Day 105, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): 1Samuel 17; Psalm 144
Facing Giant Challenges
Facing the Giants was the title of the #1 Christian movie in 2006. The story centers on the struggle of a coach, Grant Taylor, his wife, and his football team to face the “giants” in their lives. These enormous challenges were: a losing streak, financial difficulties, inability to have children, lack of respect, self-doubt, the Giants' football team, and Bobby Lee, their big bully coach. What are the giants in our lives? Are they financial? Impossible tasks? Self-doubt? Fear? Inabilities? A big bully? How will we face them—with fear or faith?
In today's Bible reading, Saul is king of Israel. However, he consistently fails to follow all of God's instructions, so God sends the prophet Samuel to anoint David, a lowly shepherd boy, to succeed King Saul. As David grows, he becomes a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).Saul wants David to come and play the harp for him; he is talented, well-liked, brave with the heart of a warrior, and the LORD is with him. Whenever an evil spirit plagues Saul, David's music soothes his mind. Providentially, this allows David to understand some of the king's roles.
Confronted by a giant
Israel's enemy, after Saul's defeat of the Amalekites, is once again the Philistines. They're a maritime Mediterranean coastal nation. Every day, their champion comes forward from the battle line. He is Goliath, a giant warrior over nine feet tall! All Israel is afraid of him.
One day, David's father sends him to take food for his brothers and their commanders. He also instructs him to check on his brothers and report about the war with the Philistines. At the battle line, David hears Goliath's defiance against Israel and his God.
David volunteers to fight Goliath
David is angry that this Philistine mocks their Almighty God, and no one challenges him. Some men hear his opinions and report his godly zeal to King Saul.
When David appears before the king, he declares he will fight the giant. Saul is doubtful of David's success because he is so young and inexperienced.
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 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 Samuel 17:34-37a, NIV).
What things has God done for us? He's the Almighty God and can help us conquer the giants in our lives. We can trust and depend on him! He offers us forgiveness, peace, spiritual life, strength, and wisdom.
David’s faith in God to face the giant
Saul blesses David and then outfits him with his armor. But the young man chooses not to clad himself because he is not used to wearing armor. Instead, he wears his shepherd's clothing.
David races to meet Goliath at the battle line, and his weapons are only faith in God, a sling, and five smooth stones. He is not intimidated by the giant. Goliath relies on his massive size and heavy sword, but David relies on the LORD! Like David, we do not need to let our giants intimidate us— God is bigger than our challenges.
According to the superscription of Psalm 144, David may have written it after his confrontation with Goliath. He says,
Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples... Deliver me and rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful, (Psalm 144:1-2, 11, NIV).
Don't be discouraged—God is bigger than our giants
Those who do not know God may be deceitful and discourage us with lies. They may cast doubt that God will help us. We should pay no attention to them. “Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 144:15, NIV).
God is glorified when he helps us overcome impossible situations or challenging tasks. If the assignments are always easy, we think we do not need him, and he is not revered. Do we seek God’s glory when we face the giants of our lives, or do we try to do the impossible alone? If we ask him, he will help us.
Faith leads to action!
Biblical faith is not just saying the right words at the right time. Anybody can do that. Faith results in action. We need to have complete confidence in God to help us, and then as he leads, we should act. The LORD will help us overcome our most significant obstacles even when it seems like we and our resources are not enough. Notice what David does in his battle with Goliath:
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him (1 Samuel 17:48-50, NIV).
David, by all appearance, was small, weak, and laughable to his enemies, yet this young man trusted in God and desired to bring him glory. He put action into his belief. If we act on our faith in God, we may still be fearful, but the LORD will help us win.
Kendrick, A. (Director). (2006). Facing the Giants [Motion Picture].
Some have asked why David chose five stones. We do not know for sure, but perhaps he learned that Goliath had four sons (2 Samuel 21:16-22, NASB).
Focus Verse
1John 5:4 (NIV) “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
Discussion
What are some lessons we might learn about God and any enourmous challenges in our lives?
How should we react when people try to discourage our faith in the LORD?
Is believing enough? How can we put action to our faith?
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod, the author
Looking Ahead: Faith in God brings victories, but others might envy our success. In our next lesson, we look at The Monster of Jealousy—how to defeat it. Join us!
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