May 16, 2023

I Samuel 17: 45 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.” (NIV)

Faith that goes forth triumphs.*

Goliath, the Philistine's giant secret weapon, was taunting the army of Israel. “Send one of your men over to fight me,” he challenged. “Winner take all!” The Bible says that Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. Perhaps Saul and his army would have benefited from having a woman among them because I would have said something like, “Nah. We already have our army assembled so let’s just fight in the traditional manner.”

Maybe I’m missing something in the story. Whatever it was that had Saul’s soldiers in such a dither, David didn’t see it either. He was a shepherd boy whose father had sent him to the front lines to deliver food to his brothers, but not even the sneering accusations of his oldest brother could daunt the young man’s enthusiasm. “Don’t lose heart over this, people! I’ll go fight him,” he said. He did – and he killed the big guy with a well-placed rock.

It has been said that faith caused David to look at the giant differently.* And faith should cause us to see our giants differently as well. David’s faith was a result of his experience with God’s faithfulness in the past. God’s faithfulness should be the source of our faith, too. Have you not found God to be faithful? Did you give him a chance to prove himself? Did you really step out in faith or did you wait for God to step up first? I won’t tell you that the first time you step out in faith will be easy. But the second time will be easier. And soon you will be like David, who knew that the Lord who delivered him from the lion and the bear could deliver him from the giant, too.

Our faith has its own unique past, where God personally intervened.*