All of us are familiar with the account of David’s victory over Goliath. It is a favorite
Sunday School lesson and appeals to people of all ages. It is a very satisfying story
because the big boastful bully (Goliath),with all of his weapons and military know-how,
is done in by a simple, unassuming shepherd boy with a stone and a sling. All of us
identify with David and wish we could as easily overcome those who threaten or annoy
us.
But David’s victory was not a matter of chance or a result only of Goliath’s over-
confidence. God helped David, and He helped David because of his faith. David’s faith
had been tested while he was keeping the sheep and it had passed the test. David had
looked to God for help in overcoming the wild animals and He gave David the wisdom
and strength to kill them. David gave God the glory for these victories and trusted Him
to help him in meeting any new enemies. Saul offered David weapons to fight with, but
David refused them. They would only be a hindrance to one who was armed by God.
How much God values faith in His human creatures. "Without faith it is impossible to
please Him:for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). Do we desire wonderful
blessing in our lives and the lives of our loved ones? Most of the miracles of the New
Testament and many in the Old were performed as rewards of faith. God is still
performing miracles today. For example, new birth is a miracle; God’s care for our
physical welfare (often in ways unknown to us) is a miracle; one secular writer has
claimed that a marriage which lasts for many years and which remains truly happy all
that time is a miracle. We need faith to obtain these blessings and to appreciate them.
Do we desire victory over our spiritual enemies? We are given a list of God’s
provisions for Christian warfare in Ephesians 6. One verse has always stood out for
me. "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked" (Eph. 6:16). The Lord said to Peter, "Satan hath desired to
have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail
not" (Luke 22:31). Faith, then, is our most important weapon in dealing with Satan and
all of his devices. Like David, let us reject human solutions and fleshly weapons; and,
armed with faith and the other weapons God has provided, go forth to meet the
adversary. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you" (James 4:7).