Facing Your Giants - Lessons from David and Goliath

The confrontation of David and Goliath is an epic event and it provides several lessons which we can apply when we face giants in our lives.

When David declared that he was going to fight Goliath, King Saul told him, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth." Did David listen to Saul's words of discouragement and doubt? No, instead he immediately shared his separate experiences of killing a lion and a bear and he attributed that success to God. Because he drew on those past experiences when God had rescued him, David had full confidence and unwavering faith that God would do so again.

This is the first lesson we can glean from the story of David and Goliath. When we are faced with a looming challenge or with a seemingly impossible obstacle or with principalities of darkness, we need to remember all the times when God has been there for us. It would even be beneficial to write a list of those instances so we can refer to it when we need reminding of God's mercy, goodness and victories in our life.

Saul believed that young David didn't have a chance against Goliath so in order to give him the tiniest bit of protection, Saul offered David his armor. Saul placed more faith in man-made protection rather than the protection of God. David tried on the heavy, bulky armor, but told Saul, "I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them." Do you know what David was used to? He was used to the armor of God! The armor of faith was the only armor he was accustomed to. So with that, David picked up 5 smooth stones and his sling to fight the giant.

This leads us to the second lesson... we should not put our trust in the weapons or abilities of men to rescue us, but rather trust in God. As we read in Psalms 20:7-8

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm."

The next lesson from this part of David's story is that he brought his own God-given skills as a shepherd to the battle, knowing that God would work through those skills to bring victory over the giant. When we enter our battles, we need to bring our skills to the table. God has equipped each of us with skills, talents and abilities which we should use for His glory. God doesn't want us to ever cower down from a battle. He wants us to go forward boldly against it with everything He has given us along with the unwavering faith that He will work through us and beside us to overcome. As Jesus says in Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

The final lesson from David's confrontation with Goliath occurs when David made this declaration to the giant, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied... All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands."

David didn't just quietly approach Goliath, rather, he made a bold declaration in the name of the Lord. We need to do the same. Jesus has given us authority in His name to break down strongholds as He tells us in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." And Apostle Paul teaches in II Corinthians 10:4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but (our spiritual weapons) have divine power to destroy strongholds."

When we come against a dark principality, we need to declare God's word against it in the name of Jesus, knowing that "he who is in us is greater than the one in the world". We already have victory over every stronghold and every darkness through the victory of Jesus. With that knowledge, we can boldly stand with confidence against all giants just as David did.

Let us close with David's own words in Psalms 146 and be mindful of his experience with Goliath and the other giants of life that he battled...

"Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever.”
Psalms 146:3-‬10

He reigns over ALL things. He is above ALL things. He has overcome ALL things. And He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, so trust God will give you victory, take up your skills, move forward with boldness, declare your victory in the name of Jesus and face your giants!