When Goliath Is Yesterday’s News
1 Chronicles 20:4-8
After God’s Own Heart: When Goliath Is Yesterday’s News (1 Chron. 20:4-8) – When David was king, his followers killed giants even larger than Goliath and it wasn’t even that significant of an event. Giant slaying leaders develop giant slaying followers.
The Original Giant-Killer
- Israel put their hope in King Saul the tall until Goliath the taller came around (1 Sam. 17:11).
- David was able to defeat the giant because he relied on God’s strength instead of his own strength (1 Sam. 17:46-47).
- When they followed a leader who was fearful of the giant, it was an unexpected phenomenon for a follower to charge the battle line (1 Sam. 18:4-7).
The Mighty Men
- David gathered a select group of warriors that were referred to as his mighty men (2 Sam. 23:8-39; 1 Chron. 11:10-47).
- Fearful of the nation losing hope as David was almost killed, the mighty men refused for him to return to any battle.
- When their leader’s strength was failing, David’s mighty men stepped up and were even more successful than their mentor (1 Chron. 20:4-8).
The Way This Applies to Us
- Giant-slaying leaders inspire giant-slaying followers.
- Most followers of God settle for mediocre obedience because they have never been exposed to anything else.
- Different seasons of life call for different types of works.
- Imitation is the greatest form of education.
- Jesus is the greater David, and he promised that his followers would do works even greater than his (John 14:12).
- Discipleship is when we imitate Jesus and inspire others to imitate him as well (1 Cor. 11:1).
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
