Young People's Group

Standing Up for the Lord

by Mitchell Tan
January 28, 2021

Can a youth stand against a giant and triumph over him? It seems like an impossible task and yet with God, nothing is impossible. David not only stood up against Goliath, he was also victorious over him. Of course, there were the naysayers who could not see beyond his youth. Saul commented that he was too young to fight against Goliath (1 Samuel 17:33). Goliath himself disdained him because he saw him as only a youth (1 Samuel 17:42). And yet, God saw beyond his age. Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. David truly had a heart for Him. This youth rose up to be “God’s man of the hour”. Let’s understand how David was able to stand up for the Lord.

1. CULTIVATION OF FAITH AND LIFE

David was a youth who took his faith and life seriously. He did not take a passive approach towards his faith and relating to God. He had a heart that determined to cultivate his faith and love for the Lord in a deeper way. He sought to cultivate his life skills like slinging so as to be proficient in it.

2. HEART

David had a heart that sought to honour the living God. When he heard that Goliath was defying the armies of the living God, he responded by standing up against him. He was determined to honour God above all else. He was most conscious of the name of the Lord God. He put his heart and soul into standing against Goliath when no one else dared. Those who honour God will be honoured by Him.

3. OMNISCIENCE OF GOD, OPPORTUNITY

God knew what David was like. He knew all his sins and weaknesses. And despite knowing all this, he was still chosen to serve Him. He knew the kind of heart that he had. David had a heart for God … a heart that sought to put Him first and to fight for Him. The Lord gave him the opportunity.

4. SERVANTHOOD

David had a servant’s heart. When he was asked to serve as King Saul’s armour bearer or to play his harp for him, he did so. When he stood up against Goliath, he was seeking to serve the Lord God.

5. EVIDENCE OF FAITH

“The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
1 Samuel 17:37

He had a heart that was full of faith and courage. When he faced a lion or a bear that had taken a lamb, he fearlessly went after it and killed it. His past experiences of the Lord’s deliverance strengthened his faith further. He had learnt to exercise much faith in God’s help and deliverance.

6. APPLICATION OF FAITH

“For the battle belongs to the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
1 Samuel 17:47

David was applying his faith, based on what he had experienced. He was able to see the Lord’s part in giving him the victory. He also saw how it was through his own hands that the Lord will achieve this. His part was to exercise faith and to stand for Him.

Young people, let’s learn to see the Lord’s hand in our lives. Let’s not be afraid to stand up for Him by applying our faith even as we face the “battles” of life. Let’s trust the Lord to give us the victory.

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