It was not what I was expecting at all. I had in my mind (thanks to flannel-graph and cartoons) a dry valley, covered in rocks and sand, with small stream running through like an oasis. I envisioned two sandy hills on either side, towering into the air. But It wasn’t like that at all. It was a peaceful green plain, with small hills on either side, and a happy bubbling stream running through the middle. This was the famous valley of Elah, where the giant Goliath met his demise.
As I think back on that moment on the tour bus and how different I expected the battlefield to be, I think about David and how unexpected a hero he was. Lets face it, we normally think of war heroes as being gutsy, muscle-bound elites, trained to the nth degree, with an impressive armament at their disposal. David had none of this! He was nobody, a teenager, a lonely shepherd, who it seems was nearly forgotten by his family. He had no experience in battle and when he was offered the best weapons, he refused, opting instead for a simple sling and five smooth stones. From a tacticians perspective he should have failed. And yet he succeeded. He did the unexpected. What was the secret to his success?
David had a cause: God’s Glory 1 Samuel 17:29
When David came to the battle, he was horrified at the blasphemy that was being poured out. He was horrified to see God’s people quaking before the mockery of Goliath. David had a holy cause, the cause of the glory of the Lord. Jealous for God’s glory, He took a step of faith.
David had a confidence: God’s Power 1 Samuel 17:36
David had seen God deliver him before. On the lonely hills outside of Bethlehem, David pursued God. He prayed, he sang, he meditated. He knew how to get ahold of God. By God’s power he killed both a lion and a bear. Because of this David knew that he could trust God to deliver the nation of Israel. His experience of God as a shepherd gave him confidence as a warrior.
David had a commitment: God’s mission 1 Samuel 17:48
Because David had confidence in God, he was willing to put himself at risk. He didn’t just talk about the problems and suggest that someone do something about it. He owned the problems and did something to fix them. While the others in the army hunkered down, quaking in their foxholes, David took a bold step forward. Knowing the risks, knowing he could die, David was confident in the power of his God. This giant, as big and as bad as he was, was no match for the power of God. He took a risk and God delivered in a powerful way.
David is not that different than you or me. God is not looking for great heroes with incredible natural ability, God is looking for weak people who understand they are weak, but know how to get ahold of God! Do you want to change the world? Do you want to make a difference in your family, youth group, church, and neighbourhood? You can! Like David, be motivated by the glory of God. Get ahold of God’s cause! People are dying and going to hell! They need to be saved. Christians are living for the world, they need to be revived! Develop a personal relationship with God. Learn to get a hold of Him in prayer. Pray in faith and expect God to work. Then take bold steps. As you see God answer prayer you will have more confidence to attempt bigger and bigger things for Him!
Will Esayenko is an evangelist from Alberta, Canada. He was trained at Baptist College of Ministry in Menomonee Falls, WI. He traveled twice with Bobby Bosler as a team captain doing youth evangelistic work during his college years. It is his goal to see a new church planting movement established in Western Canada.
