Faith is RISK - David

I am often amazed at the faith of people in the Bible. John Wimber said that faith is spelt "R-I-S-K". It is easy to miss this faith when reading something that requires no faith from us. I'm going to be posting about people in the Bible that demonstrate this faith. The first is David (they are in no particular order).

In 1 Samuel 17 we have the well known story of David and Goliath. Goliath was 9 feet 9 inches tall. His helmet weighted 58kg and his javelin was just under 7kg. We are also told that he was a seasoned warrior.

We are only told that David was good looking! However, David had an implicit trust in the power of God. David goes to face Goliath with a leather sling and some stones. David said to Goliath,

(45) ...“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied....Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.” —1 Samuel 17:45–47, NKJV

David believed that he would win because of God, not his physical strength, battle experience nor weapons. We think this is faith. But faith is not faith until it is acted upon. David demonstrated his faith by going into battle, facing a bigger and stronger enemy and trusting that God would give him victory.

This is where we need to do a little imagining to see David's faith. I want you to imagine that you are David. You've said what he said. Now all that's left is to go and fight Goliath? Here comes the risky bit, you've got to act on what you believe. You've got to pick up the stones take your sling and go out and fight. This is faith. We trust God enough to act on his word. This is always in a context of risking something. In this case David was risking his life.

So let me encourage you when reading the Bible. Look for the place of risk when a person acts in faith. Put yourself in that place and you will see the challenge of faith and that it always involves risk. Then ask yourself where the risk of faith is in your own life and act like David.