Facing the Giant - Karen Toews

I Samuel 17: a thrilling face-off between David and Goliath with the "underdog" winning, a captivating story for Sunday school kids and adults alike.

Who doesn't want to see the good guy win?
What isn't there to like about being a conqueror?

What about the background prior to this scenario?

- discipline and work: vs. 34a "...your servant used to keep sheep for his father..."

- courage and strength: vs 34b, 35 "...And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him."

- faith and trust from past experience when nobody was watching: vs. 37 "...the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

- refusing fear in the face of intimidation: vs. 44 "...I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."

- acknowledging source of strength: vs. 45 "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."

- declaring the victory before the fight: vs. 46, 47a "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth...."

- giving honor and glory to God: vs. 47b "...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel...For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand."

And that's what happened. vs. 50 "...David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him."

Who of us doesn't have a giant to face-down? Maybe yours is related to one of these:

A book manuscript that you just can't wrap up.
The unknowns of a new work/business opportunity?
Personality-communication challenges with family, work, family relationships?
Health issues?

Draw courage and confidence from God's power and the experience of doing your homework.
....and conquer your giant.