When my son was around age 3 his absolute favorite story was David slaying Goliath. What boy doesn't love that story?
Goliath is this giant of a guy...he shows up daily to trash talk the Isrealites and God, and then there's David. David brings lunch to his older brothers out fighting the battle and witnesses Goliath's taunting.
David is angered and challenges the Isrealite army, he has a confrontation with one of his older brothers and eventually talks to Saul, the king. David convinces Saul that he has the ability to take down Goliath. He tells Saul, "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (1Sam 17)
When David goes to meet Goliath, he yells out (and this is my son's favorite part, we used to stand up and act out the whole speech David gives Goliath, making our bodies big, arms wide, and deep voices) "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled."
David goes on to describe what he plans on doing in God's name and under God's authority to Goliath, and proceeds to do exactly as he says, and David destroys Goliath and God is glorified.
That is a cherished memory of mine...I'm sure you have great memories that are similar. My son was just a toddler, and he envied the battle, he envied the hero, and learned about our great God.
My son isn't a toddler anymore. He's seven now and has the begun to experience the cruelty of the world. He understands bad language, poor attitude, selfishness and abuse...he's just beginning to see the sin that is possible. So, how do I take that little boy, who envied the warrior heart of David as he battled Goliath and apply it to today's wars?
God is holy; He is set apart. We are to be set apart too, we are to look like aliens in this world. David felt like an alien. His heart was so heavy for God he felt like set apart at times.
I feel it's the job of my family to expose my son to a new enemy. The battles will look different as he gets older, but war with the world and with his flesh will continue...but the good news is that God has already conquered it...and when it looks glum...God will prevail. John recorded what Jesus said, "“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
My son loved the story of David and Goliath because it was a great adventure and the little guy won...now we get to help him find the real Goliath's in his life...and he gets a real adventure, and guess what...the little guy will win, if he's got God in his corner.
So, what Goliath's are you facing?
How's your warrior heart doing?
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