We continue today with part three of our Superhero Series. Last week we looked at the beginning of the story of David and Goliath. Today we will bring that story to a conclusion. If you have not done so yet, take some time to re-familiarize yourself with the story in 1 Samuel 17:1–58. And while you’re at it make sure to check out last week’s eDevotion.
Our lesson is focused on learning from David about facing the giants in our lives. These giants are the great challenges and obstacles before us related to our marriages, finances, parenting, places of work and more. There is much we can learn from David about gaining victory. Here are 4 more lessons:
Prepare to miss the mark (1 Samuel 17:40)
David goes to the brook and he chooses 5 smooth stones. This is most curious. Why did he choose 5 smooth stones? The easy answer is in case he missed. David takes into account that he might miss the mark. Everything may not go as planned. But if he has additional stones he could could always reload and fire.
There will come times when you will miss the mark when facing the giants. There will be times when you stumble. But that is ok. We learn from our mistakes. When you miss the mark, it is time to reload and fire again. Success does not happen without failure. Success happens by learning through failure. There are ups and downs along the way.
Details matter (1 Samuel 17:40)
Not only where there 5 stones, but David also chose smooth stones. Smooth stones fly faster and straighter. They are more aerodynamic. The details matter. The details are the difference between people who are passionate about their work and people who are just doing a job. You want to know how someone is invested in their craft, take a look at the details.
In the sports world there is often a tiny margin between winning and losing. The difference between winning and losing is in the details. It was no different in this battle. Don’t overlook the small stuff. We know God is in the details. Look at how you were created. God saw to even the most intimate details.
Trust in God (1 Samuel 17:44–45)
The Philistine giant taunted David. David replied, “You come at me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, who you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.”
The next time you face a giant, don’t tell God how big your problem is. Tell your problem how big your God is. God is greater than any challenge we face.
So much of what we do in life is determined by how much money is in our pocket. There is a reason why it is often called the “Almighty Dollar.” On our American money it says, “In God We Trust.” Maybe it is a ploy to convince ourselves, but the truth is that it is “In Money We Trust.” The choices we make are often determined by how much or by how little we have.
Goliath was no different. He looked at what he had. Then he looked at what David had. He dismissed any possibility that David would defeat him. What Goliath failed to realize was that a greater power was at work in David than the sword the giant wielded and armor he wore.
Realize it is the Lord’s battle (1 Samuel 17:47)
David was not fighting his own battle. This was God’s battle. There are so many battles in life which we personalize. We make them to be our own personal crusades. You need to recognize that your battle is the Lord’s battle. If your battle is not the Lord’s battle, then you should not be fighting it in the first place.
At the end of his life, Paul says, I have fought the good fight. (2 Timothy 4:7) He can say that because the battle he fought was God’s battle. The best thing about fighting God’s battle is that we already know how it ends. The Bible tells us God wins! When we fight the Lord’s battle we are empowered to do what needs to be done, because we know we cannot lose.
It’s time to give your battle over to the Lord. Give up your fear and worry and conquer the giant! As David said: “For the Battle is the Lord’s!”
Isabelle Guillen says
Very inspiring and enlightening bible reading.
Janet says
i guess the most hard part is making sure you are fighting God’s battle andnot your own…..
June says
Thank you. So needed right now.
Jason Lennon says
The details, choosing the right stones, the smooth ones. What an excellent point about just how important the little things are. If you can’t get the little details right, the bigger things are going to be much harder to handle.
When I was in Junior HS my football coach was a stickler for details. While our record was not good, the things he said stuck with me more than anything else. “You look like a slob, you play like a slob”. Something as simple as making sure your jersey is tucked in could make the difference between a touchdown and a fourth down. It’s stuck with me all these years. Its a crude comment, but it can be applied to other small details in your life. It wasn’t all about winning football games back then, it was about turning us into Men. I appreciate this story, what David did, and how he did it.
Joan Warwick says
I love receiving these e-mails-very inspiring and helpful. Thank you so much for sending them.