Against all odds
1 sam.17
David vs. Goliath! Who has not heard of that story? It is a story that’s retold whenever there is a little guy who goes to battle against a giant. And against all odds the little guy wins! Cheers for the little guy and boo and hiss to the defeated giant. All of us who has experienced the schoolyard bully feel a special connection to that story, isn’t that true? We want the Davids to beat the Goliaths. A while ago Walmart wanted to move into Marine Dr in Vancouver. Well, the little mom and pop stores and the little people of South Vancouver banded together. And after a lengthy battle, they managed to prevent the giant store from setting up shop there. The Goliath Walmart lost! Indeed, the David and Goliath story is retold time and time again, no one wants the giant to win. But there is more to the story than just the underdog becoming the hero.
The real story behind the David and Goliath story is the story not of David, or Goliath, but the story of the God who goes against all odds.
I don’t have the time to tell you all the stories of God defeating all the enemies of Israel in the book of Joshua and the book of Judges. It is significant to note that the numerous stories of God’s heroism were not in the memory of the Israelites. And what about the most significant victory of all time, the story of the Exodus. God used Moses, an old man in his 80’s, whose only weapon was a stick, whose army is made up refugees to defeat the most high tech civilization at that time and not only that but the military powerhouse and might of ancient Egypt. We all know that this powerhouse was routed by God as the horse and the rider fell into the sea . Why did no one remember those stories that made Israel, Israel?
I guess when you see with your own eyes, the fearsome colossus Goliath, your knees would buckle and involuntary amnesia would set in. All you can see is the giant. His whole frame would have block out the sun and the fear that your life would soon be over just make you scream like a little girl. Can you imagine this Goliath dude, a veteran warrior, experienced fighter, and he’s huge, bigger than Yao Ming, more than nine ft tall stronger and meaner than LeBron and Shaq put together. It is like a Hummer vs. the smart car. A nuclear bomb vs. a little pistol. Life is over! End of discussion!
However, if the Scriptures are true, God’s people ought to know that Goliath is the underdog! In God’s book, over and over again we are told stories of successful battles against insurmountable odds. God’s people with God on their side and with God as their king and warrior, has always won, that is as long as the Israelites obeyed and trusted God. Not only that but in the most pivotal story of their existence, the exodus story, the mighty army of Egypt beaten by an old man, armed with a stick and untrained army of slaves with no weapons. What about the story of their father Abraham, against all odds, grey old Sarah had a son, and from him came the nation of Israel, and now they are as numerous as stars in the sky! Against all odds, it is the story of their existence! Did Israel forget their history, their God?
In Joshua (1:9) that we find these words – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” The conclusion is quite clear they are terrified and discouraged is Israel forgot their God who would go with them wherever they go. Only one person did not, and it was David. That was the secret of David’s success against Goliath.
36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
The key to fight against the odds, is not get bigger muscle, high tech weaponry, or even kung fu but faith in the Lord who delivers His people. The God who delivered His people in Egypt, in the book of Joshua and the book of Judges is the same God who will deliver now and today. That is the God David trusted in.
All Israel could see
Natural human eyes of Is. David’s supernatural eye faith
Defy Is. V.25 Defy armies of the living God v.26
Man who kills him v.25 for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? V.26
When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear. V.24
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him
v.48
45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin (natural), but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, (supernatural) nhe God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. (purpose of the story)47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands."
David’s story is our story. We too face giants in our lives on a daily basis!
1. Always remember God delivers. He is our hero, the battle is the Lord’s!
Kids today face pressures to conform to certain standards of appearance and behavior. Goliaths are also represented in the bully on the playground, and the temptations of drugs, alcohol, sex, cheating, lying, etc. With this story we know that we do not face these pressures alone. Remember God is with his people. God is with us always, if we remember Him and give Him our full trust. Then he will give strength and courage, just as he did for David.
2. Let us rehearse the stories of God, have a daily intake of His word, to stave off amnesia!
3. Tell ourselves, we are the chosen of God by His wonderful grace.
The Bible clearly says God chose us to be his very own through Christ...
4Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5God was kind [b] and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God. (Eph.1:4-6, CEV)
More to story, this is the story that established David as the successor to the throne of Israel. The story of God’s choice king. He was chosen by God. Yet being chosen does not mean we will be spared facing the giants of our lives. In fact, we may face scary giants like David did. That we are in a scary place is God’s way of developing us to know that there is a God who delivers and show the world that our battle, the battles we face, is the Lord’s.
.Let us remember Him now as we partake of the holy communion, in the name of the God who chose us to be His people, who delivers His people... the name of our Lord Jesus who died and rose again!
