“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47
David and Goliath’s story is a viral story in the Bible from which Christians (even non-Christians) are taking inspiration.
I heard it when I was attending Sunday school as a boy, read it in Bible storybooks and even until now, I would reread it from the Bible when I face big trials in life.
The story is so familiar to us that most of us would readily refer to big trials gravely affecting our lives as “Goliath”. Then we would pray to God to send us our “David”, anchoring our faith in God’s promise of strength, courage and deliverance as He had empowered the shepherd boy, David.
Isn’t David’s prayer in 1 Samuel 17:47 seems to give resounding echoes as we imagine ourselves being in a similar situation? “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves, for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Does God really send His “David” every time there are “Goliaths” challenging our faith and existence?
Well, I believe so. God always sends His “Davids” to rescue us from every precarious situation that we are in.
Let me share you my life experience.
In the last quarter of 2009, I faced the grim possibility of quitting my Central Philippine University job. I found myself the focus of harassment and persecution by no less than the university president himself.
When I worked as Director of Communications on 1 June 2009, I discovered that the work students assigned in the Information Office, which was under my stead, were not honest with their daily records. I reprimanded them and filed a complaint to the Work Student Service Program office for investigation and possible disciplinary action.
Then I also questioned why these work students got the yearly outstanding rating despite their irregularities in their work and daily time record. I was surprised that on two occasions, the president confronted me, telling me to go “slow” with these work students. My formal complaint was never responded to.
Ironically, three of these dishonest work students ended up being assigned to the president’s office the following semester.
One very heavy straw that the CPU President placed on the camel’s back was when my salary/benefit was diminished. They said I don’t deserve to receive an honorarium because I was transferred from director to assistant chaplain, which does not have a monthly honorarium.
However, the straw that broke the camel’s back was when after bearing receiving a meagre diminished salary for several months, I got a very insulting text from the president one Monday morning, telling me, “we need chaplains who do their job.”
Realizing that it’s about time that I do something to redeem my dignity, I filed a case with the National Labor Relationships Commission, which included, among others, a complaint about the illegal diminution of salary and benefits.
My journey to search for justice wasn’t easy. It was a “Goliath” in itself. Some commented that I would never win the case. Two noted Centralians talked to me and told me to give up the case because I was fighting a “Goliath.”
Those who have the wisdom to know what’s just and unjust encouraged me to be strong and pursue my fight for justice.
Remembering the story of David and Goliath, I prayed and asked God to send me His “David”.
Please read my next post where I shared about the “David” whom God sent to defeat my “Goliaths” by CLICKING on the button below:
PHOTO CREDIT: The illustration used in this post was taken from Google. Credit goest to the owner.
I can relate to this! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing Sir Jonan, it was a very tough trial but we know that if God is with us who can be against us.
That’s the reason it’s very important that we always allow God to go ahead of us by handing over our life’s circumstances to Him.