Righteous Indignation

This well known biblical story of David and Goliath is one that I have grown up listening to. I love the fairytale-like storyline. The Israelites were at war, but nothing was changing, they had reached a fearful impasse. Even though they knew they were fighting in obedience to God, they were locked into a state of fear and dread, as each day they lived under intense intimidation. The prized Philistine, Goliath, goaded, teased, intimidated and verbally abused his way into a place of power over the entire Israelite army.

David entered the Israelite camp to find an army crippled by fear, all looking for someone who would stand up to the giant. David’s response is very profound, “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

Immediately, David showed that he was different. He was affronted by Goliath’s words, not intimidated. When he asks for permission from King Saul to stand against Goliath, he makes the point once again, “he has defied the armies of the living God!”

You can see in David a rising of righteous indignation. It’s a powerful motivator of faith and obedience, as seen in David’s subsequent victory of Goliath. It’s what gave David the courage to go out and face a physical giant who, on seeing David, let out a tirade of abuse that would make most men question themselves and run away. Yet, David didn’t waver. Outraged at the sheer audacity of this man, his indignation was churning within him. This was faith in God, in real-life action!

The rest, as they say, is history. David overcame Goliath and the mighty Philistine army fell apart and fled, whilst the newly bolstered Israelite army took their victory. And all because one person stood and said, “Who are you to challenge God?”

We all have giants in our lives... areas where the enemy has gained a strong hold of fear, and intimidates us from moving forward in our battle to freedom. These giants can cripple us inside, leaving us in a war but unable to fight ... no hope of movement or change. We need a David perspective, a righteous indignation, where we stand face to face with the enemy and ask the question, “Who are you that you challenge God’s child? I have God on my side and your very presence offends both me and Him!”

Once we have God in His rightful place in our lives, despite all that we see in the physical, or feel from intimidating thoughts in our minds, there’s nothing that we can’t stand against, and overcome, with God.