Responding to the Giants - Part 4

David was unique to everyone else in all of Israel, even though most people didn't recognize it.  David was the anointed successor to the throne of Israel.  He was the person God had chosen to serve, lead and deliver Israel.  The interesting thing is that unlike Saul, David walked in humility.  The anointing had not gone to his head and so it remained on his life.  Because he had been anointed king, David was the only person with the authority and responsibility to deal with Goliath.  While he had yet to take his place on the throne, David knew WHO he was and WHAT God had called him to do.  It was this confidence in his anointing and subsequent identity that caused him to respond the way he did.  David knew that the destiny of the nation was at stake and that God would use him to defeat Goliath.


We can only deal effectively with the giants in our lives, our homes, cities and nation when we are confident in our identity, mission and and anointing.  When we are unsure of who we are in Christ and where we stand we become subject to the taunting and intimidation of the giants.


I love David's question to the army and his brothers.  "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?"  David is not being cocky or arrogant.  He is speaking with a clear understanding of his identity and his role.  His question came from a place of authority.  It's no different than what you might say if you came home and found an intruder in your house.


What happens next is fascinating.  David is quickly taken to Saul where he makes the same statement.  Saul, who is desperate for a soldier does his best to convince his only willing candidate to avoid going to battle.  David's response is very revealing.  Your servant has been caring for his father's sheep ...  It seems to me that the little things are always very important in God's eyes.  Doing a good job as a shepherd qualifies you for giant killing.  It's because God uses the small things to prepare us for big things. 

David's second statement is equally interesting.  'Whenever a lion or bear steals one of the lambs, I go after it with a club, grab it by the jaw and kill it.  The Lord has protected me from the lion and the bear and He will help me defeat this uncircumcised Philistine.  (paraphrase mine...)  David had confidence in God's ability to help him and protect him.  Again, God uses the little things to teach us about the big things.

Think about what David said about the lion and the bear.  'I go after it with a club.'  I think it's interesting that he doesn't use a sling, spear or bow and arrow. The club requires close contact.  After he hits it and rescues the lamb he proceeds to grab the lion or bear by the jaw.  For those of you who live in bear country, my advice is 'DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!' Yet, this is part of what qualified him to defeat Goliath.  He learned to go to the most vulnerable place of the predator and defeat him there.  I think there's a powerful lesson of faith here.  The most dangerous place for us is also the most vulnerable place for the enemy because it's where our faith is put to work.  I'm convinced that God is more interested in our daring steps in response to His promises than He is in our multiple safety nets designed to ensure that our assets are always protected.  It might be that we don't know how to slay giants because we aren't very good at going after the lion and the bear.