Introduction
Church, when we hear David, most of us think “David and Goliath.” It’s the classic underdog story. But here’s the truth: David himself never bragged about killing Goliath. That was recorded by Samuel.
Why? Because David didn’t see that as his greatest story of faith. His true testimony was his love for God and his relationship with Him.
And just like David, our greatest story isn’t about battles we’ve won, medals we’ve earned, or titles we’ve held—it’s about how much we love Jesus and cling to Him in every season of life.
I. DAVID BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A CAUSE
David looked at Goliath and said:
1 Samuel 17:32 – “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
Everyone else was afraid. 1 Samuel 17:11 – “When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”
But David said: “There’s a cause worth fighting for. God’s honor is at stake.”
👉 Marine Illustration:
I remember on deployment, there were moments when fear tried to creep into the camp. The uncertainty of what lay ahead was heavy. But Marines rally around a cause—the flag, the mission, the brother next to you. That cause pulls you past fear. That’s exactly what David did—he rallied around God’s cause. He knew the name of the Lord was worth standing for.
Church—fear magnifies the enemy, but faith magnifies God!
II. DAVID REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A CALL
Saul told David he was too young, too inexperienced.
1 Samuel 17:33 – “You are not able to go against this Philistine… for you are a youth.”
But man’s dismissal is no match for God’s anointing.
1 Samuel 16:13 – “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.”
👉 Leadership Illustration:
In the workplace, I’ve seen young men and women overlooked because they “lacked experience.” But sometimes those same young people—hungry, teachable, faithful—rise to become the very leaders who turn an operation around. Why? Because they believe in the call placed before them. That’s David: overlooked by men, but called by God.
Never underestimate the errands or small roles God gives you. They may just be the steppingstones to your destiny.
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III. DAVID POSSESSED A CONSECRATION
David’s faith wasn’t arrogance—it was consecration.
1 Samuel 17:37 – “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
He trusted God in the secret places—out in the fields, singing Psalms, fighting off wild beasts.
👉 Application Illustration:
I knew a man who worked faithfully for years in a factory—no spotlight, no applause. But he prayed every morning at his station before the line started. Later, when crisis hit and leadership was scrambling, that man had the wisdom and calm that held the operation together. Why? Because his private walk with God had prepared him for public challenges.
Church, private faithfulness leads to public victory.
IV. DAVID KNEW THAT THERE WAS A CURE
David told Goliath:
1 Samuel 17:45 – “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts.”
He knew the battle belonged to God.
👉 Testimony Illustration:
A young mother in our community once told me her story. She was battling cancer, exhausted, facing fear every day. But she said, “Pastor, I’ve learned the cure for my fear is worship. I put on praise music, and I remind myself: the battle is the Lord’s.” That woman radiated faith in the middle of the storm. And just like David, she ran to her Goliath declaring, “My God is greater.”
V. DAVID’S GREATEST STORY OF FAITH
Now here’s the key: David never wrote about Goliath. That was Samuel’s story.
David’s greatest story wasn’t that he killed a giant—it was that he loved God. His testimony wasn’t “I fought well”—it was “I worshiped well.”
Psalm 27:4 – “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”
That’s David’s heart. He longed for God’s presence more than earthly victories.
Even after his sins—like his fall with Bathsheba—he always came back to this prayer:
Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
👉 Marine Reflection:
I’ve seen men with rows of medals and ribbons—but the ones I respected most were those who kept their integrity, who cared for their Marines, who stayed grounded in faith and character. Victories fade, but faithfulness endures.
David’s faith was not about what he conquered, but Who he clung to.
VI. DAVID’S HEART OF PRAISE
That’s why his Psalms still sing today. Listen to his words:
• Psalm 121:1-2 – “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”
• Psalm 16:11 – “In Your presence is fullness of joy.”
• Psalm 34:1 – “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
• Psalm 62:6 – “He only is my rock and my salvation; I shall not be moved.”
• Psalm 100:4-5 – “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise… For the Lord is good.”
• Psalm 138:3 – “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.”
David’s legacy wasn’t the giant he killed—it was the God he worshiped.
Conclusion
Beloved, here’s the takeaway:
• God can use the unlikely. He took a shepherd boy and made him king.
• God equips the called. Private devotion prepared David for public battle.
• God values our worship more than our victories. David’s greatest story wasn’t Goliath—it was the Psalms.
• And God’s grace restores us after failure.
So don’t boast in your giants. Don’t define your life by victories or defeats. Instead, let your testimony be like David’s:
Psalm 18:1 – “I will love You, O Lord, my strength.”
The giant may fall in a moment, but a heart of worship lasts forever.
The battle is the Lord’s—and the praise belongs to Him!
