Many people have been provoked into a fight just by a few words that hit them the wrong way. If you want to start something with someone, start talking about their children or say something negative about their mother, and see what happens. When David was on the battle field in the company of Israel’s army, he heard Goliath defying the armies of Israel, words that provoked him to go against Goliath, the Philistine.
And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, thePhilistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of thePhilistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard [them]. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fledfrom him, and were sore afraid.” I Samuel 17:23-24
Think about it, David’s reaction to the mocking, defying, arrogant words of Goliath was completely the opposite of all of Israel’s army. When Israel’s army saw and heard Goliath, they fled with hearts full of fear. When David heard Goliath, his response was, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God.” V. 26
Something rose up in David when he heard Goliath that didn’t rise up in the other men. David heard fighting words! David couldn’t stand by and do nothing while Goliath spewed out insults against God. Because of the anointing on David’s life, he couldn’t walk away or cower down as the other men.
And as disciple’s of Christ, our hearts and ears should be tuned in and sensitive to what others are saying around us. We should never go out looking to start a debate with anyone, but when the opportunity presents itself, be provoked in the name of Jesus. We never want to have an argumentative spirit, but we can object and we can be a voice of truth. We can stand for what is right and we can stand for others who may not have the power or ability to stand for themselves. David didn’t speak words of rebuke to Israel’s army, he just did what they were not able to do, fight against Goliath. David reminds us of Jesus Christ, who was a defender of the weak and timid. He was a defender against the religious bullies of His day, just like David was against Goliath.
As a disciple of Christ, you have something in you that causes you to react differently than others. Live in your powerful anointing of God.