to the Lord but sooner or later you are going to have put your money where your mouth is. You are going to have walk down to the battle field where your giant or giants await to take you down. At that moment you are going to have to stand your ground with courage and confidence that God will fight for you and win the day. That will be the day when the watching world sees what you really believe about God. I admit this is easier said than done but David was a man of action. His faith led Him to defy the giant and as they say, the rest is History. We want to see our giants on the ground in defeat before we courageously take our stand. Faith does not work that way.
What do you really believe about God at this moment? Will you surrender your life and future into His hands and trust Him with the outcome. Will you do what He says, follow His principles, embrace His salvation, and let Him fight your battles? The ball is in your court. You can fight on your own and sooner or later you will fall in defeat (now or in eternity) and develop ulcers from worrying. You can stop, fall to your knees and cry out for God to fight for you and assume Lordship of your life. I know what choice I have made and will continue to make. Lord, the battles belong to You!
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