1 Samuel 17:47-49 “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands. As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.”

Goliath was nine feet tall. David was fearless and God allowed him to use a familiar weapon to fight the giant. The key expression of David’s faith for the Israeli army was “the battle is the Lord’s.” God was not intimidated.

Principle: Do not be intimidated by overwhelming odds. God is on your side.

The Israelites were paralyzed into inaction by Goliath. David was not. Israel’s God was not big enough to solve the Goliath problem. David remembered God’s past deliverances and found faith and courage. God had delivered him from the danger of wild beasts. David wisely said the victory was not in a human solution. He had tried on Saul’s ill-fitting armor but chose instead to face Goliath with five stones and a sling. He simply trusted God for victory. By the way, Goliath had four brothers mentioned in the Scripture — all giants. They were probably in the army also. That explains the other four stones.

David realized God’s unseen presence. It was greater than the giant before him. The results did not depend on David’s skill or his weapon. The battle was the Lord’s. The victory was sure and sudden.

Discussion:

1. Describe a past crisis from which God delivered you.

2. When faced with your current difficulty, what is your inclination: rely on the human solution, surrender it entirely to God, or work with Him to see how it turns out?

3. Is there a difference in dynamics when the difficulty is overwhelming odds as opposed to a 50/50 chance for solution? Why or why not?