The height of success

“Now there was a man of Benjamin,… a mighty man of power. And he had a son, whose name was Saul,… from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.” 1 Samuel 9:1,2

I remember reading an article regarding the average height of CEOs for Fortune 100 companies.  At the time none of the men who held these positions were under six feet tall.  Coming in a hair below that (OK… maybe a head below that) I didn’t stand a very good chance of getting a desk in the corner office.  Add to it that I had a beard and I wouldn’t make the cut even if you extended the list to Fortune 500… or the Less-Than-Fortune-8.

There is just something about tall men that makes people look up to them.

(I’ll pause while you let that set it.)

Israel had wanted a king… someone they could look up to.  So God granted there request… literally.  Saul was the tallest Israelite.  And something about that was appealing… until that is…
 
Someone taller came along to challenge him.

“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.” 1 Samuel 17:4

Six cubits and a span places Goliath upward of 9 ½ feet tall.  Quite a challenge.

Saul couldn’t stand up to him… either in height or courage.

Man’s expectation failed.  You see, when you judge as the world judges… when you look for the “right man” for the job… another man will always come along.  One who is bigger… stronger… faster… makes mechanical noises when he runs and comes with a $6 million price tag.

There is a saying that goes, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight… it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

Enter David.

He had fight in him.

He took out a lion and a bear.  And He gave God the glory.  And that testimony gave him a chance in the ring.

A ring he would emerge triumphant from because he knew the “fight” he had in him was the name of the Lord.

Goliath threaten to feed David’s body to the birds.

David’s response to the threat… “I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” Vv. 45, 46

God will only send you in to battles that you can’t win without Him.

He will send you in to places where you don’t meet the height requirement.

Where the armor of the world doesn’t fit.

So that you will go into that battle… that struggle… that problem… wearing the armor of God… in His name… that all the earth may know that there is a God in… your life, your marriage, your house, your relationships, your company, your field, your school, your…

So when the next “giant” comes… don’t get scared…

Get psyched!!!

You’re at the height of success.

SDG