Greetings,
I like underdog stories.
Among my favorite are Rudy and
Braveheart. There’s just something about
facing insurmountable odds and winning that inspires me. That is why the story of David in the Bible
is my all-time favorite tale of triumph!
David was a peach-fuzz faced teenager when he showed up with
sandwiches for his hungry brothers who were on the war front fighting against the
Philistines, Israel’s enemy. That’s
where he heard Goliath, a “giant of a man” who was also the Philistine champion,
taunting the Israeli army. The Israeli
army was “greatly afraid.” But David was asking: “Who is this guy? Who does he think
he is “taunting and defying the armies of the living God?” And then he volunteered to fight the giant.
Initially, David was dismissed. “You’re too young!” “You can
never win against this mighty warrior!” “You don’t have a chance!” You’re just
a boy; he’s a man of war!”
Actually, David was a young man of great courage. “He chose five
smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag, and
with his slingshot in hand, approached the Philistine.”
Goliath was greatly insulted that out of an entire army of men, someone
who was “little more than a boy” would dare stand up to him, so “he cursed
David by his gods.”
David’s reply is epic and one whose truth we can all treasure in
our hearts: “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and 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 taunted. This day
the Lord will hand you
over to me...for the battle is the Lord’s and
He will hand you over to us.”
Four Bible verses later, Goliath was dead – one little smooth
stone flew straight from David’s slingshot into the middle of his forehead - the Israeli
army surged forth to victory, and you and I are reminded that when God is on
our side, we are never the underdogs.
What giant are you facing? It’s no match for our LORD!
Prayer: Dear Lord, many giants come against us with swords of
fear and spears of worry. Give us courage! Right now, in Your mighty name, we ask You to hand us
the victory over our struggles. The battle belongs to You. We arm ourselves with prayer and trust you
for the victory. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
