Who's your Giant?

Aren't there times when you are facing great problems which take away all of your energy? Well, whether Christian or not, everyone of us has been confronting with difficulties one way or another, and so much more when you are a disciple of Christ.

The words are blotting my mind as I am typing. The Holy Ghost is at work, and He teaches me even through my own thoughts that I lay down in words.

Today's message has at its core a question that maybe you should ask yourself, Who is your giant?

Many people of faith are related in the Bible, yet I discovered that there is one who always strikes my attention in the Old Testament; a name which is pleasing to my mind and spirit, apart from Jesus Christ. That name is David. Now, do not take me wrong, I admire Elijah, Joshua, Jonathan, Samson, Samuel, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, and so many other prophets, but David is that name that makes a great click in the core of my being; it is a refreshing scent in this day-to-day pollution of discouragement. God's word is a great refresher in itself, and He wants a genuine relationship with us. The only way He can talk with us is through His word.

I guess you don't have to be a Bible student to recall the story of David and Goliath. It is incredibly popular in the world: children know about it, it is taught in schools, told among brethren and normal people.

God wants to draw our attention to every word in the Bible, to every circumstance, every name, every event, although it is impossible to catch right all the things the Bible addresses. Repetition is the key to understanding God's word, so the Lord is right when He said,

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Let us think for a moment how a humble, simple, modest man, a shepherd somewhere in the field manages to face and defeat the great giant which other great warriors could not do. Back then, the Philistines were at war against Israel,

1 Samuel 17:4-7 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

Notice how Goliath is properly equipped for the battle: a champion, a giant of the Philistines.

David was Jesse's son, the youngest of all. The Bible describes his older three brothers as being warriors in the battle,

1 Samuel 17:13-14 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

David, however, is the one who seems to be the most insignificant (at least in the beginning), yet obedient, quiet, humble,

1 Samuel 17:17-18 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren;

18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

1 Samuel 17:20-21 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.

One thing was ENOUGH for David: courage. When he went to observe his brothers fighting lead by Saul (who was also of great stature), after Goliath started showing off by scaring people to confront him in battle, David dared to ask the question,

1 Samuel 17:26 [...] What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

David gives an example of GREAT FAITH by asking Saul to let him deal with Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:32-36 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

See how he does not have a trace of doubt in his mind about him defeating the giant, and how Saul judged according to the outward appearance. In fact, only the Lord has the ability to search and look deeply in the heart, since the appearances are deceitful for a human naked eye,

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Out of faith David did not need any of the war equipment, but he took 5 stones to beat Goliath the giant. It is obvious what kind of armour David was wearing.

1 Samuel 17:38-40 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

After Goliath mocked David right in the face, notice how David was convinced that he had another GIANT by his side and no one could compare with Him,

1 Samuel 17:45-47 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

David's armour was his FAITH in God, bearing the reproaches, the ridicule, facing the circumstance as a man where no weapon was required of him,

1 Samuel 17:49-50 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

Notice how David prevailed against Goliath with ONE stone, not 5. It is believed that the other four stones were for the giant's supposed brothers or sons (one stone for each). David had faith!

Beloved, maybe the problems you are facing are HUGE, like real giants, but remember about David's Giant: do you take Him as yours, too? He is ready to fight your battles as long as you act humbly in faith. Do not be a Goliath: being noisy, talking, gaining people's support by your side... If you do not have God, then no one can stand for you against your giant. Whose side are you on?

Also, are you ready to meet the requirements to have such a Giant as God by your side? Are you ready to face ridicule, to be mocked according to the appearance?

When Jesus Christ died on the Cross, filter the following facts:

1) Satan was half judged on the Cross;

2) Christ laid down His life for us;

3) After three days He rose again from the dead.

TRUTH IS NOT IN THE APPEARANCE OF THINGS.

Jesus humbled Himself by being manifested in the flesh as a Man to pay for our sins. Because David was courageous and faithful, he became a king as a recompense for being a devoted servant.

Problems are loud many times, but people are louder. Keep the faith, be quiet and observant, talk with discretion, wisdom. BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE! In the end, the Giant in your life always PREVAILS!

Looking to you, my God, I realize how tiny I am!

Keep up the faith,

Denisa