The Man in Between: A 5-Day Plan on David and GoliathSampl

Stand Up for Jesus!

“The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. … And the Philistine said, ‘I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.’ When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” 1 Samuel 17:3-4, 1 Samuel 17:10-11 (ESV)

It should shock us to read about the army of Israel in the position described here. After all, they were the army of the living God. They had experienced great victories through God as they trusted in Him. Therefore, you would think that they would have been prepared to take on the giant Philistine challenger.

Instead, we see a sorry sight: The army of God, including their king, cowering on the mountainside for over six weeks, waiting for someone else to carry out their mission (1 Samuel 17:2, 16). To Goliath and the Philistine army, Israel’s God can’t have seemed very "mighty to save". The problem, however, was not the Lord, the problem was the army. Because they were attempting to fight in their own strength, they were intimidated by Goliath.

As with Israel’s armies, the problem in much of the church today is not that our God lacks power over all the events of our world. No, He is omnipotent. Rather, the problem is that the church too often sits on the sidelines, waiting for somebody else to take action while the world looks on and shakes its head and concludes that our God is powerless.

At this point in history, there’s a wonderful opportunity for the church to be the church. Christ has already won the battle for us. There is no need for His people to be marginalized by worldly giants who taunt and intimidate, deterring us from sharing the message of Jesus’ triumph over sin and death. Jesus has already won, and there is nothing in this world to be afraid of. The gospel is the source of our courage and, as the hymn writer reminds us, Christ Himself is guiding us: “Stand up, stand up for Jesus! … From victory unto victory His army shall He lead.”[1] It is time for you and me—who, by placing our faith in Him, have already enlisted in His army—to get off the sidelines, to charge down the hill, and to proclaim the victory that is Christ’s.

• How is God calling me to think differently?
• How is God reordering my heart’s affections—what I love?
• What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

[1] George Duffield, Jr., “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” (1858).