The Need for Courage
“And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, 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?” I Samuel 17:26
I suppose just about everyone has heard the account of David and Goliath. Goliath was the giant warrior of the Philistines, Israel’s enemy, who threatened Israel with annihilation. Scripture reports that Goliath stood six cubits and a span, over nine feet tall! He was definitely a formidable foe, but as they say, “the bigger they are, the harder they fall”, and this would be true in Goliath’s case. David, a shepherd, was a young teenager whom his father sent to deliver food to three of David’s brothers who were in the army of Israel fighting against the Philistines.
When David arrived at the camp, all of a sudden Goliath appeared and everybody ran. David was highly intrigued. He asked the soldiers what type of reward would be given to the man who destroyed this giant, calling Goliath an “uncircumcised Philistine”. David’s brother Eliab was annoyed that David was among them, asking questions, and making a nosy nuisance of himself. David ignored his brother’s insults and went to King Saul, volunteering to take out this big brutal enemy. At first Saul refused reminding David that he was too young and inexperienced in battle to be able to take on a hardened warrior. David reminded Saul that he had killed a bear and a lion with his bear hands, and he could do the same with this man who defied the armies of the living God. Saul finally gave in, and David prepared to eliminate this beast of a man.
David gathered five smooth stones, but he only needed one because the LORD was with him. He also had a sling with which to release the stone toward Goliath. When he arrived back at the battlefield, there was Goliath, a towering specimen of brute force. However, nowhere in scripture does it report that David was afraid, nervous, or unsure of himself because he knew from where his strength and victory would come. I can only imagine the look on Goliath’s face when he saw David standing before him, a look of complete confidence, but also a look of complete disbelief that this kid had the nerve to approach him. He could squash David with his little finger, or so he might have thought. Goliath told David that he would “give his flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field” (17:44). David replied that Goliath only had a sword, spear, and a shield, but he was coming “in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied” (17:46). When Goliath came closer, David came closer to him, took one stone from his bag, put it in his sling, and aimed for Goliath’s head. The stone pierced his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground, dead and no longer a threat to Israel.
Where are the Davids today? Where are the leaders who fight for righteousness and truth? Where are those with the godly courage to stand against the evil that envelopes our nation and our world? Those who would lead as God would desire have very little chance of being given the opportunity to lead because there are not enough God-fearing people to elect them. It’s not about Democrats or Republicans or liberal or conservative It’s about obeying God’s word and trusting in Him. David wasn’t afraid to take the initiative to fight against a formidable foe because he knew that God would help him. God will help anyone who trusts in Him and dares to take a stand for truth and righteousness. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31b).