1 Samuel 17:31

1 Samuel 17:31 says, And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.  People heard what David said and reported it to Saul.  David, a young shepherd and future king became the champion of Israel, because of his faith in God and not his own abilities.  As long as we as followers of Christ put our faith in Him, we have no reason to fear what appear to be giants to the world.  Verse thirty-two adds, And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. David told Saul to not let anyone's heart fail because of Goliath, because he would go fight him.  We need to be the one that gives others encouragement when things seem hopeless by standing faithfully with God.  Verse thirty-three continues, And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.  Saul told David he couldn't fight Goliath, because David was but a youth and Goliath was a man of war.  No matter how overpowering the odds may be for us, as a Christian if we put our faith in God then we will ultimately win.  Verse thirty-four states, And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:  David shared a story about when he was keeping his father's sheep and a lion and a bear took a lamb from the flock.  Against such odds, we might say that it was only a lamb and let it go, but if we begin to compromise when the odds are against us, we will probably continue to compromise even when the cost is higher.  Verse thirty-five adds, And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.  David said that in spite of the danger, he went after the lion and killed it, and delivered the lamb out of its mouth.  This is the type faith we have today, where we are willing to take the lion by the beard if necessary to save a lost lamb.  Verse thirty-six continues, Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.  David said that he killed both the lion and the bear, I believe implying by God's help, and the uncircumcised Philistine would be the same since he defied the Living God.  We may be okay with people ridiculing us as followers of Christ, but we should never allow anyone, no matter how powerful, to get away with ridiculing God.  Verse thirty-seven says, David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.  David then stated plainly that God had delivered him from the bear and the lion and said that God would do the same with Goliath.  Saul then told him to go and said may the LORD be with you.  Of course, Saul had really put little faith in God himself.  We need a faith like David's but too often have a faith like Saul's.  Verse thirty-eight adds, And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.  Saul attempted to put David in his armor, but it didn't fit.  We don't need to attempt to arm ourselves with someone else's armor, but only with faith in God.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.  David said he couldn't go in Saul's armor, because he hadn't proved it.  We must prove our faith more than someone else's armor.  David removed the armor and went by faith alone, and so should we.