If you attended ten minutes of Sunday School growing up you probably know the story of David and Goliath.  That story is the peanut butter and jelly of Sunday School.  It's a staple.  It's got every thing, action, war, underdog, the good guy wins.  Everything!

Remember the story, David, a punk kid has to go and check on his brothers.  When he gets there he finds his brothers, and the entire Hebrew army are being mocked by an overgrown, steroid sucking Neanderthal named Goliath.  David, little ol' David goes up against the big guy with his sling and knocks his LIGHTS OUT, and then cuts his BLOCK OFF.  Pretty exciting stuff.

But what is really exciting is not David's aim, it is his speech.

1Sam 17:45 David said to the Philistine, "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. 46 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. 47 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."

He's a windy little sucker.  Cocky and arrogant with a healthy ego - no doubt.  Kind of like a kid I used to know.  But, also completely on the money as to where to put his trust.  He mentions but one thing about his giant.  He says,

"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin."

He goes up against the biggest, toughest man of his era and he kind of nods in his direction.  Nothing more.  David's focus is on something else, or someone else, God.  David's language is clear, his focus crystal.  "I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, he will hand you over to me, I'll strike you down and cut off your head, the whole world will know there is a God in Israeland that he saves, it is his battle and he will give you into our hands."  One thing about Goliath, eight things about God.  Hmmmm.

There in lays the lesson.  I think we spend way too much time telling God about all the giants in our life and the lives of whom we care about.  Way to much time.  I'm changing my ways, my conversation, and my ratio's.  It's time to quit telling God about my giants and start telling my giants about God!  God is bigger than giants.  Seriously, he is.

I know the names of your giants.  Cancer, loneliness, despair, anger, addiction, hopelessness, abuse, war, hatred, disease.  I know there names.  I have seen how they stand on the battle field of your life and mock you.  I have seen them come against you with sword and spear and javelin.  And I saw you give up the battle field.  I have seen you tuck tail and run.  I have seen it, and recognized it well, because occasionally it shows up in my mirror too.  I have a word for you, for us.

Stand fast.  Hold the ground.  Quit focusing on the giant, start focusing on your God.  Giants come, giants go, but God is with you always.  Fight your battle in the name of the LORD Almighty, know that he will hand your giant over to you.  You will know that there is a God and that he saves.  It is his battle and he will give your giant into your hands.  He did it for a shepherd boy and now he is going to do it for you. 

So, take the five smooth stones that God has supplied you with: his peace, his power, his presence, his purpose, his promise, and get back into the battle.  After all, your going to win.                                                                                                         http://theonlinechaplain.typepad.com/theonlinechaplain/2007/02/david_and_golia.html