It Isn’t Just About You:

I recently finished the book called, “Goliath Must Fall,” by Louie Giglio.  It was a really good book that discussed the importance of getting rid of our personal giants and the problems many of us face including anxiety, fear, comfort, anger, addictions, etc.  This book was also written alongside the story of David and Goliath.  We see how David takes down the massive sized Goliath.  We see David having complete faith in God and that is the reason he was able to defeat what everyone else in the Israelite army was too afraid to do.  

The last chapter was very convicting for me, though, and I really wanted to share this with all of you.  Louie reminded us of the main reason why David decided to fight against Goliath.  If you are not aware of the story of David and Goliath, David was not a soldier in the Israelite army.  He was a shepherd boy who was told to deliver lunches to his brothers who were on the front lines. He could have easily chosen to go home after he did this simple task requested of him by his father.  

However, David saw Goliath, and then he decided to take his own shot at the giant.  Now, this is important.  David did not fight against Goliath because he really wanted to look brave and powerful.  He didn’t do this because if he won, he would achieve the awards that king Saul had promised.  It was because David heard Goliath speak ill of God, not just any god statue, but their God,the God over the Israelite people, the God of the universe.  He was not going to let him speak ill of the God he gave all the glory.

This is where Louie Giglio reminds us that these battles that we are fighting with our particular giants are not all about us. To start, we are not left alone.  God is there with us, when  we need comfort and help.  We know we have a powerful God we can rely on.  It is also not about us because we are fighting our giants for the God who saves, and the God who wants to be honored and respected above all other things.  David, again, could have just walked away from Goliath and the upcoming battle.  However, then Goliath would assume it is alright to talk about God in such a way, with no respect and no honor.  

One quote that stood out from this chapter says, “Jesus wants to take down our giants so we can walk free and have the life that he wants us to live. And he wants to do that so his name can be exalted above every other name in our world.” (Giglio, Goliath Must Fall, pg. 227) How beautiful is that?! God wants us to be able to be completely free, living away from our sins and Goliaths. He wants us to have a better life, but he also wants us to have this so he can be honored and glorified, and we can live with him in his glory at the end of days.  

The best part about all of this is God has the ability to show off his own divinity.  He doesn’t really need us.  He never needed man to show off his divine powers or strength.  At the very beginning of time, God created the heavens and the earth, and no man was there by his side to help him achieve that magnificent creation.  He has just chosen since he first created man that he was going to use them for his divine purpose.  A verse from Habakkuk 2:14 says, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”  The earth will be filled soon with the knowledge of the Lord.  We get to be on his side and help him achieve this.  We get to fight our Goliaths and help others to do that as well, all while leading them to the glory and the honor of God.  

If I had to state my Goliaths, it would be jealousy and anxiety.  I have always struggled through being jealous of others and their spiritual gifts or their particular relationships they have.  I have also had a lot of anxiety and can be way too concerned about how others perceive me, and how well I am doing a particular job.  I have always been aware of these two goliaths, and I have taken the steps to break them down.  However, I now have another reason for overcoming these goliaths.  Through breaking them down, I can give God glory and help other Christians along their walk.  

The challenge for you this week is to think through your particular Goliath in your life.  It definitely helps to be able to name them, and to bring those Goliaths to God.  He will always help you take down those goliaths.  He wants them to be taken down.  He wants them defeated, for your benefit, for an example to others, and for his ultimate glory.  Goliath may seem scary, but he has already been defeated and fallen because of the love of Jesus Christ.  You remember that and you can take down your personal Goliath.