True Courage

If you haven't read the actual account of David and Goliath in a while, look in I Samuel 17. It's an amazing true story: The Philistine army had God's people cowed at the presence of this giant (9'9") who defied them. Not one man in Israel's camp had the fortitude to stand up to him.

But the teenage shepherd David, youngest of eight sons, brought food to his brothers who were in the army and heard the giant's challenge. He was amazed at the fear displayed by God's people and wanted to answer Goliath. He told King Saul, "The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of the Philistine."

He refused Saul's armor and weapons and chose his shepherd's staff, sling, and five smooth stones.

When Goliath saw David coming, he made fun of and cursed him. But David, full of faith, replied, "I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD deliver you into my hand…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."

It didn't take five stones; it only took one to dispatch the giant. Afterwards, the Israelite army had courage to defeat the Philistine army. Courage is contagious!

What need we fear as long as we have true faith in the LORD? No matter how big the evil giant, the LORD is far, far greater. Let's enCOURAGE one another to greater faith and fortitude.