Taking Down the Giant: Defeating Our Own Personal Goliath

As Goliath faced his seemingly ill-equipped opponent, "the Philistine looked about ... saw David, [and] disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance" (17:42). Despite Goliath's mockery of his youth and size, David valiantly declared: "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee ... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands" (17:45-47).  Upon hearing this young lad's mighty testimony of who's side he was on, Goliath charged David, seeming as if he would be able to end such foolish nonsense without any trouble.  Sticking true to his declaration, David ran to meet him in battle.  As he did so, "David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth" and died (17:49).

David, nothing more then a mere shepard boy who listened and obeyed his father, was able to defeat a foe that grown, hardened men dared not to undertake.  What made David able to defeat such an opponent?  It wasn't his size, stature, or experience in combat.  He did, quite possibly, have some skill with the sling but aside from that, what gave him the strength to stand up to this Philistine champion when every other man was faint at heart to accept the challenge?  He claimed who's side he was on.  He knew who his Eternal and Heavenly Father was and he knew the commandments that had been given to him.  He knew of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and obeyed it.  We declare our own choice of whether we are on the Lord's side or not through obeying His commandments.  Our actions, both in private and in public, are a manifestation of were our allegiance lies.  David's choices and obedience were aligned with the ways of the Lord and because of such, he was able to accomplish the impossible.  As Jesus Christ so declared, "the things which are impossible with men are possible with God", "for with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke1:37,18:27).