“. . . and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands.”
1 Samuel 17:47 NASB

Our battles are a little different than the ones ancient Israel faced. True, we’re not up against army, holding bronze spears and shields. We’re not sitting atop a mountain around a fire, avoiding eye contact with fellow solider as we’re mocked by an invading army, feeling stuck, waiting for this conflict to end. Nor do we daily wake up with the knowledge that if we fail, we will become enslaved today.

Our mountains tend to be bills, and the person with whom we avoid eye contact sits in the car next to us during rush hour traffic. We risk enslavement to things such as food, pornography or distraction and hypocrisy. And when we are mocked, it’s not a gargantuan Philistine, waving a javelin, but it’s a fatal inner voice that tells us we lack significance and there’s no use trying.

What if those soldiers at the encampment represent average people—just regular people, trapped by the daily grind of their circumstances, uncertain of what to do next to get past this point.

There has to come a moment when we have to say, ‘Hey, I’m not meant to live like this. There has to be more.’

We love to tell the story of David and Goliath at Sunday School, but it’s not just a kid’s story. When David saw life under these circumstances, he did something about it.

What was it that made David so unique?

If our heart is revealed by our words, then we have some insight.

First David is incredulous that someone would be allowed to taunt the army of the living God. David understands his position. He belongs to God. He, along with his brothers, are not average.

Second, David declares that God will deliver him. He shows faith. If it’s real, faith requires action.

Lastly, David declares aloud to the Philistines and to God’s people that the battle belongs to the Lord. He’s full aware that he’s just a boy with a stone, but he also knows the battle was never his to begin with. This one belongs to God. David is there to proclaim His glory.

The needs of poverty can feel overwhelming, especially in our culture where most of us want to do something—but nobody is exactly sure what that is. The battle belongs to the Lord.

All we are responsible for is throwing our stone with everything we’ve got.