Ya Gotta Love This Guy!

“And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (1Sa 17:32 AV)

Ya gotta love this guy!  Imagine the scene.  The entire army of the Jewish people was entrenched on the side of a mountain.  On the other side is the entire army of the Philistines.  A champion in the person of Goliath throws down a challenge.  If there is any one man who can kill him, then the Philistines will surrender and be the servants of Israel.  However, if this nine-foot giant took the life of the best Israel had to offer, then Israel would be enslaved to the Philistines.  Now, understand that on that mountain were the best of the best.  Saul was the first king to form a professional army.  Before then, the Judges of Israel were limited to an all-volunteer army.  Under a king, they had professional training.  They were the elite. They were the largest, most intelligent, most muscular, and bravest of all.  Yet, when looking at Goliath, they all become jello.  Now comes this little guy. He is the youngest of all present.  He is the smallest.  He is fair-skinned, which means he sunburns easily.  Perhaps he has a bit of redness to his cheeks.  At first appearance, he would come off as a weak mama’s boy.  Yet, he has the faith and courage to calm men who easily best him by a wide margin.  The smallest and least capable is telling the largest and most able to take courage and he will take care of the big bad scary monster.

Adversity is a funny thing.  It often strengthens what we perceive as weakness.  This perception continues in the opinions of others, but they are completely unaware of what it was the LORD brought us through that gives us what we need to overcome present challenges.  When David was challenged as to his ability to defeat Goliath, his resume was that he killed a hungry lion and his buddy, the bear, when they stole a lamb from the flock he was charged with keeping.  Most people would have let the lamb go.  There is always another that can be birthed.  It wouldn’t have been worth it to risk one’s life against a much larger foe for the sake of one lamb.  The funny thing is, that our limitations are often the motive to excel beyond them.  David knew he was young, small, and fair of complexion.  He knew he didn’t impress anyone.  When Samuel came to anoint a king among Jesse’s sons, David was not asked to assemble with his seven brothers.  They thought so little of him that he was out in the field watching the flocks.  He was tending to those things his brothers thought were beneath them.  He was relegated to a task others considered simple and not worth recognition.  If David allowed the lion and bear to take the one sheep, no one would have blamed him.  But not David.

David looked at his limitations not as an excuse to pass up opportunity or duty.  If he is supposed to guard the sheep, then that is what he will do.  No lion or bear is going to keep him from his appointed duties.  His size, inexperience, or lack of skill didn’t matter.  He was going to kill these two raiders and secure his lamb!  Period.  So, when it came to Goliath, there was no difference.  His limitations were in his head.  If God is in charge, there are no limitations.  If the LORD commands, regardless of how we perceive ourselves, there is nothing our God cannot do.  So, when I read the words of David above, I have to chuckle.  What a picture!  This small little lad who couldn’t even wear a coat of armor was telling men twice his age and size they had nothing to fear.  He and his God would take care of it.  I love this guy!  Would to God our churches had more Davids in our pews—men and women who would not limit God to their constrained abilities.  We need to pray the LORD would send more saints who would see their limitations as a dare.  We must pray to the LORD that He would send more Davids, Daniels, and Joshuas.  People who are not afraid to put what little they have and are completely on the line with faith and assurance in God’s ability to do more than we ask or think.