“And [King] Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth’” (1 Samuel 17:33).

Saul, along with everyone else in the army, was focused on how big Goliath was. Basically, Saul said to David, Kid, he’s big, you’re little. He’s strong, you’re weak. He’s a warrior, and you’re a shepherd boy. He can, and you can’t. But David had God’s perspective rather than Saul’s. The Apostle James wrote:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (or we could say when you face various kinds of giants), knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:2-5, parenthesis added).

Notice that the word “wisdom” here is the Greek word sophia, which means to gain a higher perspective, as in an aerial shot of the scenario, or, said another way, to get God’s perspective. James was saying that when we face giants of various kinds, we should ask God to give us His 40,000-foot view. That’s what David did:

“Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God”. – 1 Samuel 17:36

This is not just smack talk or a polite way of cursing at the giant. David had God’s perspective of the giant, who was uncircumcised, meaning he was not in covenant with God. Everyone else was consumed with how big Goliath was and forgot that they were the people in a covenant with Almighty God.

“Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” – Deuteronomy 7:9

They had a covenant with a covenant-keeping God – a covenant that said God would bless them, protect them, keep them, deliver them, provide for them, lead them, guide them, help them, and fight for them! That’s the covenant that Israel had with God. But do you know what the Scripture says about followers of Christ?

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for He is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.” – Hebrews 8:6

That means when we face giants in life, we need to get God’s perspective, reminding us that, regardless of circumstances, the giant really isn’t too big. And remember, we fight with the backing of a new and better covenant that promises to double-bless us, double-keep us, double-deliver us, double-provide for us, double-lead us, and double-guide us… because it’s far better!

Photo credit: ©GUnsplash/Anh Nguyen