Much like the man who built his house on the Rock, another young man defied the defiant and unrelenting storm, and defeated the undefeated and unrepentant giant. In utter confidence, he stood tall amongst the cowed, a man fearless among the fearful.
One wonders what inspired in him such confidence? I’ve heard it said, “When you find yourself crippled by fear, simply pretend you are brave and act accordingly.” Such was not the case for this young man. This man did not pretend. Bravery was already deeply sowed within his heart. His confidence and valor already tested many times over. This giant, this goliath was simply next on the list.
But what was the secret to his valor, the mystery behind his confidence? This young man didn’t grow with sword in hand. He was no warrior, not even close. The young man grew up with staff and sling, guiding his sheep. He was the youngest in his family. The lowly shepherd boy.
Though young, untested this boy was not. Time and time again, alone in the wilderness, he defended his sheep from attacks from lions and bears. Without fail, the LORD gave the young man victory. The shepherd began to realize, “The LORD is my shepherd, and I have everything I need.” “The LORD is my rock and foundation, why should I be afraid?” Defiant in his confidence in the LORD, the heart of the man knew, “If the LORD was with him, there was no reason to fear.” Before long, this up and coming warrior would know the LORD was also his sword and shield, and nothing could stand against Him.
Later, the young man found himself at a battle many believed he was too young to face. A boy among men, his faith character showed true. When all of the men were too fearful to face the giant, the shepherd boy stood before the king and said:
David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth."
But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth; and if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and killed him.
Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."
And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"*
So our hero went and faced the giant Goliath. Fearless and full of faith he stood before him. Here is the account of the battle:
And when the Philistine looked, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, ruddy and comely in appearance.
And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."
Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and 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.
This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and he will give you into our hand."
When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; there was no sword in the hand of David.**
Today I face my giants. As many of us know, it seems easier to run and hide from our hardships, allowing them to rule and taunt us. But I know that even though the future seems bleak, just as the LORD delivered the shepherd from the lions, bears, even goliath, so He has brought me through my own struggles. Today I face my goliath. I will face my fears. My God will bring my family and I through our hardships.
I will face my goliaths and see them fall. Then I will ask, “Who’s next?”
In His grip,
Ernest Walter Johnston Jr. – My father’s son.
* 1 Samuel 17:32-37 (NSV)
** 1 Samuel 17:42-50 (NSV)
*** Picture Credit: http://drawn.ca/wordpress/wp-content/images/ltbe.jpg
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