It’s Not About Me!

“Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!” 1 Samuel 17:46

I never will forget the Sunday that one of my sons (then age 5) “schooled” his teacher. They were studying the story of David and Goliath, and were talking about David’s courage in the face of the giant. The teacher innocuously asked, “Do you know what happened then?” My eager son replied – “Yeah, David killed him, and cut off his head, and then killed his brothers and cut off their heads.” The teacher was stunned…having not completely read the story.

We seem to remember only the parts of the story we want to remember. We hear the subject line of the familiar text and blissfully think, Oh yeah, I’ve heard that one before.

And it’s true. Those who grew up in the church can probably recite the general story of David’s epic battle with Goliath. And even many of those who didn’t have the benefit of growing up in Sunday School can probably get the main plot without too much trouble.

But I’m going to meddle with your thinking a bit today and ask a penetrating question that will help you begin to open your eyes in a new and exciting way as you read Scripture. Ready?

Why did God allow David to win – to kill Goliath and chop off his head?

Was it because God hated tall people? Was it because God liked the way David played his harp? Was it all about Israel versus the Philistines? Was it because God flipped a coin as he saw the epic unfolding and let the coin decide?

Absolutely not. It was for one reason and one reason only. So that the world would know God. It wasn’t about David, it wasn’t about Goliath, it wasn’t about the Israelites or Philistines – this epic battle played out on the edge of the hill country in Judah was all about God making Himself known to the world.

God is passionately committed to making His name known. He will use every means available to garner the spotlight. Why? Because He is worthy to receive the worship of every person on the planet.

Thanks for taking the journey with us as we equip and encourage pastors and church leaders to share the fame of His name in the difficult places of the world.

David