What would make a young man with no military experience run into the battle field to face a champion at war, a giant of a man who had intimidated a whole army? One word; Conviction!
David had a firm belief in the God that he served. The same God who he had a very close relationship with, the same God that had come through for him at the back side of the mountain when no one was there to clap and cheer.
1 Samuel 17:31-33
Some soldiers overheard David talking, so they told Saul what David had said. Saul sent for David, and David came. 32 “Your Majesty,” he said, “this Philistine shouldn’t turn us into cowards. I’ll go out and fight him myself!”
33 “You don’t have a chance against him,” Saul replied. “You’re only a boy, and he’s been a soldier all his life.”
If I was there, I would have told young David the same thing King Saul told him, you do not stand a chance in this battle, you will be torn into pieces. David would hear none of that, he had a deep conviction, a firm belief that no one could change, about the God he was serving and what He is able to do. There was no way anyone no matter how big they were would stand and defy Israel and David does nothing about it.
You see, that is the thing about conviction. Conviction does not allow you to run with the pack, it does not allow you to stay with the status quo. Men and women of conviction break away from the pack, they stick out like a sore thumb even when no one is willing to back them up because they are guaranteed that God is in their corner no matter how things look on the outside.
David was willing to look stupid walking out to face Goliath with no armor to protect him and with only a sling and stones. I am so sure as the soldiers were observing from their hiding positions, they must have been telling David’s brothers what a fool he was but all that changed when Goliath came tumbling down.
Reflections;
What are some of the convictions that you are holding on to and are none negotiable?
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Have you ever had to stand your ground based on your convictions in a dangerous situation? What happened?
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David was able to convince the King and the whole army to allow him to fight based on his convictions; are you able to defend what you believe in?
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