The story of David and Goliath is a great reminder of unconventional faith. There are a number of elements in this story, found in 1 Samuel 17. In today’s times. we can use reminders and encouragement to recognize that our faith may need to go against the grain of what is expected. The story points out several common elements to things we might face even today.
A community of uncertainty
Daily he would step to the forefront and call out to the Israelites.In modern times we do not face physical giants that can mean death or destruction if we take him on. We may occasionally face a circumstantial giant that is just earth-shatteringly huge, and we see no way to overcome it. Our community is usually our first line of support. In the case of Israel, there was no one who felt a degree of certainty about how to proceed. The odds were surely stacked against them and people were scared to move forward on the outcome.
Family conventions can fail
At this point it was clear that all in the years they had spent together as a family, there was sibling rivalry which interfered. The older brother did not understand the younger brother. In our time, a similar convention is not uncommon. A family may not understand why Christians do things the way we do, or they might have the impression that we are simply naiive about a given topic. At such times, no argument is going to change their mind. Only the action of following through will make a difference.
Unconventional decisions
A strange thing happened when David indicated his willingness to do something. The other men of the army reported David’s willingness to the king, and the king called on David. The men of the army and the king must have been desperate. The king was willing to put forward an untested warrior against a well seasoned warrior, in a match that would decide the future of two nations. Saul’s decision was an act of desperation and a huge gamble. In the middle of the consideration, perhaps Saul recognized that here was a man of faith and confidence in God. Faith and confidence which Saul did not have.
In trying times, we may need to throw convention out the window. If there is no solution in the known, we have to turn to the unknown. One thing that is known is God’s presence. God in the midst of us can do great things.
God has been mentioned a few times in this passage. but, it is only now that he comes into the forefront of the story. Up until now, the people involved are depending on their own skills and abilities, and they recognize that they fall woefully short. Saul was not so desperate that he blindly accepted the use of David as their champion. To make such a drastic decision he questioned David’s youth and ability.
32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
David replied with confidence in the Lord:
37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” This inspired and encouraged Saul. Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
A decision may seem unconventional to many, but when we are under the Lords control an guidance, we can be confident about moving forward. It would have been unconventional for Saul to give his approval, but when the Lord is on your side, te confidence will get us through.
At times, God may seem far off, but the Lord will see us through when we have faith in Him.
Unconventional Accolades
At this point in the story David had the support of King Saul, but the community of (Philistine and Jewish) onlookers did not know the whole story yet. Until or unless David announced where his faith came from, the people would not place the credit where it was due.
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 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.”
Verse 47 is key. 1) The battle is the Lord’s. 2) The Lord saves. It is not based on sword or spear. 3) With God in charge, the Philistines will surely lose.
