In my devotions this morning I was reading the story of David and Goliath. I noticed something, something actually obvious but that I hadn’t paid attention to. Start with Goliath himself: he’s glorious – tall, broad shouldered wearing a bronze helmet and armor. He probably has millions of followers on Instagram – he’s a real influencer. He exudes confidence and has a big mouth. He is clearly used to getting his way as a result of his status and size. And he thinks he’s fighting “the servants of Saul.” (I Samuel 17:8) Now check out the Israelite soldiers, which includes David’s brothers: they cower each morning when Goliath shows up with his bullying rant and they “fled from him in great fear.” ( v 24) Sure, they post about their own exploits and have a decent following on social media, but they’ve also read the polls that claim they can’t win and the pundits that tell them religion is old fashioned, so they also believe they are merely “servants of Saul.” They are focused on the enemy and fixated on nothing besides how King Saul will reward the man who vanquishes Goliath.
There’s the aha for me: the seasoned soldiers and Goliath all believe the same thing (and because they believe it, they are correct). What is that belief? Well, that the Israelites are merely servants of Saul and that they are beatable. David walks into the camp and is confused. He’s not got a signal when he’s out with the sheep and he’s not been awakened to the new belief about who he serves. He doesn’t understand why all these men are frightened when the God of All is on their side. He’s perplexed that his mighty and respected brothers are quaking in their boots. David doesn’t hesitate. He goes to Saul and volunteers. After Saul stops laughing, he tells David, “You are just a boy.” (v 33) David tells the king the Truth that the king and others have forgotten (and I’m paraphrasing verses 36 and 37 here), “This Philistine has defied the armies of the living God and he will fall just like the bear and the lion I’ve killed. The Lord who rescued me from them will rescue me from Goliath.”
There were thousands of soldiers showing up every day for 40 days to listen to Goliath’s taunt, and somehow, each one of them bought the story the media was playing and forgot who they served. David, and David alone, remembered. He recalled how faithful and loving God had treated him in the past and he knew, he KNEW that God would be victorious again. So, he picked up his stones and his sling, he shucked off the unnecessary and ill-fitting armor recommended to him, and he went out in faith to defeat the enemy. I love David.
