Recently, as I have been pondering what looks to be “giant” problems in our society, my attention has come to the story of David, the anointed king of Israel from the book of 1 Samuel.

David was 17 years old, and the youngest of his father’s eight sons when he was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the successor to Saul, king of Israel. So David had a promise of being king, but he was not king yet. Instead, David spent his days tending to his father’s sheep while several of his brothers went off to fight for Israel in King Saul’s army. The story starts in 1 Samuel 16.

But there came a time when David, the young shepherd boy, went to take food to his brothers in the army and found them in a standoff with a giant named Goliath and his army. The army of Israel was deathly afraid of engaging with the giant as the scriptures say he was around nine feet tall. But Goliath kept taunting them, challenging them to send someone out to fight him.

When David saw all of this, his response was, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” You see, David knew his identity. David knew he belonged to the armies of the living God because he had been spending time out on the hillside with the sheep and with his God. David was a worshipper of God. Therefore he knew who he was. This was the difference between David and the armies of Israel.

As the story continues, David is given the opportunity to engage the “giant” with unconventional weapons because he could not use conventional ones, such as armor and the like. There was a reward offered, with all kinds of riches, tax relief, and the opportunity to marry the king’s daughter, so it’s possible these things weighed into his decision to engage, but I am more inclined to believe that his righteous anger was so great, anger at the fact that evil was intimidating God’s people was most likely his highest motivator to engage in what looked to the natural eye like a losing battle. I’m sure he could not fathom that God’s people were actually afraid of this “uncircumcised Philistine” who had no covenant with God. I’m sure David was aware that fear of giants is what kept the first group of Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years before they went in and took the Promised land.

But what speaks to me at this point in time is, the scripture says David RAN towards Goliath. David didn’t just jump around assessing what advantage he had like men do in a boxing ring. David had the plan already. Had God spoken it to him? It would seem so. David ran towards Goliath with five smooth stones and his slingshot. He knew what he was going to do. It was never really going to be hand to hand combat! All he needed was one well placed rock…

Goliath never saw it coming.

It is written in the scriptures, and I have quoted it elsewhere on this blog, “if the rulers of this age had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (See that post here.) In other words, if they had known what God’s plan was for the salvation and exaltation of men back to God’s original plan, they would not have crucified Jesus. They walked into God’s trap. If Goliath had known what the plan was, he might have run away from David instead of walking into the same trap. You see, the devil doesn’t know everything….God has plans that are hidden from him. Aren’t you glad about that?

I believe we are seeing the same things happening in our society. First, President Trump, in his administration, came out and challenged the powers of darkness in the political world. They hated him for it. He, as one man, was only able to achieve so much, but now….he has inspired many, as populations around the entire world are rising up and challenging our current”Goliath.” Oh, you may not hear about it if you are still listening to the mainstream media because they won’t report it, but it is happening. The Church needs to engage this “Goliath,” which is the current worldwide effort to censor, oppress, and take freedom away from all of mankind. The Church has the spiritual weapons of war to win and a covenant with God. And we are destined to win, just like David did. He took the head off his Goliath. We just need to “follow the plan.” Each of us has a part to play in this.

Stay tuned in to God and pray. The word of God and the Spirit of God have the plan. The scriptures and the stories of those who have gone before us help direct our journey.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,… 2 Timothy 3:16.

Dear Jesus, on our own, we cannot know the plan to defeat the enemies in our world today. We rest in the defeat you accomplished by dying for us and bringing us in to Your kingdom of Light. We need your help every moment of the day if we are to bring light to those around us. We thank you and rely on You for all wisdom and knowledge of what You would have us do.