February 2020

 

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.”

1 Samuel 17:45-46

 

I’m always inspired by the story of how the young David had the courage to face a big hulk of a warrior named Goliath, believing without a doubt that God would help bring defeat. What an inspiration he was!

The story starts when David’s father asks him to check on his older brothers at the battlefield. When David arrives, the Israeli army is cowering in fear from the taunts of Goliath, the champion of the Philistine army. Goliath angered David when he claimed that Israel’s God would not be able to help them in battle. Filled with righteous indignation he decided to fight him and stand up for what was right.

The Philistine came with a sword, shield, and spear but David, with five stones and a sling, came with confidence in the God of Israel. He succeeded in killing Goliath with one stone. The army of the Philistines immediately retreated. Their champion was dead, and they saw that they were ill prepared to face the army of God.

What gave David the determination to fight as foreboding a figure as Goliath?

David could not withstand the taunts of Goliath and needed to prove what the God of the Israelites could do. Unable to stand by and wait for someone else to come forward to do what needed to be done, he himself took on the challenge. David trusted God, and God gave him strength and courage. When we try to right a wrong in our world, it helps to remember David’s story.

I’ve learned to see that when God gives us something big to do – something bigger than ourselves – he does not leave us alone with it. In fact, God takes control. All we need to do is to join with him by going where he tells us to go, doing what he asks us to do, and saying the words he wants us to say. He will give us the same courage and strength he gave to David. We can trust that he’ll be with us.

When you see injustices and find yourself filled with the kind of righteous indignation David had, remember how he defeated Goliath, one so much bigger than himself. If God was able to help David overcome something evil, is God not able to help overcome the evils around us as well?

marja