When I was just a young girl, I sang a song written by Sandy Night called “Little David.” Here are the lyrics to this ever-so-familiar story.
Verse 1
Little David oh so small, Goliath oh so tall,
Odds were just too high for Little David.
But, He shook off all of His load.
For with the power of God, he was clothed.
He said, The battle’s not mine, I give it to you, Lord, it’s thine.
Chorus
The battle’s not mine said Little David, Lord it’s thine,
I’m in your favor.
I’ve givin’ it all to you, for I knew not what to do.
And I’m so glad You’ve let me see,
That You’re really all that I need.
For the battle’s, not mine, I give it to you,
Lord, it’s Thine.
Verse 2
Now Little David unafraid, before the giant
he stood that day,
Seems to be the end for Little David.
Just like the lion and the bear, he slew.
The giant shall come down too.
He said the battle’s not mine; I give it to You.
Lord, it’s thine.
Most of us have heard this Bible story since we were just a child. It was always a favorite! How a little shepherd boy could defeat a giant, was intriguing and amazing! I’m sure you’ve heard this story 100 times about how David had to kill a lion and a bear before facing the giant. How David had to first learn to trust God in the smaller things, and in the end, he was able to do the unthinkable, kill a giant, through the power and strength of the Lord. Yes, yes, and yes! All of this is so very true, with so many lessons to be learned. But I propose a twist to this ever so familiar story. David did kill a lion and a bear, he slew the giant with a rock and a sling, but he first obeyed. You see, David would have never been able to defeat the giant if he hadn’t simply obeyed his father’s instructions.
1 Samuel 17:17-18
17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren;
18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
David’s older brothers had all gone to battle with Saul, and David was left behind doing his father’s business (that’s a lesson in itself), tending the sheep. Jesse, his Father, told David to take his brothers some food and check on them on the battlefield. If David had not obeyed and trusted his father, or if he had rebelled and refused to listen, he would have never even had the opportunity to defeat Goliath. Simple obedience allowed him greater opportunities to be used by the Lord than he could have ever imagined.
If you’re like me, you just want to do something “BIG” for God! What you are doing for the Lord seems insignificant compared to others. Don’t be discouraged in being about the father’s business and “keeping the sheep.” God might be preparing you and proving you for something far greater than you could ever imagine. Are we willing to obey what God has given us to do today? There just might be a “Giant” that we will need to defeat tomorrow. I believe that David was learning to trust God, but God was also proving that he could trust David.
God can be trusted.
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
But can God trust you?
Luke 16:10a
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
Think on These Things ~ Obedience is still the very best way to show that you believe.