Confronting Your Giants

A slender, beardless teenager kneels beside the brook, mud staining his knees. Bubbling water cools his hand as he contemplates the reflection of his copper-colored hair, tanned skin, and captivating eyes. However, his focus is not on his handsome features but on the smooth stones scattered around him. He is looking for rocks. Stones. Smooth stones. The kind that stacks neatly in a shepherd’s pouch, rest flush against a shepherd’s leather sling. Flat rocks that balance heavy on the palm and missile with comet-crashing force into the head of a lion, a bear, or, in this case, a giant. These stones, perfect for a shepherd’s sling, become his chosen arsenal against giants.

On the hillside, Goliath, 3 metres tall, a towering Philistine adorned in armour and emanating arrogance, challenges the Israelites. The valley is filled with a hostile Philistine horde, a menacing presence that strikes fear into the hearts of the Israelite soldiers.

Enter David, a shepherd who arrives at the battlefield with a mission – to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers. Witnessing Goliath’s defiance of God, David makes a bold decision. He selects five smooth stones from the brook, places them in his shepherd’s pouch, and steps forward, sling in hand, ready to face the giant.

When Jesus went into the wilderness to fight the Goliath of sin, He too took 5 stones (the five books of the Pentateuch) and He slew the giant with one. All the quotes Jesus used against satan came from the book of Deuteronomy.

Goliath, scoffing at the seemingly insignificant challenger, mockingly nicknames David “Twiggy.” Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” (17:43 NASB). Skinny, scrawny David. Bulky, brutish Goliath. The toothpick versus the tornado. The minibike attacking the eighteen-wheeler. The cavodle taking on the rottweiler. What odds do you give David against his giant? Better odds, perhaps, than you give yourself against yours. Your Goliath doesn’t carry sword or shield; he brandishes blades of unemployment, abandonment, sexual abuse, or depression. Your giant doesn’t parade up and down the hills of Elah; he prances through your office, your bedroom, your classroom. He brings bills you can’t pay, grades you can’t make, people you can’t please, alcohol you can’t resist, pornography you can’t refuse, a career you can’t escape, a past you can’t shake, and a future you can’t face. You know well the roar of Goliath.

The odds appear insurmountable – a skinny shepherd against a colossal warrior. Yet, David’s giant is not physical. This narrative draws parallels between the biblical Goliath and the personal giants each individual faces – be it financial struggles, relationship issues, or inner demons.

Goliath throws back his head in laughter, just enough to shift his helmet and expose a few centimetres of forehead flesh. David spots the target and seizes the moment. The sound of the swirling sling is the only sound in the valley. Swish, swish, swish. The stone torpedoes through the air and into the skull; Goliath’s eyes cross and legs buckle. He crumples to the ground and dies. David runs over and yanks Goliath’s sword from its sheath, shish-kebabs the Philistine, and cuts off his head. You might say that David knew how to get a head of his giant.

The story emphasizes the recurring nature of these giants, echoing in the morning and evening like Goliath’s taunts. They dominate thoughts, infiltrate joy, and cast shadows of doubt over one’s life. The narrative prompts you to identify your own Goliaths, whether they be financial difficulties, academic challenges, or personal demons.

David’s response becomes a model for tackling these giants – a focus on God rather than the overwhelming challenges. David, characterized as a man after God’s own heart, stands out not just for his courage but for his unwavering trust in God’s deliverance. His battle cry emphasizes his reliance on the Lord, portraying a God-saturated soul rushing towards the giant.

The narrative challenges us to adopt a similar perspective, urging us to face our giants with a God-centred approach. It highlights David’s limited focus on Goliath’s attributes and emphasizes his overwhelming focus on God’s strength and intervention. (read that again). The recounting of David’s triumph over Goliath serves as a metaphor for overcoming personal challenges by prioritizing faith over fear. Don’t focus on the problem, focus on the problem solver.

The story encourages us to confront our giants, shifting our focus from the overwhelming challenges to the limitless strength of God. It suggests that adopting a God-centred perspective enables individuals to face their struggles with confidence, just as David did when he confronted and triumphed over his giant.