What child does not love the story of “David and the Giant?” We all hoped to be able to slay the giants that we face in our own young lives using David as our inspiration since he was young himself and was able to win where bigger, stronger, older, more experienced soldiers could not.
Still today, the story fascinates me. Being the youngest child of three, I know what it is like to live in the shadows.
Here, sat little David, singing to his Lord, tending the sheep, while his older, wiser and stronger sibling was about doing the important stuff.
I never noticed David feeling pity for himself.
He goes, at his father’s bidding to check on his brothers. He finds everyone cowering in the face of a *giant*.
Instead of joining his brothers behind the rock to shake and quake in the face of the enemy he boldly stood and said, *I’ll fight him!*
Out of the brook, he takes 5 smooth stones, the rough edges removed by the adversity caused by the water moving constantly over the surface.
Let’s imagine, for a moment, that David had named each stone.
1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defiled.
Let’s suppose one stone he named Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is Present. Had he picked this stone and used it, he would be saying, “God is here, right now.”
Or what if he named one Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord will Provide. Had he picked this stone and used it, he would be saying, “God provided me the means to fight.”
Had he named a stone Jehovah-Nissi he would be saying “God is my victory.”
Or what about Jehovah-Saboath: The Lord of Armies. David would be saying God is the Lord over this battle and all of the armies of Israel.
But for tonight, let’s supposed as David randomly reached in and pulled out a stone, he pulled out the one he had named Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness.
1 Samuel 17:48 says: And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew night to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
The giant stood thinking *who is this pipsqueak??* Instead of running behind the rocks or climbing into the ditch with his big brothers, David ran to face the problem head-on.
1 Samuel 17:49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence *Jehovah-Tsidkenu,* and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead: and he fell upon his face to the earth.
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness. I love it. Not the Lord IS our Righteousness, but The Lord OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!!
What are you battling today? Have situations you are facing made you feel inferior to the *GIANTS* around you? Maybe it’s time you quit cowering from your problems and run boldly to face them. Maybe it’s time you stopped waiting for someone else to come along and take care of the problems you face and you grabbed hold to the Lord to fight for you.
Which stone will you need for your fight? Maybe you need Jehovah-Rophe: The Lord who Heals, or Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our Peace. Maybe you need Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord is my Shepherd. Or could you use the help of Jehovah-Mekeddshem: The Lord who Sanctifies.
Whatever you are facing, You are a winner! He IS Jehovah-Shammah! And His NAME IS JESUS!!!
