Facing “Goliath” With Confidence

DateLine (11/1/06 – Naas, County Kildare, Ireland)

Consider three situations. Imagine a shepherd boy entrusted with a portion of the family fortune; a herd of sheep. A lonely profession; hours of solitude watching the sheep lazily graze away. The calm occasionally punctured by the predatory lion or bear making its way toward a straying sheep. Either learn to deal with the challenge or succumb to the loss.

The next situation. A seemingly undefeatable challenger stands for forty straight days delivering demeaning taunts to the opposing army. A courageous young lad steps up when even the hardened veteran is not willing to face the foe. The pride and survival of a nation rides on the shoulders of the least likely citizen; who had not even received training as a soldier.

Now finally consider the obstacles that you and I face every day. I don’t know about you but each day I’m presented with something that I feel as if I’m not qualified to do; a public presentation, a stretch for a goal if not met will lay your “soul” bare for examination, you substitute your challenge here.

Now’s let’s tie all three situations together. You may have already considered that the shepherd is David of Bible fame. This same shepherd lad is the improbable hero against the giant Philistine, Goliath. We all know the outcome of that story in 1 Samuel 17. What does that have to do with you and me? We all face our “Goliaths.” Not only is this story ripped from the pages of Jewish history its rich allegory inspires us all to persevere against the obstacles that stands in our way. But I want to focus on a little detail of the story that is almost never emphasized; at least as it should be in my opinion.

The uncommon courage of David is unquestionable. That David’s courage was fueled by prior deliveries from harm’s way during his time as a shepherd is demonstrated by his own words; “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." 1 Sam. 17:37. Summoning the strength to move forward against obstacles requires a supernatural boost.

Here’s where I would like to emphasize an oft ignored part of the story. As David moved toward what many viewed as an insurmountable challenge, what many viewed as a guaranteed defeat, he stooped at the brook that separated himself from his obstacle. As he dipped his arm in the cool refreshing water of the gently flowing brook to retrieve five stones he immediately found comfort. You see, for a brief moment, right in the midst of the struggle I can imagine that he was transported in mind to the cool refreshing stream in the valley where God had delivered him from the lion and the bear which sought to steal his sheep. If God could deliver David from the unmatched battle between man and beast surely God is faithful to deliver him from the hands of his immediate enemy, Goliath.

Here’s something for us all to remember. David did not defeat his Goliath based on learned skills of soldiering. He could not even hold-up the armor and traditional weapons of soldiering. David gained the “skills” required to defeat Goliath in the solitude of fellowship with God during the many hours of shepherding.

The same young man, who defeated the undefeatable, was the same man who later wrote of his relationship with God by taking us back to the shepherd’s “pasture”.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23.

When you look up to find the “unscalable mountain” before you follow David’s example; stop, dip your hand into the cool stream of God’s fellowship, and pick up the “weapons” that you need to defeat your “foe.”