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 everyone in Israel (1 Sam. 9:2). God anointed Saul as king over Israel under His rule and oversight. That is what the anointing really means – set apart for God’s use. God remained Israel’s Commander-in-Chief. So, why was King Saul hiding from the Philistine giant (1 Sam. 17:11)? Why the insult of Goliath’s intimidation (26)?

Unfortunately, that’s how we behave most of the time when life confronts us with challenges beyond us. We often evaluate the situation by magnitude, what it communicates to us, and the power it packs. We then evaluate our inadequacy and bemoan our doom. Fear grips us, and we forget our own stature in Christ – giants like no other and conquerors in Christ Jesus (Rm. 8: 37). Poor souls!  Our faith fails under attack (Lk. 8:25).

Enter a young man from Bethlehem, David, the forgotten son of Jesse (1 Sam. 16:11). Israel did not know him as their king in waiting. But God did, because of the anointing. Never forget that.

Your elevation has not come yet, but God’s anointing on you has already placed you there. People may not see it, but you are who God says you are. So, walk with confidence and trust in Him who mandates and enforces.

David knew this truth when he walked onto the scene polluted by Goliath’s proud and boastful words (19:22-24). A lion and a bear couldn’t survive his strength under God’s anointing (34-35). So, who was this boastful giant against Israel?

David was young, but he knew the history of Israel – how God redeemed Israel out of powerful Egypt. He knew about the miracle of 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 in God’s deliverance. He knew what King Saul failed to apprehend, 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 is the attitude of faith that overcomes the giants in our lives.

This kind of faith stands on the incontrovertible truth that God is the God of the hills and the valleys (1 Kings 20:28). He is 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 His children.

So, why didn’t Saul know this? Why can’t we embrace this truth with careless abandon, as David did?

Maybe, we must examine our hearts to determine its station. Is it set after the Lord Jesus or in our own abilities? “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?