Facing Our Giants

            Even though I love baseball, I was never really that good at it.  I had a friend who was really good.  He was a pitcher and had a possible future in baseball had he not blown his elbow out in college.  Too many curveballs as a youth, remember that parents, fastballs only until at least the teen years.  My friend had such a good curveball he would even show it to me before it came and I still couldn’t hit it.  He was my Goliath!  Every time I stepped into the batters box I felt like I was facing a giant.  I wish I could tell you some miraculous heroic moment I had against him but it never came.  I never had the confidence I needed against him. 

            David had confidence not just in himself and the training he had but more so in God and his ability to defend His own name.  David’s opponent certainly did not lack confidence, he scoffed at the idea of a teenage shepherd being the only one willing to meet him on the battlefield.  This is the best you have?  Listen to his words to David… 

1 Samuel 17:43 “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

If there was ever a chance to run, this would have been it.  Staring into the face of a nine-foot tall giant who is cursing you and your God.  David is a young, inexperienced shepherd.  What is he doing here?  There were many men hiding in the Israeli camp that were much more qualified to face this giant including King Saul, who is the tallest most impressive man in camp.  Where are all of these men?  They are cowering in fear.  David, however, has the heart of a king and will face anyone or anything that defies his God. 

1 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, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

            David, of course, did not go in without preparation.  Saul tried to prepare him by giving him his own armor and weapon.  These were far too big for David, they were not designed for him.  God had a different design for David.  He had been preparing him for this day for some time.  David had spent time as a shepherd where he developed an intimate relationship with God that we read all throughout the Psalms.  He prepared him as a warrior, defending his flock from the threat of lions and bears.  David was a marksman with a sling and stone, after years of training in the hills of Bethlehem.  David has been well prepared but the test comes in his recognition of the moment.  The moment is right before him and it is terrifying, much more so than a pitcher with a great curveball.  David steps into this confrontation with his confidence placed fully in God.  God is the one who has called him to be the next king.  God is the one who has given him victory over the wild animals that tried to prey on his flock while he was shepherding in Bethlehem.  God will give him victory over this giant as well. 

I never did learn to hit a curveball but fortunately never needed to.  The battlefield God chose for me was not on the baseball diamond and my weapon was never to be a bat.  I was not use the armor of the baseball player.  God had designed something different for me.  I had different giants to face.  Who or what are the giants you face?  Do not run and hide from them.  Face them with the full confidence of a child of God.  He goes before you and can help you have victory over any giant.  Have a great week!

Pastor Stan and Polly