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Goliath was large. The Philistine army was large. But, in truth, there were larger giants that David had to kill. He didn’t kill them all, but he did kill many of them and that’s one reason we still talk about David to this day. Revenge is a large giant and it has defeated many strong people. Idealism has ruined many well-educated leaders. The inconsistency of the establishment has driven some people loony. The largest giants that David killed were the ones in his own heart—they’re the ones that most of us face.

In the late 1600’s a French clergyman named Francois Fenelon wrote a series of letters that have been preserved and reprinted in a little book titled, “Let Go.” The words of those letters, written so many years ago, have often resulted in repentance. Fenelon’s struggle was similar to what many of us wrestle with; our will clashes with the will of others and/or the will of God.

Charles Spurgeon wrote that the easiest giant David ever killed was Goliath. Before Goliath there was not only a lion and a bear. David had been sent to care for sheep…and made the most of it. David had been ignored by his own father when Samuel had asked for Jesse’s sons. Not only was he overlooked by his father, he was also despised by his brothers. He was accused of wrong motives. People tried to discourage him from doing what was right. A bully made fun of David and poured out cursing upon him. The sling and the stone was the easy part!

Have you ever asked that question? Once you saw “it” you couldn’t believe you didn’t see “it” before. I drive to the church building many times each week and once in a while I’ll say to somebody, “How long has that _______ been there?” They will respond, “Oh, for a couple of years.” Then I will say, “How did I miss that?”

You are looking at my favorite piece of art. It is a painting by Rembrandt entitled “The Return of the Prodigal Son”. You’ll have to give it some artistic license. It didn’t happen like this. The embrace of the Father was on a road. The older son didn’t hear about it until later. I doubt there was a man sitting next to him in a chair! But Rembrandt is painting ideas. A picture is worth a thousand words.