Facing the Giants

Normally when we think of David facing a giant, it would be Goliath.  An epic battle of a young boy against a larger-than-life, seasoned soldier that would have anyone quaking in their boots.  But David rose to the challenge for the sake of God's Name and defeated Goliath with a slingshot and a stone.

This story is one of several events that put David on the throne as King of Israel and is quite well known.

But, lesser known, David had to battle giants again...and again.  2 Samuel 21:15-22 speaks of four more giants that were killed by David's servants.  The first giant mentioned in this group had David on the ropes and he needed help.  David's servants were the ones that actually killed the four giants in four different battles in this passage.

We sometimes think that when we gain victory over something in our life that we shouldn't have to face it again.  We feel disappointed if we find ourselves in the same battle again.  This disappointment can cause us to become weary and weaken our defences, compromising on the standards we set for ourselves. We need help just like David did.  The enemy knows our weaknesses and will try to take ground at a place where we have gained a victory - just because we are less likely to keep defences up.

We need to realize that we never face our giants alone.  God has given us the victory, we just need to keep the standard (Phil. 3:16, 2 Tim. 1:13).  In battle, a standard is a goal that is visible, that is used to mark a rallying point, usually to defend that spot.  In life, we need to recognize where we need to set standards, where we ask for help to defend those spots in our life that are under attack.  God has given us a loving community of believers that are able to pray us through, we just have to be humble enough to ask for help! 

The best way to face your giants is on your knees in prayer.

Philippians 3:16
"Let us hold true to what we have attained..."

Philippians 4:1
"Therefore, my brothers, whom I love, stand firm in the Lord!"

2 Timothy 1:13
"Retain the standard of sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."