Faith Like A Mustard Seed

God sends a boy to do a man’s job

It’s time for battle yet again, between the Israelites, and the Philistines. Saul and his army were stationed on one side of a valley, and the Philistines were stationed on the other side. Everyday, a Philistine named, Goliath, came out and spoke against the army of the Lord. Goliath was just under 10 feet tall, his armor weighed close to 200 pounds, and the head of his spear weighed 20 pounds. Goliath demanded that someone come out to fight him, and he did so for forty days, but Saul and his army were afraid.

See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 1:21

Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you. Deuteronomy 3:22

David is sent to the battle by his father, with refreshments for his three brothers who were fighting for Saul. As David was speaking to them, Goliath came out as he had been doing for over 5 weeks, and he gave his usual speech. This time David heard it, and he also heard what the reward would be for the man that killed Goliath, but he had to hear it a second time. Perhaps he couldn’t believe that Goliath continualy got away with what he was doing, and that no one had stepped forward to challenge him, and take the reward.

What does young David do is this situation?

David goes straight to king Saul, and he accepts the challenge. When Saul protests, David tells him that the Lord had already delivered him from a lion, and a bear while he was keeping the sheep, and that He would do just the same in the situation with Goliath.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. II Chronicles 32:7

“Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.” David said moreover, “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said unto David, “Go, and the Lord be with thee.” I Samuel 17:36-37

So David went out against Goliath, armed with only a sling and five rocks. Goliath cursed David, after asking if he was coming out to him with sticks, as if he was a dog. But David said that although Goliath was coming against him with sword and sheild, he was coming out with the Lord on his side, the God of Israel, and He would deliver Goliath into his hand, and all people would know that the One, true God, was in Israel.

David and Goliath ran to meet each other, but no sooner than Goliath even thought about striking David down, it happened that he was struck down by one stone from David’s sling. Goliath fell facedown to the ground with a fatal wound to the head. The Philistines took off when they saw that their champ was dead, but the Israelites went after them, and spoiled them.

God had used David in a mighty way that day. Because of the faith of one small boy, there was victory in Israel, and glory to God. It was the real David verses Goliath, but it was a mismatch all the way because David had God, and that was all that he needed to be victorious.

Just think; not one of the valiant warriors would step forward and take on Goliath. Not one of them would step out in faith, and trust in the Lord to win the fight. So God sent David, who was just a young boy at that time, and He sent him to take care of a man’s job. He sent him to take care of a matter greater than himself, and David, filled with faith and trust in God, accepted the challenge. David was faithful, and he was blessed because of it.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Dave Earley
Faith Like A Mustard Seed
Bible Study Forum