The story of David and Goliath is well known, but the popular, commonly known version seems to miss a few things out. For example, kids in Sunday school never hear about the bit when David hacks Goliaths head off! More importantly, God is rarely mentioned when people retell this story, even though, as far as David is concerned, God is the main focus.
David vs Goliath gets used as an underdog tale - "David took what skills he had and conquered the giant, If you believe in the abilities you've got then you can conquer the giant obstacles in your life" It's like a motivational pep-talk to get you to believe in yourself. The reality of what happened is very different. David sums up the point when he says to Goliath...
"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 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." (v45-47)
As far as David was concerned, this was not an example of his abilities or strength, or strength of character. This is an example of God's strength in David's weakness. David was not a match for Goliath. David didn't not win because he had self belief, he won because he believed in the strength of God. The answer for my problems is not to believe harder that I can overcome them, it's to believe in the God that can.
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