Overcoming Obstacles To Becoming a Champion

The story of David and Goliath is used regularly in our society to illustrate the struggle of someone who finds themselves facing insurmountable odds.  But as I have said throughout this series, David didn't just stumble into this circumstance, he fought to be there facing Goliath in the name of the Lord.  And if you read the account in I Samuel 17, there were several obstacles that David had to overcome before he ever found himself standing beside the brook at Elah.  Remember, David was just a teenager.  He had been a musician in the king's court for a while, playing the Iron Age equivalent of Muzak so that Saul's temper wouldn't flare up, but then he was sent back home and, as the youngest, was once again relegated to tending the sheep.  The one annointed to be Saul's successor as king of Israel, sitting on a rock watching the sheep graze.  So the first obstacle that he had to overcome was the common problem of inertia, getting started.  Many Christians live their entire Christian lives thinking, "One of these days, I'm gonna really do something for the Lord.  One of these days, I'm gonna make a difference."  And yet they never take that first step toward active service for God.  David's first step was to be the lunch delivery boy.  His father said, "Here, take these cheese sandwiches down to your brothers and bring me back a little report on how things are going."  So, off David went.  But when he got to the battlefield, he ran into another obstacle.  When David heard about the "Goliath predicament," he got stirred up.  How could this pagan Gentile be allowed to say the things he was saying against God and God's armies?  But as he looked around him, all he saw were eyes filled with fear.  And that's when the leader in David kicked in.  He pulled out his little soap box and started to proclaim the necessity for someone to stand up for the name of the Lord.  Someone had to vindicate God by dispatching this bully with a glandular problem.  And David's words were starting to have impact, when His big brother, Eliab, showed up. Now when you read this story, don't forget that it hasn't been that long since Samuel had overlooked, if not rejected, Eliab in order to annoint David king.  So maybe it was jealousy or maybe it was just a big brother's tendency to criticize the baby, but Eliab unloaded on David.  His words cut deep, implying that David had no right to be here, his job was insignificant and maybe he was too, he was arrogant and his motives were wrong.  Wow, Eliab, tell us what you really think!  David had seen the need and had stepped up to face it, but before he could ever confront the giant, he had to deal with criticism from someone who should have been his biggest supporter.  But David didn't let that stop him.  He simply answered, "Is there not a cause?"  As Christians, we must get past our petty differences, some that come from unexpected sources and are deeply painful, and we must focus on the cause, the mission, the giant that is in our path.  David turned from Eliab and continued to address the soldiers trying to motivate them to fight this battle, but in the end, David was the only one willing to take the risk and fight the giant.
When David was brought before King Saul, he faced more obstacles.  At this point David was attacked with doubt about his qualifications and his methods.  The king said, "You're just a kid.  Surely you can't do this."  Once David insisted that he was the man....uhh, or boy... for the job, then he faced another hurdle.  Saul insisted that if David was going to do this, that he needed to do it the way that Saul wanted it to be done.  Saul said, "Here, use my armor."  But it didn't fit David and it wasn't the weapon that God had already shown David how to use effectively.  Many Christians get caught in the trap of trying to do things the way that they have always been done or like old Professor Hornblower used to do it, when God may have a unique pattern and method that He has called for them to use.  David had to fight the battle using the weapons that God had provided and proven.  When David got to the brook at Elah, he found himself face to face with Goliath, and here he had to deal with the most difficult obstacle yet, his own fear.  Goliath saw David heading his way and he began to laugh and mock.  He threatened David that he was going to feed him to the birds.  If David was going to give in to fear, that would have been where it would have happened, but David was walking in faith and all of Goliath's threats slid off like water off a duck's back.  When David stood up after choosing his five smooth stones, there was no turning back. 
We need to remember that if we are going to be champions for God, then we are going to face obstacles.  We are going to have to deal with criticism from unexpected sources.  We are going to have to overcome the doubts of those around us.  And we are going to have to face our fears with faith that God is going to show up.  And we need to keep practicing with that slingshot! :0)