15 July | Youth
«Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord.» Jeremiah 9:23-24
Currently the tallest man in the world is a Turkish man called Sultan Kosen, at 2.46 meters. He lives with his parents, three brothers and a sister, all of normal size. Among the advantages of being tall, according to Kosen, is the ability to change light bulbs without having to use a chair. The disadvantages are mainly finding clothes and shoes that fit his body.
In the time of King David, there was a giant named Goliath, whose stature was “over nine feet tall” (1 Sam 17:4, NLT), and his name meant “remarkable.” If there were a record book at that time, Goliath's name would certainly receive special attention. It is believed that he was a descendant of Anak, who gave rise to a high and powerful people (Deut 9:2).
When war broke out between the Israelites and the Philistines, Goliath challenged a Hebrew to fight against him. It was customary, at that time, to decide a battle through just one combatant from each army. And the person who should have accepted this challenge was King Saul, due to his tall stature and appropriate clothing. But the king trembled with fear. The only brave one was the frail David.
Imagine the scene: a boy, with just a sling, a staff and five stones, challenging a giant! Let’s face it: this fight was completely disproportionate. Goliath's breastplate alone weighed about sixty kilos, and his spear weighed more than seven kilos. Furthermore, the giant was accompanied by a squire. How would the youngest of Jesse's sons defeat the largest of the Philistine army?
To make matters worse, the biblical narrative describes David being discriminated against by his brother, King Saul and the giant. But the shepherd boy's main weapon was trust in God. He did not allow enemies to mock the God of Israel. With the sling and a stone, David hit the giant's forehead and pride. While Goliath gloried in his strength, David cast all his faith in God.
You will certainly meet giants in your life. Remember that the Creator is bigger and more powerful than any of them. Give glory to the Lord and you too will emerge victorious in your battles.