He is listed as a “Faith’s Hall Of Famer” along with many others in Hebrews 11. He was just a shepherd boy, one of 8 sons, and certainly not the most impressive, although he was “handsome”. The prophet Samuel had been called to come to the house of Jesse and anoint a king for Israel, not because he had killed a lion and a bear while
caring for his sheep. Not because he was the youngest of the brothers… but I am
convinced it was because of his faith.
Faith in God is an unusual and powerful thing. For it places the focus on the ability not of self, but on the Almighty. The writer of Hebrew said, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). There are many who laugh and scoff at this faith, claiming it to be nothing more than an emotional
crutch for the weak and stupid. How WRONG they are. The fact is “… without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). David had FAITH, not that he wasn’t a confident person… but this is not what stands out in his life. He believed and trusted in God and was not ashamed to speak up about it.
From this faith came a very special Psalm. One day he wrote “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with
me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in
the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely
your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell
in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23).
How then did David deal with the giant named Goliath? Was there some strategy to outflank, or out run this giant? Was David’s plan to somehow distract so the Israelite soldiers could secretly attack? No. Did David just ‘believe’ and the giant would fall? No. For you see, faith is an active, motivating dynamic of the Christian’s life. It is what comes by hearing and accepting the Word of God as authoritative (Romans 10:17). Without this one dynamic, the stones are just stones… baptism, is just getting wet…
David said to the Philistine, “…. I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands…the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 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.”
Faith, truly is the victory that overcomes!