This summer I work with a bright, ambitious young college student who, among other things, performs wonders with spreadsheets. When I draw attention to his solo accomplishments, he deflects my praise, saying “we” did it, because “we’re a team!” His humility catches me by surprise, and his unassuming manner reminds me of David in the Bible.
We read in 1 Samuel 17 that young David’s father sent him to take food to his brothers—soldiers in King Saul’s army facing the Philistines and their champion, Goliath. Every soldier, including David’s brothers, quaked in fear before this seemingly invincible giant. Noting their comparatively diminutive size, they believed themselves no match for such an opponent.
Although just a youth, it never occurred to David to compare his physical body to Goliath’s. Focusing on Goliath’s words and not his stature, David burned in righteous indignation in response to the insults spewing from the giant’s mouth. He wanted to do something! And the knowledge that God was with him gave him the necessary courage.
In verses 34-37, David verbally replayed his divine deliverance while shepherding from both a lion and a bear, drawing assurance that God would also help him defeat Goliath. Because David gave God the credit, we might imagine him sitting idly by as God zapped the lion and the bear. But the truth is that David himself grabbed the lion by its beard and he personally bested the bear with a rod or his slingshot.
So he followed the burning in his heart, picked up stones, and swung that slingshot at a new target. God sent no angel to fight for him, yet David felt confident that God had equipped him with giant-slaying skills. After killing the giant single-handedly, he turned around and gave God the credit. He was both skilled and humble at the same time.
Like David, each of us has strengths and abilities. And we each face challenges in life. But as New Testament believers, we find ourselves even better-equipped than David to face them! We have the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17), the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16), the ability to resist the devil (I Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7), and weapons mighty enough to pull down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Nothing we face is greater than what we can bear (I Corinthians 10:13).
David didn’t recklessly go looking for battles to fight—and neither should we. Instead, God urges us to wage war daily against ever-present threats: the godless mindset of the world, the temptation to be self-centered, and the schemes of the devil. Beyond that, we may undertake certain battles on behalf of others, simply because the desire and accompanying faith rise up in our hearts. In all of these, just like David, we can have confidence we are not fighting alone—we’re part of a team! God is with us and in us, to will and to work, to strengthen and encourage. Our part is to humbly believe, boldly take action, and expect God to give us victory!
