GOD’S YOUNG CHAMPION by Glance Maccjaf V. Asuncion
Brothers and sisters in Christ, peace be with you! Our text this morning is found in 1 Samuel 17:45, “Then said David to the Philistine, you come to me with a sword and with a spear, and with a shield but I come to you in the name of the Lord of host, the God of the armies of Israel.”
Championship games are fascinating. Be it in basketball, volleyball, boxing, wrestling, biking, marathon, etcetera, we always love to see champions.
In the Bible, there is one champion who had never been defeated in his whole life. He was a champion in battle. He was a soldier of the mighty Philistine army, and he had helped the armed forces of the Philistine to be the best military power in the world.
One morning, he stood on a hillside surrounded by his army and hurled a challenge to the army of Israel which was camped on a hill across the valley. “Send your best soldier out to fight me,” he shouted. “If he destroys me, we will be your servants. But if I kill him, Israel shall be our slaves.”
Brothers and sisters, it was one of the most fateful moments in the history of the people of God. The battle had been reduced from a battle between armies to a contest between two men. Goliath was 9 feet tall. He was a big, big, big man. And he was really an expert in man to man combat.
Every man of Israel trembled. Every time the giant’s voice roared calling for a fight. Even king Saul of the Israelites was afraid. No one had the courage to answer the challenge.
So the king sent out for volunteers. But there was none. Then he offered rewards, “The man who fights for Israel shall marry my daughter and his family will never have to pay taxes again. But still there was no one who would accept the challenge – except one – and he was but a boy!
Who was this bold warrior? How old was he? What kind of man was he? Does he have an experience in battle? The Bible says, he was but a young boy. Wow, did you know that? Young boy, the Bible says. Young like you, like me. Not a senior citizen. Young boys can do great things! Young boys can become champions!
History tells us that young people have always played an important role in the history of the world. There are many examples of young people who have done great things for the Lord. There was Joseph who interpreted the dream of a pagan king. There were Daniel’s three friends who refused to bow before the golden image. There was the boy Timothy who assisted St. Paul in his missionary journey. There was a young servant girl who showed General Naaman the way to a new body and a new life.
So it is not surprising to see a young boy stood up and accepted the giant’s challenge, and said, “I volunteer.”
But the soldiers were not happy to see that brave young boy by the name of David. His brothers scolded him. “You have no experience,” they said, “you are but a boy. Go home and take care of the sheep!”
David stepped up and said, “I am your man. And who is this uncircumcised Philistine to defy the army of God? I will fight this giant if no one else will.” And everybody laughed at him. “You are just a kid,” they said. “Go home and put on your diapers!”
But David wouldn’t go. “I know, I can win,” he said. “Even if I am a boy, I have an experience with God. I know Him. I talked with Him. I walked with him on the hills. I called Him by His name and He called me by mine. Once I was attacked by a bear, but I killed it by the Spirit of God. A lion also attacked me but I took him by the beard and killed him by God’s power. I know God is with me.”
This time, I am sure God will use me again to kill this giant, David assured the king and the soldiers.
The Bible says that young man shall see visions… the old men shall dream. That is one of the differences between youth and old people. Old people are afraid. They look at the past. But the young in heart… the youth in faith have a vision of the future. They are daring to dream the impossible dream, to fight the unbeatable foe, to bear the unbearable sorrow – yes to reach the unreachable star, says a very popular song.
Forty days and forty nights, the giant was calling for a fight. But no one wanted to fight. The king did not want to fight. The soldiers were afraid to fight. But the boy David said, “I will fight!”
Young people, Christianity is so stimulating because it gives us something to do. It offers a cause, a purpose big enough to risk your whole life into. It gives you something to be, to stand for, to roll up your sleeves for. It gives you something to fight for.
So it was told and retold, over and over again. David came out to the battlefield with a sling shot in hand. No battle gear for his body, but his own shepherd clothes and a rod. Seeing him the giant roared, “Am I a dog that you came with a stick?”
David picked up a stone and placed it on a sling, aimed it to the giant and released it with the might of God. And that one little stones went straight into the giant’s head and Goliath came tumbling down. With the giant’s sword David cut Goliath’s head and showed it to the whole armies and the Philistines fled.
My friends, this is a story of long ago, but it is a story that never dies. Every day, we find giants along the way even in our time. It could be our fears or weaknesses to reach out to people. We might not have the courage to share God’s love to others. Let us not be afraid of making a mistake for it will be the biggest mistake of all if we do not try to win them to Christ.
Think of it! You and I can be God’s instruments in the salvation of our friends, relatives and others. Don’t worry! The God of David assured us that He will be with us even to the end of the world.
It would be a great joy to enter the Kingdom of God, to see our Lord and Savior face to face and to hear Him say, “Well done, my young champion!”