Day 5 — David and Goliath

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

— 1 Samuel 17:45 (BSB)

The army of Israel was lined up on one hillside. The army of the Philistines was lined up on the other. And every morning and every evening for forty days, a giant stepped out from the Philistine side and shouted a challenge.

His name was Goliath. He was over nine feet tall. His armor weighed as much as a grown man. The tip of his spear alone weighed about fifteen pounds! He shouted, “Send someone to fight me!” And every soldier in Israel’s army, including King Saul, was terrified.

Then a teenage shepherd named David showed up to bring food to his older brothers. He heard Goliath mocking God’s people. And David asked, “Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

His brothers were annoyed. King Saul said, “You’re just a boy!” But David said God had rescued him from a lion and a bear while he was guarding his sheep, and God would rescue him from this giant too.

David didn’t wear Saul’s armor. He took his shepherd’s staff, his sling and five smooth stones from a stream. When Goliath saw him coming, he laughed and made fun of him. But David shouted back today’s verse: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD.”

Then David ran toward the giant, put a stone in his sling and let it fly. It hit Goliath right in the forehead, and the giant fell face down on the ground.

Here’s the key to the story: everyone else was comparing themselves to Goliath. He’s so big, and we’re so small. David was comparing Goliath to God. He’s big, but my God is bigger.

What are the “giants” in your life? A bully? A fear? A problem that seems way too big for you? Remember David. Your giants might be bigger than you. But they’re not bigger than your God.

David also said, “the battle is the LORD’s.” You don’t have to fight your giants in your own strength.

Think about it: What is a “giant” in your life right now? How does it look different when you compare it to God instead of to yourself?

Try this: Write your “giant” on a piece of paper. Underneath, write in big letters: “My God is bigger.” Put it somewhere you’ll see it.

Dear God, some of the problems in my life look like giants. But You are bigger than any giant. Help me face them like David did, trusting in You and not in my own strength. The battle is Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.