I was thinking about David the other day. You know, the kid who took on a giant and won? I was thinking about how without human support he was as he faced down impossible odds. His dad sent him to take food to his brothers, implying he wasn’t strong enough to be a warrior and was only good for delivering food. His brothers mocked him for his curiosity about why everyone was hiding. He hadn’t forgotten who he was, or who their God was, but when he brought it up, he was met with dismissal and derision. His king tried to give him his armor, once again a demonstration that he was too small and insignificant to do any of these crazy stuff he was threatening. But David went anyway. He knew who God had made him to be, and he knew who his God was through him. Don’t let the rejection or scorn of others define who you are or who your God is.
David didn’t fight Goliath like the giant wanted him to do. Jamie Winship pointed out in a talk recently that David didn’t try to go wrestle him or fight him with a sword. He didn’t let the enemy determine how the battle was fought. He stood in his identity and the training God had led him through as a shepherd on the hillside with his sheep—he needed a sling and some rocks. Don’t let the situation dictate how the battle should be fought—ask God how He wants to fight the battle.
Finally, David didn’t walk off the battlefield after the Philistines were defeated and have a nice easy life after Saul gave up the monarchy to him, and everyone acknowledged his courage. This was just the beginning of lots more battles, many against those who were supposed to be his people. Saul got jealous of the people’s love for David, and would try to kill him. He was in hiding multiple times throughout his life, towards the end from his own son who was trying to kill him as well. But that doesn’t take away the victory in this circumstance, as it increased David’s trust and dependence on his God. Don’t let the follow up and the new problems steal the trust and dependence you learned in the difficulty, but celebrate and remember.
But in the depths of my heart I truly know that you, Yahweh, have become my Shield; You take me and surround me with yourself. Your glory covers me continually. You lift high my head. Psalm 3:3