SEPTEMBER 12, 2014
The
Small Giant
Read: 1
Samuel 17:32-37
The Lord . . . will deliver me. —1
Samuel 17:37
The towering enemy
strides into the Valley of Elah. He stands 9 feet tall, and his coat of armor,
made of many small bronze plates, glimmers in the sunlight. The shaft of his
spear is wrapped with cords so it can spin through the air and be thrown with
greater distance and accuracy. Goliath looks invincible.
But David knows
better. While Goliath may look like a giant and act like a giant, in contrast
to the living God he is small. David has a right view of God and therefore a
right view of the circumstances. He sees Goliath as one who is defying the
armies of the living God (1 Sam. 17:26). He confidently appears before Goliath
in his shepherd’s clothes, armed with only his staff, five stones, and a sling.
His confidence is not in what he has but in who is with him (v.45).
What “Goliath” are you
facing right now? It may be an impossible situation at work, a financial
difficulty, or a broken relationship. With God all things are small in
comparison. Nothing is too big for Him. The words of the hymnwriter Charles
Wesley remind us: “Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to that alone;
laughs at impossibilities, and cries it shall be done.” God is able to deliver
you if that’s His desire, and He may do so in ways you don’t expect.
Not to the strong is
the battle,
Not to the swift is
the race;
Yet to the true and
the faithful
Victory is promised
through grace. —Crosby
Don’t tell God how big your giants are. Tell
your giants how big your God is.
Insight
David was young at the
time he faced Goliath, so his courage in confronting the giant is impressive.
His confidence was in God and was based on His actions in the past. David
considered the heroic actions of his shepherding days (17:34-35) as victories
of the Lord (v.37). His boldness was encouraged by the faithful strength of
God.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
