The ‘Giant’ of General Consensus
by Jill Southern
The final ‘giant’ David had to confront before facing Goliath was the ‘giant’ of general concensus. David refused to give in and, remember, he was probably only a boy of 15 at the time. Nobody, absolutely nobody, believed he could do it! Saul didn’t. His family didn’t. The Israelite army probably thought it was a bad joke!
As he walked on to the battlefield towards Goliath there was probably derisory laughter from the Philistines. They probably thought he was going to ‘be toast’ in the next ten minutes! The giant Goliath certainly didn’t believe David could do it. He looked David over.
Have you ever been looked over? It’s not a nice experience. The giant despised him. He sneered at David saying, ‘am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?’ And the Philistine giant cursed David by his gods. He despised him, then he cursed him, and then he tried to intimidate him. He said ‘I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!’ (1 Samuel 17:44). David was having none of it. He shouted ‘I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied… the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel’ (1 Samuel 17:45).
My! What a declaration! David may have looked completely out-classed by the giant, but he knew that God was on his side. David knew his God and knew the power of His name. He went on to say ‘For the battle is the Lord’s and He will give all of you into our hands!’ (1 Samuel 17:47).
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him (1 Samuel 17:50). What a story of how God can use weak-looking people who have great faith in Him and He will give them victory over the ‘giants’.
David had to push through the ‘giant’ of general consensus or he could never have slain Goliath. How about you? Does it feel sometimes that no-one understands the call of God on your life and no one is believing in you or cheering you on?
William Carey was a simple cobbler from Northampton who knew God’s call to be a missionary to India. The elders of his church said, ‘young man, if God wants to save the heathen in India, He can do it without you!’ They didn’t support him. William Carey too had to face the ‘giant’ of general consensus. As a poor man he raised the money to take himself and his family to India and he became the father of modern missions. You too can go and slay ‘giants’ for God!
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, please help me to know Your will for my life and help me to have complete faith that You will give me the victory. Help me not to rely upon man’s affirmation, and be able to sing: ‘Though none go with me I still will follow. No turning back! No turning back! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jill Southern is the founder of Ellel Ministries Pierrepont and directed the work for 21 years. She has recently stood down from that role but still teaches on the NETS programme and has the passion to train and equip God`s people to fully walk in their destiny and calling. She is the Regional Director for Ellel Ministries International in South East Asia and China and is also on the Executive Leadership of the ministry.
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