I Samuel 17:23
“As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them.”
What a frightful display of power. First we see army against army. Probably thousands per side. The depth and width must have been impressive. While forming they were chanting their war cry. The synchronous marching and movements displayed discipline and order. David may not have seen anything like it. Thus impressive and intimidating.
Next comes Goliath. Out of strength comes greater strength. This routine has gone on for over a month. He shouts his challenge and the hearts of the Israeli fighters melt within them. Minutes earlier the army had formed for war chanting their own war cry. They probably knew what was coming. Goliath would come forth and humiliate them. Was their orderly formation and battle chanting hollow?
The end of the verse says that David heard Goliath. His words terrified all in the army. Not so with David. The Lord had worked with him while shepherding. He had come against many difficult obstacles, all of which God delivered him from. Any of those circumstances could have been frightening if pondered.
David didn't adopt the common response. It could been easy to do so. His brothers did. When he begins to think differently, his brothers get angry with him. Ideas contrary to the Lord's are worldly thoughts.
John 15:19 says this of the world, "If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world." Just as David didn't allow the world's mindset to influence his, so we should do the same.
We should limit our exposure to those toxic thoughts. This might mean we should avoid some things on tv, the internet as well as some people or some conversations.
When David shared his thoughts and was corrected. If he didn't pursue his thoughts, he might have been shamed into silence. I think of Peter when he denied the Lord. He was with a crowd that he shouldn't have been with. When asked about Jesus, he said that he didn't know him.
There are places we shouldn't be, there is some music we shouldn't listen to, as they have a corrosive effect. James 4:4 says that friendship with the world is enmity with God.
Do we remain and take a stand like David? Sometimes. Other times we shouldn't be there. To share God's ways will provoke mockery. Jesus says in Matthew 7:6 that to do so is to "cast pearls before swine."
Lord, thank You for David and his boldness. Let us know when to speak and when to avoid them.