The Valley of Elah is a long, shallow valley in Israel and the West Bank best known as the place where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath.

EXCEPT FOR ONE

As I looked across the same valley where young David defeated Goliath, I felt motivated by David’s courage—and challenged to exemplify that quality in my own life. David was used greatly by God because He trusted in God’s ability to fight his battles. The story of David and Goliath is an excellent example of how God exalts the weak and humbles the proud.

The Bible tells us that Goliath was so intimidating that whenever the Israelites saw him, they all ran away in great fear.Unfortunately, this remarkable display of cowardice only emboldened Goliath. For over forty days, Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified (1 Samuel 17:8-11). 

These were highly trained men of war; why were they afraid? Maybe it’s because the battle with Goliath had to be fought alone. One man needed to be brave enough to take on this massive giant and fight one-on-one. Not even Goliath’s haughty threats and blasphemous taunts were enough to inspire even an ounce of courage from these worried warriors. Each one of them was focused on fear and forgot the source of their strength—except for one. 

We can all be thankful that a shepherd boy named David chose to focus his energy on the size of his God instead of the size of his opponent. After hearing the boastful words that Goliath hurled at the Israelite army, David asked the men standing near him, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Courage isn’t the absence of fear (who wouldn’t be scared to fight someone twice their size?) but rather moving forward despite feeling afraid. David trusted the Lord, but he still had to personally get in the ring with the giant and he had to do it alone. David showed great courage because he was willing to lay down his life—if that’s what it took—in order to defeat the enemy. 

David bravely stepped into the fight, and when he did, he declared, “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 defied” (1 Samuel 17:45).

As Goliath, the Philistine champion, moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. David then used Goliath’s own sword to cut his head off. As soon as Goliath’s head was removed, the Israelite army declared a great victory through the selfless, courageous actions of David. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, it was their turn to run away in fear! 

The more I study my Bible, the more I realize that every book—from Genesis to Revelation—all point to Jesus. The Old Testament is Christ concealed and the New Testament is Christ revealed. You find Him everywhere because Jesus is the hero of the entire Bible. 

In Genesis 3:15, God told Satan that a Savior would arise who would crush his head. Like David did with Goliath, Jesus showed great bravery and trust in God the Father because He was willing to go into the battle for our souls alone, in order to defeat the terrifying enemy. David defeated Goliath by cutting his head off with his own weapon, while Jesus defeated the devil with the serpent’s own weapon of choice—death. Jesus crushed the serpent’s head at the cross and reclaimed the keys of death and hell. 

His sacrificial actions disarmed the enemy and paved a way for us to share in the fruits of His triumph! David and Jesus did their parts, now it’s your turn. Trust Jesus alone to save you and when you do, the giant has no choice but to fall. 

"...greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)