David and Goliath

"It's a David beats Goliath story!" As a sports fan, I have heard this phrase used countless times when referring to major upsets. Whether it's the 1983 North Carolina State upset of Houston in the NCAA Tournament, or the victory of the USA Hockey Team over the Soviets in the Olympics, David and Goliath is used when the underdog and little guy defeats the giant, the overwhelming favorite. In church life, the story of David and Goliath is often used as motivation for fighting your giants, and standing strong even when you look defeated. You are David, it has been said, and with God on your side, your giants will fall. But maybe, that is not the real point of this story. Maybe we aren't David, but we are supposed to identify with Israel. And maybe David isn't the true hero of the story, but gives us a picture of how God raises a rescuer who fights the battle for His people, and then gives them the victory and the benefits. More than any other person in the Bible with the exception of Moses, David's story is full of pointers that lead us to Jesus, who is the True and Better David. So, we will look at how this 9 foot giant fell, and see how it actual pictures the way God always rescues and saves His people.