What do you think of when you read the story of David and Goliath? Sunday School? A children’s talk? It’s one of those stories that we seem to think is just right for children, it’s a simple story of a young man’s faith resulting in a great victory. As a result of this we don’t really think too much about it’s relevance to adults.

Actually, this story is NOT FOR KIDS!

Perhaps the story should be called David and Saul, because Goliath only plays a bit part. In fact after we are first introduced to him he is simply called ‘the Philistine’ – he doesn’t even warrant a name.

So, what is really going on in this story, for us grown ups? Well, Saul, the king, the leader in battle, the adult is sitting on his hands waiting. He can see the enemy, he knows where the battle lines are drawn, he has experience and authority and yet he is doing nothing. Think of David’s older brother, Eliab, when David comes to enquire, his brother as good as tells him: “You’re too young to know anything about fighting a war, go home.”

Somewhere in our Christian lives we become jaded, battle worn, loaded with the cares of the world. Somewhere down the line we find that we have more in common with Saul than with David. Yet, although David is young, he is a man, and he proves that in a wonderful way, with God’s help.

You see, the point of this piece of history is to show that as mature men and women in God’s kingdom we need to keep our eyes fixed on God rather than on the enemy, or on this world, which for now is the enemy’s domain. As grown up Christians we need to see that God’s glory is everything and that God will work in us and through us and will do great things for His kingdom if we would just take Him at His word and act.

By this point whatever relationship Saul had with God was gone. He had done his own thing in his own way too often. David had a moment by moment trusting relationship with God that had seen off bears and lions, not to mention older brothers! His action was a natural product of his walk with his God. His walk, his faith and his actions are an example to every grown up man and woman who is a part of God’s kingdom.