Lions, Bears, and Giant's! Oh, How Faith Groweth!

Remember the story from Sunday school of David and Goliath.  The young boy who killed the giant of the land with a sling shot.  This story is told to millions around the world and is a favorite in Sunday schools and childrens' church.  This biblical account retold has taught us of one young boy's faith in his Living God. However, his faith did not begin with Goliath?  His faith grew over time and experience as he trusted and learned who his God was, and who he, David, was in relation to his God.

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By Bill Bachmann

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David was young and tending his father's sheep. Following his father's instructions, he went to serve his elder brothers and their commander by bringing his brothers some food and a gift of cheese to their commander.  David's father also asked him to bring back a token, so that he would know his boys were doing well.  

As David arrived his brothers and the host of soldiers were shouting the battle cry and  heading out for battle in fighting with the Philistines, army against army.  

Hearing and seeing the uproar, David left the food with the baggage keeper, and ran out among the soldier's to greet his brothers.  David heard a champion soldier of the Philistines step out and boast, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." (1 Samuel 17:10)  

David watched as all of his fellow Israelites fled from Goliath, terrified.  Then he boldly said, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Isreal?   For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (vs. 26)  

Eliab, David's oldest brother, became angry with David.  Why?  Eliab accused David of being "presumptuous" and having "evilness of heart"?  We read earlier in the passage that David was actually following the instructions of his father, serving his brothers.  Was Eliab acting out of fear?  Was he angry with David, because David seemed to be stirring up trouble; and without saying the words, calling the Israelite soldiers and his own brothers "yellow"?  

David's reply, "What have I done now?  Was it not a harmless question?"  Does this mean David was a bit of a trouble maker in the past, showing up his brothers maybe?  David then turned away from his oldest brother (almost as if, he was boldly saying, "get out of my face"), and asked the same question.  The men gave him the answer again.

Word traveled fast as the words of David were repeated through the host of soldiers till they reached Saul, who sent for David.  

Saul told David, "You are NOT ABLE to fight against the Philistines.  You are but an adolescent (a child), and he has been a warrior from his youth."  (I have heard preached by many great preachers, Faith begins where our ability stops!  Saul was looking at ability, walking by sight.  David was walking by faith in the living God he knew and trusted.)

David was not new to walking in faith.  He knew that His God was a Living God who delivers him from all evil.  We see this in David's reply, "Your servant (David) kept his father's sheep.  And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock.  I went out after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it.  Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God."

David said, "The Lord Who 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."

What was Saul to say to that except, "Go, and the Lord be with you."

You know the rest of the account.  David killed the giant, giving God the Glory.  Victory was his.

Our faith increases as we get to know our Living God, the God within us, our Father.  We get to know Him through His Living Word, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Romans 10:17  David's faith had grown as he had been delivered protecting his father's flock of sheep from the lion, and again from a bear.  David knew going into this fight, that it was not his ability, but His God's ability that would deliver him just as it had before.  He had faith in the Living God, faith that had grown from trust and experience in God.  

We often wait until their is a crisis to pray for help, pick up our bibles, or go to church.  During a crisis is not the time to begin to build faith. It is in our daily lives, in the little things, we do each and every day that we exercise and increase faith, by hearing and hearing His Word, getting to know who He is so that we already trust Him when that big crisis comes into our lives.

Read 1 Samuel Chapter 17.  There is much more to learn about faith in this chapter, like:  Why did David choose five smooth rocks from the stream when he only needed one to take down Goliath?  David knew God's power, why did he choose to use rocks and a sling shot to take down Goliath, when all he had to do was speak it out?