I am sure you know the story of the young shepherd boy who faced a huge giant who was terrorizing the whole nation of Israel. The whole army trembled every time Goliath hollowed his threats across the valley.
Along comes young David bringing lunch to his brothers. His brothers thought little of David. He was just their kid brother who watched their father’s sheep.
However there was Someone Who did not despise David, but rather called him a “man after my own heart”. Yes, you guessed it, it was God Who looked at David is this way. Why? David spent hours and hours with his harp worshiping God while he was in the fields watching his sheep.
The main focus of David’s life.
The main focus in David’s life was God. This was his strength. He knew that it was God who helped him kill the bear and the lion who came seeking to devour his sheep. Now he hears the terrorizing threats of this giant, Goliath. Instead of fearing this man, David was indignant. How dare this giant challenge God’s people like this. So he offers to face the man.
Of course he was belittled, but the situation with Goliath was so desperate that the leaders accepted David’s persuasive offer. They tried to fit him with Saul’s armor which weighed David down so he could not move. He rejected that and went off to choose 5 stones from a nearby brook.
Then he comes into the giant’s presence who of course thinks it is a joke. However, David was full of courage and had no doubt that he was going to kill this menace. His focus was not on Goliath but rather on his God.
He comes in front of Goliath saying: You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of Jehovah of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. (1 Samuel 17:45).
Then “And David put his hand into his bag and took a stone from there, and slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead. And he fell on his face to the earth” (1 Samuel 17 v49)
How did David achieve this victory? One word – Focus.
David was in such awe of God – he was not in awe of Goliath. (Tom Mullins – Christ Fellowship Florida).
Today’s question for you and me:
What is the main object of my focus? My victory or defeat depends greatly on the answer to this question.
P.S.
You can find the full story in 1 Samuel chapter 17 in the Old Testament of the Bible.
You can find archives of sermons by Tom Mullins here