Giant Problem

In the story of 1 Samuel 17, we meet a giant problem. And it has a name: Goliath.

The man was huge. The English Standard Version says his height was “six cubits and a span,” which means he was over nine feet tall. His armor weighed five thousand shekels, which is 125 pounds, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels, which is 15 pounds. The weight of his gear suggests Goliath was not only big but also very strong. He was a big, scary dude.

Each day Goliath would stand before the armies of Israel and taunt them. He was proposing individual combat. Rather than have both armies fight and have needless bloodshed, the proposal was to have two champions fight and decide the outcome on behalf of everyone else. If Goliath won, the Israelites would become slaves to the Philistines, but if the Israelite champion won, then the Philistines would become slaves to the Israelites.

Now, let me ask you…

In this story, what is the real problem? Where is the battle line drawn?

At first glance, it sure seems like the real problem is the big guy. He is a giant problem. And the battle line clearly runs down the Valley of Elah.

But, the narrative gives hints that in God’s economy Goliath is not the real problem, and the battle line is not primarily in the Valley of Elah.

The real battle and the giant problem actually appears in 1 Samuel 17:11: “When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

The real problem is fear, and so the battle line is actually drawn in the hearts of the people.

Why is that the real battle? Because the Lord had told his people over and over that He is with them and will care for them, so they should not fear but trust Him.

One example of this encouragement comes from the Book of Joshua. As Israel enters the Promised Land and a new era of leadership, the Lord tells Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, ESV). The people of God are told to do the exact opposite of what they are doing in 1 Samuel 17:11.

This battle against fear was the same battle the Israelites had waged in their hearts the first time they tried to enter the Promised Land in Numbers 13-14, but they had lost that battle. They saw giants in the land and were afraid, and, in response to their fear, the Lord said, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?” (Numbers 14:11, ESV).

It’s not about the giants.

In each case, the problem was not the circumstances. God could handle the circumstances. So the battle was not “out there” but in the heart, and it was a battle of belief. Would they believe God? Would they trust him? Would they rely on him? Or would they fear?

And we might ask ourselves the same questions.

There will always be giants and challenges in life, but these situations are no problem for the living God. The real problem is whether we will trust God and his promises. Will we trust God in the face of such difficulties? Or will we be afraid? That’s the real battle.

And that is the first battle David wins.

Of course, our minds tend to first go to the physical battle David has with Goliath. But the first battle David wins is against fear.

David first goes to Saul and says, “Let no man’s heart fail because of [Goliath]” (1 Samuel 17:32). David is fighting fear. He then moves immediately to focusing his trust on the Lord. Unlike the Israelites in Numbers 14:11, David remembers the mighty works God had done in the past and concludes he can trust the Lord with this problem: “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” (1 Samuel 17:37).

And with the heart battle won, “David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:48).

May we mimic David here. In the face of a giant problem, may we focus be on the Lord and trust him. Then, let us run out to meet the problem! Not because we are strong but because we are sure the Lord is.