Toy Stories: Ken — Protector vs. Tyrant - Monday
Today’s Verse
1 Samuel 17:11
When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. (ESV)
Saul was the obvious champion, but instead of stepping forward, he froze: the soft king.
Goliath was the quintessential bully: big, mean, and taunting anyone to try and stop him.
Eliab, David’s oldest brother, should’ve encouraged him, but instead chose a different path: the critic.
All three reveal how men can go wrong. Soft kings shrink back from responsibility, bullies use strength to harm, and critics tear others down without building anything. We see these counterfeits everywhere: the absent dad, the abusive boss, the online troll. But before pointing fingers, we need to ask, Where am I tempted to be like one of them? Do I avoid stepping up when responsibility falls to me? Do I use my words to hurt? Do I criticize without ever getting in the arena myself?
Then there was a fourth man that day, David. David stepped up and stepped out. He faced Goliath, a warrior trained from youth, armed to the teeth, and feared by everyone. By all outward measures, David didn’t stand a chance. Yet, he didn’t focus on Goliath. He focused on God.
This is a powerful reminder that our “giants” aren’t always nine-foot-tall soldiers, but they can feel just as intimidating—a struggling marriage, an addiction, a job loss, or a diagnosis we didn’t expect. Like Goliath, these things taunt us, paralyze us, and make us feel small. The natural response is fear, but David shows us that God’s presence redefines the battle.
David’s confidence didn’t come from himself; it came from the One who never loses. “That all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:47).
APPLICATION
It takes courage to step out of passivity, strength to resist becoming a critic, and humility to follow Jesus’ example as the true man between. That’s why we always need God’s help to do so.
Identify one relationship or situation this week where you can step up as a protector, provider, or encourager. Write it down, pray over it, and take action before next Sunday.
PRAYER
God, reveal the counterfeit patterns in my life. Shape me into a man or woman of courage who protects and provides like Jesus. Give me faith like David to see beyond the challenge in front of me and trust You more.
