The story of David and Goliath is usually told as a classic underdog tale.  The arrogant giant challenges his fearful opponents.  The unseemly kid shockingly deals a crushing blow.  If we limit the scope of the story to just this simplistic outline it is a good story with a good point.  However, I’m afraid that we view this story as the exception rather than the rule – we too often allow the giants of life to defeat us before we go to fight.

Throughout the Holy Scriptures we see that God habitually uses the weak or the common folks to accomplish His will.  In the Old Testament God used a shepherd, a prostitute, a slave, the youngest son, the minority people groups, and so many other ordinary folks.  Jesus selected a ragtag group of disciples that included fishermen and a tax collector – average Joe’s.  In the most famous sermon ever preached Jesus blesses the spiritually poor, the meek, and the mourners.

1 Corinthians 1:27 speaks of this further, “Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”

Our nature, our experiences, and our history all points to the weak succumbing to the strong, just as a river of rushing water can cut through solid rock over time or as a great fire burns a forest.  But God’s math is different.  He intentionally chooses the common and the ordinary to move mountains and to change the landscape of the world.  He chooses a ragtag group of folks to bring the Good News of salvation through Christ to a lost and dying world.  He chooses folks like you and me to be salt and light, a city on a hill, and a candle that cannot be hid.

David, a common sheepherder, was brave enough to take on a giant.  Why?  Because he knew from experience and by faith that his God was with him.  This giant defiled the honor of his God and he was not okay with that.  Even though all the warriors were scared, even though his own family forbade it, he confidently confronted what no one else would.

Will you?  If your God is for you and with you, will you confront the giants in your life?

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ³² Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? ³³ Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. ³⁴ Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.” Romans 8:31-34

(Scripture references from New Living Translation)