David's Approach

As David stood before Goliath, the Philistine giant taunted him. Goliath mocked David, his god, and all of Israel. Goliath was a war-machine, likely very skilled in combat in addition to his great physical power. David was only a shepherd, face to face with the man cowering over him, threatening his life and all of Israel, threatening to put them in the chains of slavery again.

David had heard enough of Goliath's weak talk. He called back, "You come to me with a sword and a a spear and a javelin, BUT I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

David knew God was present. All the rest of Israel decided that God was too small, or that he would not help, or that perhaps he had abandoned them. But not David.

David knew God was present. He knew God was active and would give them victory.

Our own lives must be filled with the faith and confidence of David. In every situation, good or bad, let us approach with the victory of God on the forefront of our hearts, our minds, and our souls. He is able to redeem, to save, to defeat, to sanctify, to resurrect, to heal, to allow us to grow closer to him.

Following God is not a cheap and immediate fix to our problems. God is enduring and patient, he never leaves us or forsakes us. Our weakness is of no consequence when we follow his power and grace. We can let ourselves be transformed to become closer to him instead of expecting everything to be immediately perfect. From there comes peace, joy, and completeness.

Let the knowledge of God be your guiding force in your life, just as it was for David as he approached the giant.

In all things, we come in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel. And each battle is his. Our King is mighty, gracious, patient, and eternal.