David’s Thoughts

When David (of the Bible) asked King Saul for permission to fight Goliath, Saul dressed David in some traditional battle armor. There were several problems with all that armor. David wasn’t accustomed to wearing ANY armor. The armor was too HEAVY for David. And it got in David’s WAY. David couldn’t use the armor. He was better off using and wearing what he was accustomed to.

Saul’s armor represents PROTECTION and FEAR. There’s nothing wrong with protection. We’re supposed to be careful. Don’t be stupid! And there’s even a healthy level of fear that is good. Where we should NOT go, however, is to the point where our live is controlled by fear. How can I be any good to anybody if my main guiding thought is the protection of what I think I have?

Isreal was gripped in fear and doubt at this point in time. The armor, which is the result of this fear, and is intended to protect the wearer, only got in the way.

Sometimes, instead of thinking about how to protect yourself from injury and hurt, you need to stop looking inward; stop thinking about yourself so much. Instead, look at the actual task and goals at hand. Maybe there is some risk. Maybe your whole life is on the line! But are your protective measures holding you back from achiving the task?? Shedding your armor exposes you. It makes you more vulnerable. But it makes you more agile and capable too. So let God be your armor, and go and do what you know (deep down inside) is right.

Getting un-stuck.

That seems to be a theme of this story. Israel was stuck in an impasse with the Philistines. For forty days they had a daily standoff. Goliath and the other Philistines would come and taunt the Israelites.

I found it impressive that David (up to now, mainly a shepherd and musician) made the CHOICE to fight Goliath. Nobody asked him to. Everybody thought he was nuts for even trying. Yet David felt he MUST do this, and he had complete confidence that he could win.

So, WHY did David feel so compelled to take on this challenge? One thought is that this is the place where Israel was stuck. They were stuck as a nation. If they didn’t win this fight, they would be slaves to the Philistines. They FEARED the Philistines because of their size and strength. David saw this stuckness (is that a word) and could not stand it.

Where are YOU stuck? What is YOUR “Goliath?”

What helped David overcome Goliath?

1. God was with him, and David relied on God.
2. David was in the HABIT of relying on God.
3. David was in the habit of rescuing his animals out of the mouths of wild animals. And large ones! Bears, Lions. Thus, David was in the habit of tackling (and killing) these large wild animals.

So basically, David used skills that he was familiar with, and that he had honed in his daily work. What things are you GOOD at, that you’re in the HABIT of doing? Maybe these can help you overcome your Goliath?

Read the original story at bible.com, 1 Samuel chapter 17