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By definition, a choice is when you get to select between two or more possibilities. Sometimes, we don’t lose much when we make the wrong choice. At other times, however, the wrong choice could have serious consequences. To explore this, let’s look at the Biblical account of David and Goliath. Here goes…

On his own, David was no match for Goliath. In fact, in 1 Samuel 17:33, King Saul says 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 (NKJV).  

For King Saul, David was ill-equipped to face Goliath. But David knew differently. As David says in 1 Samuel 17:37: 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 (NKJV). However, in 1 Samuel 17:38, we see something interesting. King Saul was clothing David in his armor, bronze helmet, and coat of mail. David knew how God had helped him in the past, but yet, in 1 Samuel 17:39, David was testing out King Saul’s armor, bronze helmet, and coat of mail? What’s happening? Well, David faced a choice: use King Saul’s battle gear, or trust God.   

In 1 Samuel 17:39 we also see David saying: I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them. So David took them off (NKJV). Based on his past experience with God, David knew he could trust God in the battle against Goliath. He made the right choice. In 1 Samuel 17:50 it says in part: So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him (NKJV). 

The account of David reminded me of times when I was dealing with something challenging and had to make a choice about the way to go. That is, go as God leads, or go with the alternative — the alternative being, going my way or the world’s way. Admittedly, far too many times I went with the alternative. Sometimes it was because I was just impatient; God was taking too long. Other times, I just didn’t think God would come through for me. Thankfully, this way of thinking changed as I spent more time with God, growing in the knowledge of God. The more I knew about God, the more I knew I could trust God. The more I trusted God, the more equipped I was to stand still until I heard God’s voice and received His guidance. As John 10:27 says: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Going back to the Biblical account of David and Goliath, in 1 Samuel 17:37 we see David recalling how God had helped him in the past. As a result, even when presented with the offer to use King Saul’s armor, bronze helmet, and coat of mail, David made the choice to trust God.

As believers we must know from experience that we can trust God. As Hebrews 10:23 says: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (NKJV).

Knowing that God is faithful means that, even if the choice to go our own way or the world’s way may be tempting, we trust God and go God’s way. As Psalm 18:30 says: As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him (NKJV). 

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Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King’s James Version (KJV) – all public domain.