The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” 1 Samuel 17:37

He was a giant on his own – a head taller than anyone in Israel (1 Sam. 9:2). Chosen by God Almighty, Saul was anointed as king over Israel to lead them under His rule and oversight. That’s what the anointing really means. God was still in charge of Israel and remained their Commander-in-Chief. So, why was King Saul hiding from the Philistine giant (1 Sam. 17:11)? Why had he allowed Goliath to intimidate them in a way that was tantamount to insulting the God of Israel (26)?

Unfortunately, that’s how we behave most of the time when challenges of life rudely confront us. We often evaluate the situation by magnitude, what it communicates to us, and the forces and power it packs. Fear grips us, as we evaluate our inadequate selves and bemoan our doom. We forget our own stature in Christ – giants like no other, who have been made more than conquerors in Christ Jesus who gives us strength (Rm. 8: 37). Poor souls! As Jesus rebuked the disciples after He quieted the storm, “Where is your faith”? (Lk. 8:25).

Enter a young man from Bethlehem, the son of Jesse – the one his father forgot when God came to anoint a king for His people (1 Sam. 16:11). Nobody saw him as the king of Israel because he had not been coronated yet. But, David was the real king in the eyes of God because of the anointing. Never forget that.

You may not have been elevated to the position that God has for you. However, His anointing on you has already placed you there. People may not see it, but you are who God says you are, not how people see you. Walk, therefore, in that confidence and trust of Him who mandates and enforces.

David knew this truth when he walked onto the scene that was polluted by Goliath’s proud and boastful words (19:22-24). He had killed the lion and the bear in God’s power, so he possessed a personal experience of God’s saving grace (34-35). He knew the history of Israel and their God who led them to supplant the Canaanite nations. David knew about Egypt, the Red Sea crossing, and the Jericho Wall. He was schooled in the matchless name of the “Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel” (45). He was confident of His deliverance, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword and spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands” (46-47). That’s the attitude of faith that overcomes the giants in our lives.

This faith is premised on the truth that God is the God of the hills and the valleys (1 Kings 20:28). He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). He has done it before, and He will do it again, regardless of the formidable nature of the situation that confronts us.

So, why couldn’t Saul apprehend this truth? Why can’t we embrace this same truth with careless abandon, as David did?

Maybe, we must examine our hearts to determine its station – whether it’s in the Lord Jesus or in ourselves. About David, God said, “I have found a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22).

Can God say that about you?