The Enemy Within

1 Samuel 17:44  “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

Goliath was your basic large human being.  He was nine feet tall. 1 Samuel says, “The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds.” Nine feet tall! He would have been amazing in the NBA!

David couldn’t stand by and watch this behemoth ridicule God and Israel, so he decided to do something about it. He told King Saul, “I’ve killed lions and bears, I’ll whoop this guy, too.”

They tried to armor David up, but it didn’t work. Instead he took his trusty sling and five smooth stones to the battlefield to face a giant.

Today’s verse shows how little regard Goliath had for this puny, pimple-faced teenager. “Come on over, boy, I’ll feed you to the birds…”

Gulp! Here comes the acid test. Talking about killing Goliath is one thing, doing it out on the battlefield is a whole different issue!

Long before David defeated Goliath he had to face the enemy within himself. He had to face his own doubts, his own fears, his insecurities. He had done all of that long before he stepped onto the battlefield, he had done it in the fields with his sheep. He done it on a daily basis, using God as his strength.

When David put that first stone in the sling he already knew God would provide the victory, because God had done it time and time before. You don’t defeat Goliath without first defeating the enemy within. Whatever you are facing today, God has victory for you! But first, you have to win the first battle: the one against your doubts and fears. Take them to God and leave them there, then step onto the battlefield confident and sure of victory.

Today’s Readings:  1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2