Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1–50
So let's start today's study by setting the scene.
There’s a valley in front of you. On one hill, Israel’s army (God’s people) standing frozen in fear. On the other hill, the Philistines, with one massive, armored warrior stepping out daily to taunt them.
Goliath was terrifying. He stood over 9 feet tall, decked out in bronze armor, and carried weapons that probably weighed more than a grown man. For forty days, he came out mocking, taunting, and daring someone, anyone, to come fight him.
But no one moved.
Until David showed up.
Now let’s remember, David wasn’t there to fight. He was just delivering snacks to his older brothers. He didn’t have a sword. He wasn’t even in the army. But when he heard Goliath defy the God of Israel, something in David’s spirit couldn’t let that slide.
“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
— 1 Samuel 17:26 (ESV)
While everyone else saw a giant that was too big to fight, David saw a God too powerful to lose.
Courage Doesn’t Always Look Like Confidence
David’s courage didn’t come from his strength, it came from his faith. He remembered how God had helped him fight off a lion and a bear while protecting his sheep. He knew this moment wasn’t any different.
“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
— 1 Samuel 17:37 (ESV)
That’s huge. Sometimes we think courage means feeling unshakable. But courage, in a biblical sense, is simply trusting God enough to step forward, even when everything in front of you looks impossible.
And here's the thing: David didn’t wait until he was fully equipped or perfectly positioned. He stepped forward with what he had, a sling, five smooth stones, and a whole lot of faith.
Faith Moves You Forward
This story isn’t just about a big guy getting knocked down. It’s about what happens when someone chooses faith over fear.
David ran toward the battle. Not away from it. And with one stone and one shot—he dropped the very thing everyone else had been hiding from.
But don’t miss this:
The real victory wasn’t in the stone - it was in the faith behind it.
What About Us?
You and I may not be squaring off against a giant in a battlefield, but we’re definitely facing things that can feel just as intimidating.
It could be fear, anxiety, insecurity, sickness, addiction, doubt, criticism, or something no one else even knows you’re carrying. And when those things stand in front of us day after day, it’s easy to freeze, just like Israel’s army.
But David’s story reminds us that the battle is never ours alone.
“...the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hand.”
— 1 Samuel 17:47 (ESV)
That truth changes everything.
We don’t fight alone. And we don’t fight with our own strength. We fight with faith—faith in a God who is bigger than any giant, stronger than any fear, and faithful through every valley.
Reflection Questions:
- What’s the “giant” in your life right now that feels overwhelming?
- Are you facing it with fear… or with faith?
- Have you ever looked back and seen how God delivered you before? How can remembering those victories fuel your faith today?
- What “stones” (gifts, tools, experiences) has God already placed in your hands to help you move forward?
Coming Up Next:
Part 3 – When a Godly Man Falls
David was bold and full of faith—but he wasn’t flawless. In the next part of the study, we’ll step into one of the most broken, heartbreaking moments in David’s life. And we’ll look at how God doesn’t abandon those who mess up… He meets them with grace.