The giant’s incredible size loomed over the valley as he hurled insults toward the armies of Israel. He was a champion among the Philistine warriors and everyone knew why. He was huge! Several feet taller than the average man, no one could hope to survive hand-to-hand combat with Goliath of Gath. No one, that is, except a youngster named David. Armed with faith in God, David displayed remarkable courage as he challenged and defeated this giant of a man. His confrontation with Goliath is a remarkable display of faith, courage, conviction, and the victory God gives those who rely upon Him (please read 1 Samuel 17).

David’s oldest brother scolded him when they heard his proposal to fight Goliath. David responded, “Is there not a cause?” (1 Sam. 17:29). His declaration reminds us of the giants that even now defy the army of the living God. Causes still exist that move the faithful to action. We are the Lord’s army and we must, by faith, be ready to fight His foes (Eph. 6:10-18). Our faith must be strongly anchored to the power and truth of God when the enemy seems too large for us to battle. Our victory is in Christ (Rev. 11:15; 17:14; 1 John 5:4).

The enemy of false doctrine must be battled. Contending for the faith is not fashionable these days (Jude 3-4). When a soldier of the cross engages in a battle of faith with a false teacher over his false doctrine, the advocate of error often gets more sympathy, respect, and encouragement than the one standing for God’s truth. Nevertheless, where error tries to infiltrate the church and hold souls captive, a cause exists that compels the faithful to action (Gal. 2:4-5). Do you join David’s brother in faithless rebuke of a needed conflict against error? Or, in the day of battle, do you hold up the hands of those fighting the good fight of faith (Exod. 17:8-13)?

The enemy of worldliness is a formidable giant we must engage in battle. Every day the world defies the armies of the living God. Living amid the enticements of the world induces some Christians to retreat from the high and holy ground they have gained with Christ as their Captain (Heb. 12:1-2). Soldiers of Christ can be intimidated into inaction by this giant enemy of faith while others succumb to its power (1 Pet. 2:11-12; 2 Pet. 2:18-22; Rom. 13:12-14; Gal. 5:19-21). Like David, we must stand our ground and live holy lives, trusting in God to deliver us from this enemy’s assault (1 Cor. 10:13; 16:13).

The enemy of complacency is an insidious giant. Complacency is an intimidating opponent that infects Christians with a lethargic approach to godliness. Compla­cency leads to neglect, procrastination, toleration, and compromise with sin. Complacency prevents the lost from becoming Christians. It will cause the strong to grow weak and the weak to grow weaker. But, through faith, this giant can also be slain (Rom. 12:11; 13:11-12; Heb. 6:11-12).

David knew the urgency of stopping the mouth of Goliath. Like David, we must assess the causes for which we fight and be sure we are on the Lord’s side (Matt. 12:30). As soldiers of Christ we engage the enemy, with faith in God’s power to deliver us from the foe as we “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 6:10-13). 

-Edited, The Spirit’s Sword (May 19, 2002)