Goliath was tough. Goliath was fearless. Goliath was a bully.

[Ihadcancer 321]

Goliath was big. Really big. When I taught four year olds in Sunday School they'd all tell me he was bigger than a tall building or as big as a mountain.  Actually, Goliath was about as tall as a regulation sized basketball goal. Scripture tells us he was about 10 feet tall.  Compared to you and me, that's pretty big.  

 

Goliath was tough. Goliath was fearless. Goliath was a bully. 

David was a child. David was brave. He'd killed lions and other animals with his bare hands to protect his father's sheep. David was God's anointed. 

 

Someone once said

'Don't measure yourself against your Goliath.  Measure your Goliath against your GOD'.  

 

We all face Goliaths in our lives. It might be financial failure or loss of a precious relationship.  It might be the sudden and untimely death of a loved one.  It might be our own illness.  We tend to be like David's brothers who ran and hid when Goliath came out shouting his threats. We might be like the other men in the army who covered their eyes and ears in fear.  We might be like David.

 

David knew how big Goliath was, yet he went to the brook that seasonally runs through the Valley of Elah and chose 5 small stones for his sling shot.  David had a mighty faith.  What was he thinking? Tiny stones versus a giant of a man? Or was David thinking Giant God against a bully of a mere mortal?

 

Whatever was going through his head, and there possibly was a little doubt and a bit of fear, he was, afterall, only human, David faced his Goliath.

 

1 Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands."

 

Five smooth stones.  If David had faith that God was going to win the batlle, then why five stones and not just one? The answer is 'preparation'....  you see, Goliath had four brothers watching from the sidelines. David equipped himself, just as WE should equip ourselves for battle.  

 

Prepare your heart by studying God's Word.

 

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

Learn God's Word because that is our weapon, our smooth, small stones, our sword! 

 

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--