Will You Believe Goliath or God?

If you can, find a quiet spot. Grab a notebook/journal and pen. Reflect on at least ONE takeaway from this post. Think about how you can apply it to your life. This post is also great to read aloud and discuss the topic of identity with your school age children. Individually or as a family, you can ponder the question: “Will You Believe Goliath or God?” Let’s get started.

The Story

1 Samuel 17 tells the story of David’s battle with a giant named Goliath. As the war between the nation of Israel and Philistines continues, many horrible words are communicated by Goliath about how he desires to harm God’s chosen people.

He (Goliath) stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations: “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.” Then the Philistine (Goliath) said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other!” When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified. – 1 Samuel 17: 8 – 11

The Lies

As if things couldn’t get any worse.

The Philistine (Goliath) came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine (Goliath) looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” the Philistine (Goliath) called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!” – 1 Samuel 17: 41 – 44

These are some serious threats… And the  “Goliath” (challenge, opposition, etc.) in your own life may be communicating something similar:

Your ”Goliath” might be saying: ”You can’t show up to confront evil.” (1 Samuel 17:8)

Your “Goliath” might be saying: “I’m bigger than your God.” (1 Samuel 17:8)

Your ”Goliath” might be saying: ”You aren’t good enough.” (1 Samuel 17:43)

Your “Goliath” might be saying: ”Your life is doomed.” (1 Samuel 17:44)

The Hope

But God is so faithful. He equips David with a more excellent way of using his “words” and pursuing battle.

David said to the Philistine (Goliath): “You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel—you have defied him. Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, remove your head, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the wild creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.” When the Philistine (Goliath) started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine (Goliath) on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down to the ground. David defeated the Philistine (Goliath) with a sling and a stone. – 1 Samuel 17: 45 – 50

Will You Believe Goliath or God?

The ”fight” clearly reveals:

The Lord loves to help those in need. (Psalm 146: 6 -8)

The Lord transcends anything and anyone. He has no rival or competition. (Revelation 22:13)

The uniqueness of your God-given identity, appearance, skills, gifts, and talents are quite beautiful – as “quirky” or different as they seem sometimes. (Psalm 139:14)

God desires for you to have life more abundantly. (John 10:10)

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  (Ephesians 6:12)

Who will you believe? Goliath or God?