Our Champion

I think most of the time we get the focus of this narrative all wrong. We teach this story as a story about David’s faith to overcome his “Goliath” situation to encourage us to have the faith to overcome the metaphorical giants in our own lives. There is truth and encouragement in this teaching, but it misses the deeper significance of what is taking place. We forget that God chose David before David chose God. David was the instrument that God had chosen to save His chosen people.

God chose David because it would be abundantly clear when David succeeded that God could have chosen to save Israel through any young, insignificant, shepherd boy. David was the champion that points to our true heavenly Champion.

He even says it himself, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword and spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” And while this was true for Israel its truth goes even deeper in light of Christ. For it was not by sword or spear that the Lord saved us but by giving his only Son for us.

It was on that Cross that Jesus fought all our battles at once and defeated sin and death for all time so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Thought Point

Who is the one fighting your battles right now?

Prayer Point

Ask God to help you trust His Champion to fight your battles. Ask that by His Spirit you would feel Him fighting alongside you.