By Pastor Chad
The entire Israelite army trembled at the sight of the Philistine giant, Goliath. He was taller, stronger, and more confident than any that fought for King Saul. 1 Samuel 17 describes the event in detail. It isn’t hard to imagine the fear an Israelite soldier must have felt when looking upon this beast of a man.
1 Samuel 17 records that Goliath offered a challenge. Standing in the midst of two armies, the giant called out to the Hebrew warriors. If there was anyone in the Hebrews' ranks who was skilled enough and brave enough to fight Goliath, let that man face him. This is a champion’s challenge. Goliath would represent the Philistine forces. His challenger from the Hebrew camp would represent the new, fledgling nation. The winner takes all. No one was brave enough to accept Goliath’s challenge. No one, that is, until a young man named David happened along.
David was a teenager, likely not old enough or big enough to fight in Saul’s army. He was a shepherd of his father’s sheep. He had never received any training, and found the king’s own armor and weapons large and cumbersome. What David lacked in size and training, however, he made up for in passion and devotion to the Lord. After stopping by the Israelite camp to offer his brothers food and supplies, he heard the challenge from the “uncircumcised Philistine.” A righteous anger burned within him, and he–with the king’s approval–took up Goliath’s challenge. David would fight as the people of Israel’s champion.
You know the story from here. David not only defeated Goliath, but he did so easily–with just a sling and some rocks. He met the challenge no one else was willing to meet. He fought the giant no one else was able to defeat. David’s victory over Goliath foreshadowed Christ’s victory over sin, death, and Satan.
In John 16:33, Jesus tells his disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Notice the tense of Jesus’ claim (“I have overcome”). It is an accomplished feat. Christ has already won. He has already conquered that which only He could defeat. How? How did He do that? Jesus is our victor in that He bore a cross no one else could bear. He represented mankind in a way no one else could. He died and rose from the dead as no one else could. He is our champion. He is our Christus Victor. He is the Overcomer.