Articles, Bible Questions and Discipleship Guides

More than 30 years ago, the boxing world was stunned by the headline: “Douglas knocks out Champ.” Mike Tyson, the undefeated heavyweight champion, had just been defeated by a little-known fighter named Buster Douglas. It was one of the biggest upsets in sports history.

Before the fight, the odds were so heavily against Buster Douglas that only one betting company even offered a chance to bet on Douglas to win. The largest bet placed on Douglas was $1,500. That winner walked away with $56,000 that night.

Now don't get excited—I'm not condoning boxing or betting. I did, however, enjoy seeing pictures of the cocky champ tasting the canvas for the first time in his life. I frankly love to see an underdog shock the experts and come out on top. 

There's a portion of Scripture that tells an underdog story about David, whose biography we began studying. It's one of the most well-known moments in human history. You probably don’t need a play-by-play retelling of that signature moment when little David stepped into the ring against a giant named Goliath. 

On the outside, Goliath would have been considered an unbeatable heavyweight. The text of Scripture describes him at around nine feet tall. We don’t know exactly how much he weighed, but we do know that the armor Goliath was wearing weighed more than 100 pounds. 

This man—two feet taller than Shaquille O’Neal and covered in armor from head to toe— approached the Israelite army every single day to challenge any soldier to single combat. 

From all external appearances, little wonder no Israelite dared to enter the ring against this Philistine champion. 

After 40 days of challenges and taunts from Goliath, David arrives on the scene. When he hears the giant’s challenge, his reaction is entirely different. 

But before we focus on his reaction, take a moment and consider how you define who will be victorious in life. Is it the strongest person, the richest person, the person with the grandest title who is truly “winning” in life? Or is it someone controlled by the Holy Spirit and committed to honoring Christ? 

I don’t think any casino would have even created a betting line for David v. Goliath. On the outside, Goliath was as obvious a winner as we could ever imagine. But beloved, no person can see inside a person’s heart, where real victory is found by those who are indwelt by God’s victorious Spirit. 

THE WORLD LIVES BY FEAR; THE BELIEVER LIVES BY FAITH. 

While every soldier in Israel’s army cowered in fear, David was determined to exercise faith. Every day, Goliath ended his challenge by saying, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day” (1 Samuel 17:10), and David reacted to this by responding, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). 

Here’s the notable distinction: the soldiers focused on the size of Goliath, but David focused on the greatness of God. Israeli soldiers saw an obstacle, but David saw an opportunity for the glory of God.

Perhaps there is something the Lord is calling you to that defies the odds? Something that requires faith over fear? Let David’s unwavering faith in the greatness of his God encourage you today to take that first step of faith. 

GOD NEVER GIVES US A CHALLENGE WITHOUT PREPARING US IN ADVANCE TO OVERCOME IT. 

When news of David’s response reaches King Saul, the king summons David and tells him that he is too young to accept this challenge. 

David goes on to describe to the king how, as a shepherd, he had experience fighting and killing wild animals—including lions and bears—when they attacked his flock. In fact, David’s famous slingshot—which we have artistically rendered on the cover of this magazine—was actually a very common tool for shepherds in those days. 

A shepherd would sit atop a hill with his flock all around him, and if he saw a wild animal lurking in the shadows, prepared to pounce, he would use a slingshot to hurl a stone toward that animal, either striking it or scaring it away. I can imagine David spent hundreds of hours practicing with his sling as he sat with his father’s sheep. Frankly, the Israelite soldiers saw Goliath as too big to master, David saw Goliath as too big to miss. 

King Saul agrees to allow David to fight Goliath, but first offers David his personal armor. David refuses and instead depends on what God had already given him—his sling and shepherd’s staff. God had already equipped him with everything he needed. 

Are there any talents in your life that need dusting off? You never know how God might use you, having already equipped you with the equipment you need to serve Him. As J. Vernon McGee used to say, “If God called you to use a slingshot, don’t try to use a sword.” That’s a good point: use what God has given you—uniquely you—to serve Him. 

CELEBRATE THE VICTORIES GOD GIVES YOU. 

After David slayed Goliath, first by knocking him unconscious with a stone from his slingshot and then by beheading him, we’re told that David “put [Goliath’s] armor in his tent” (1 Samuel 17:54). 

This trophy of Goliath’s armor will be a constant reminder for David of the victory that God gave him. Later we learn that David kept Goliath’s sword as another reminder of God’s faithfulness. I picture David reclining in his family room, looking at this massive sword hanging above his fireplace mantle. 

Keep a trophy case of your own, beloved. It might be a journal or a memento of some significant moment where God provided what you needed or used you as an answer to someone’s prayer. Charles Spurgeon once warned that “Some saints have short memories.” Let’s make sure we are constantly refreshing our memories with God’s faithfulness. 

No matter how many triumphant moments we have in life, there will be times when we feel alone, rejected, or abandoned. In these times of trial, we need tangible reminders of God’s faithfulness and goodness.