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I always thought I could relate to the OT character of David. No, not because he was described as handsome, but because he was described as being the smallest or youngest, the guy who King Saul’s armour didn’t fit. He was my biblical Rudy Ruettiger, because let’s be honest, you don’t get called “little man” growing up unless you’re being offered the kid’s menu far past what your age should dictate.


But here’s a part in David’s story I recently rediscovered that led me to believe that maybe I can’t really relate to him. Before his golden moment of defeating Goliath, while persuading Saul that he was capable to take on the giant despite his youth, he depicted what his practice had been for years.


David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it." (1 Sam 17:34-35)


Ok, that’s interesting. So the miraculous defeat of Goliath was incredible, but that moment wasn’t completely foreign to David. It appears David from an even younger age had been facing his fears and fighting mightily. It was most certainly those grit-defining, character-building experiences that allowed David to step into the moment of victory God-ordained. While he was the last member of his family, shouldering one of the least glamorous roles, he shepherded his responsibility well.

This is such a good reminder about the importance of the daily fight, the fight to do what is God-honouring even when no one is looking or it’s seemingly inconsequential. The grander victory in this story depending on the daily victories of David’s faithfulness to whatever God had entrusted Him with. And we know David had this in his mind, because he tells Saul, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Sam 17:38)

We all want to say, “The LORD delivered me from…,” so take a moment to consider what small victory your focus can be on today with God’s help. And who knows, it may be part of a larger victory down the road.