The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah. So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them. Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver's beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield. (1 Samuel 17:1-7 NLT)
We all face “giants” in life – enemies of our LORD and King. These giants are bigger, stronger, faster, and nastier than we are. Even though these things may be true, we do not need to fear. Our God is Bigger, Stronger, Faster, and more Fair than anyone who is, who was, or who ever will be.
"Don't worry about this Philistine," David told Saul. "I'll go fight him!" "Don't be ridiculous!" Saul replied. "There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth." (1 Samuel 17:32-33 NLT)
David understood this. Saul did not. Saul saw the size of the giant. David saw the size of his God. David was little more than a boy when he went up against Goliath, but he completely trusted in the power of his God.
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV)
Our age doesn’t matter either. The LORD provides the Power we need to win in battle – young and old, male and female, experienced or new. Our God is over all, in all, and through all. The victory is the LORD’s and, when we walk together with God, the victory is ours, too.
He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:40 NLT)
When we look at the rest of the stories, we find that Goliath wasn’t the only giant like this. Later on, David and his armies would take on four more giants just like Goliath…and win. The LORD wants to give us victory over all our enemies and, especially, the enemies of the LORD.
As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd's bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. (1 Samuel 17:48-50 NLT)
How about you? Do you trust the LORD to give you victory over your enemies and His? Do you know that, no matter your age, you can fight the enemies and win?
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