Battle of Champions Part 1

“David brought a rock to a sword fight”. 

–Casting Crowns

 In the book of Samuel chapter 17, we read about one of the greatest stories ever told. The text paints an incredible picture of biblical warriors and champion warfare.

So to quote my girl Sophia on Golden Girls…”Picture this! Valley of Elah! 1st Century BCE!”

Saul is king over the Israelites. The fight of their life has shown up right at their back door. A fight with the Philistines. The Israelites occupied one hill, the Philistines another, with nothing but a valley separating them. Every morning and every night, for forty days, Goliath would stand between the lines and challenge any worthy opponent to come out and fight him. Goliath was no ordinary soldier and this fight was no ordinary fight. The bible describes him as a champion and this battle would determine the outcome of the war in a single combat, a champion warfare.

David, a shepherd’s boy, worked his way into the battle line. As he stood before King Saul, he vowed to put an end to the defilement brought upon Israel by this champion. Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” Dressed in Saul’s armor, David was unable to move. So David stripped himself of all the bronze, laid down the sword that was strapped over the tunic, grabbed his staff and heading out to approach the Philistine in a single combat that would determine the destiny of his people. But first, within his hands, the same hands that killed lions and bears, he grabbed five smooth stones from a stream. No doubt, grabbing extra stones in full preparation for a fight. After all, Goliath had four brothers.

Sling and rock in hand, David went to war, without a sword.

Traditionally, from what we read in ancient history and epic poetry, champion warfare refers to a type of battle. It’s a duel between the best solider from each opposing army. The outcome sometimes determined the winner, or at least would give a huge morale boost to the winning side. Regardless of the outcome, champion warfare was the breeding ground of legends, where heroes were made and where stories began. Our story is different. God didn’t send a champion. God sent a boy, a shepherd’s boy.

I know what you’re thinking. ANOTHER UNDERDOG STORY?!? Well, you’re wrong. This isn’t an underdog story. I think the point about how God roots for the underdog has been driven home. Because I can recite story after story where God choses the most unlikely of candidates to fulfill His plan and purpose. People who have sinned, people who said no when they should of said yes, people whose name should have never even been considered. Yet, we all know who they are.

This is a story about how David brought what was HIS and was never ashamed of who HE was.

I have watched the comparison trap kill one….or two….people. We live in a society where social media likes and comments determine our worth and value. People crave it. They frantically post every day to prove how significant, how beautiful, and yes, even how spiritual they are. Because of this, it’s rare we see someone in their true authenticity. We merely see virtual character; images of who people want to be. And you can rest assured, people will absolutely hide what they do not want you to see. All the while remaining trapped in cycles where others determine our worth. The performance trap, the pride trap, the insecurity trap, the envy trap; we never rest in the recognition and acceptance that comes from God. Sadly, most are not even aware of what drives them. They simply crave the next hit of a keyboard.

Perhaps this is why I find the story of David to be one of the most inspiring in all the books of the bible. You see, David was a shepherd’s boy and looking after sheep is simply what he did. When he walked into that battle line, his motives were no different. After all, the first thing he did was ask his brothers how they were doing. He was always taking care of things. He wasn’t a warrior or a known champion. He was a protector; a defender. I can see the story unfold as if I were there. As David was talking with his brothers, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. David heard it! He rushed to Saul to do what he did best. It was time for David to look after the sheep.

“But wait,” Saul demands. “If you are going out there, you must go out as a champion”. Here’s my armor and my sword!” He had to look the part. Maybe if he just looked the part, the Israelites could trick Goliath into thinking David was something that he wasn’t. It was worth a shot and in Saul’s eye, it was their only shot. But the only thing David felt was weight. He didn’t feel like a champion. It wasn’t who David was at all. So instead, David approached the Philistine, sling and rock in his hand, as a shepherd’s boy. And the bible says, “Without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

You see, comparison leaves us trying to figure out how to get what we don’t have instead of figuring out how to give what we do. Within this trap, our drive is to acquire, obtain, prove and to build ourselves at the expense of others. This drive can never be satisfied. David stood before his opponent, fully mindful of his identity. Other people were not his standard of measurement to determine if he could win this fight, but who God made him was his standard.

And it was enough!! It was more than enough.

I want to challenge you and myself today. Please do not ever feel like your worth is measured in how other’s view you. This is not how God’s kingdom is supposed to look. Take off the king’s armor. Stand authentically in the realness and wholeness of who Christ says you are. Pray like you, speak like you, dance like you, draw like you, love like you, dress like you. Be proud to be you! It’s on this battle ground, the battle ground where we confront ourselves, where champions are made. This is what qualifies you for champion warfare. This is what makes you fearless. This is what has the power to take down any giant.

Sometimes, you can’t be afraid to bring a rock to a sword fight.