The account of Goliath’s defeat reminds that status matters little in the eyes of God. Big, little, short, or tall—it doesn’t matter to the Maker of all, everyone is to live by His [God’s] authority (Col. 3:17). David, you’ll remember, came to Goliath “in the name of the Lord of Hosts” (I Sam. 17:45). He had full faith in and the support of God to do what the army of Israel should have done. As he approached the giant, he gave full credit to the one who empowered him—almighty God. This should cause Christians to remember the spiritual battle today. Every Christian is to remember the spiritual war that is going on which extends even to the heavenlies (Eph. 6:12).
What cripples the Lord’s army today is the same crippling attitude in Israel of old—fear (I Sam. 17:47). Fear is the enemy (Rev. 11:15), and should belong to the enemy. Do you remember Rahab (Joshua 2:9)? She revealed the rest of the story from Numbers 13 where the spies gave a fearful, bad report regarding the promised land. It turns out the people of Canaan knew of the power of the God of Israel, and they were afraid of Israel. It took 40 years to find out what should never have been in question from the beginning. God said repeatedly He was going to give them the land of Canaan, and sent them to take it. It was Israel’s fear that hindered God’s blessing. Wonder if fear is hindering God’s blessing today? It’s a matter of faith, and is a salvation issue (Rev. 21:8).
The devil is a bully (I Pet. 5:8). He is seeking those whom he may devour. He’s a bully of bullies. He bullies Christians through family and friends threatening loss of friendship, popularity, and relationships (I Sam. 17:28), through redefining the terms (17:8), and through paralyzing fear (17:11b). He has always been a bully and a deceiver in every way (Gen. 3-Rev. 21).
A pebble of the Gospel can defeat the devil and save the world (I Cor. 1:18), just as the pebble from the sling of David killed Goliath long ago and saved Israel. It was viewed as foolish when David suggested he could kill the giant with a pebble, but he did it! God was able through what the world viewed as foolish to confound the wise then as he does today through the Gospel (I Cor. 1:27). What the world counts foolish, God’s people know to be wise unto the salvation of the soul. Understanding this explains why “not many noble are called” (v. 26). The rich? They may be able to buy a lot of things, but not Heaven (Mark 10:24-27), their salvation as everyone’s will depend upon God’s grace. God can save the world with the preaching and obedience of the gospel of Christ. Foolish? To some yes, but those who are being saved it is the wisdom of God.
How do you see it? Jesus said a little faith can move mountains. It has killed giants, and by the grace of God it can defeat the enemy today. Success or failure in the Christian life really is determined by a faithful attitude. Too big to fail, or too large to miss? The challenges are great today, but the Lord of hosts is greater.
-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College