This week I read one of my all-time favorite Bible stories from when I was a young boy. It’s the story of David and Goliath. I think most of us are familiar with this section of scripture. If not, you can read it in 1 Samuel 17.
It’s a story that has become a popular analogy in life. In sports they often talk about the David’s versus the Goliath’s: where a weaker “underdog” team is playing against a more superior and dominant team. I know many of us love to root for the underdog because we love to see the “Giants” come crashing down.
As I read through these scriptures once again, however, there was a thought that kept stirring in my mind: “Was David really the underdog?” When we use the analogy David versus Goliath, we are referring to David as the underdog. But was he actually the underdog?
Now if David was going out to fight Goliath in his own strength, then yes I guess we would have to say that David was obviously the underdog. But David was going out to fight in the strength and power of the Lord, so I don’t think we can actually call him an underdog.
As I was processing these thoughts, numerous scriptures started coming to my mind. “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13 “Greater is He who is in me, than he that is in the world.” –1 John 4:4 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” –Romans 8:31
All these verses point to the fact that David wasn’t the underdog here: Goliath was. David knew the victory was the Lord’s. There was no doubt in his mind. Listen to what he says to Goliath before he takes him down, “For the battle is the LORD’s, and HE will give all of you into our hands.” And David wasn’t just talking about Goliath here; he was talking about all the Philistines.
David didn’t see himself as an underdog, because he knew God was on his side. How often do we see ourselves as the underdog when, in reality, we’re not? Yeah, we may see giants out in front of us and they may even be taunting us like Goliath was. But if God is for us, who can stand against us?
The key is that we’re facing these “giants” in the strength and power of the Lord. We face challenges and difficulties everyday. We continuously come up against these “giants” in life. But, like David, we can experience victory. Like David, we actually have the upper hand when we walk in the power of the Lord. Let’s stop approaching life as underdogs and start moving forward in God’s strength and power!
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