Intimidation is defined as making “timid or fearful”. It is used to compel or deter. It can be called a psychological warfare. Goliath put intimidation to good use when the Philistines battled against Israel. For a long period, Goliath threw the gauntlet, challenging Israel and their God. He called for a representative of the nation to square up with him to determine which side would take the victory. The enemy served them a diet of fear for 40 days and nights. That was until David showed up and put him to silence for good.

In life, what makes the difference is identifying what we have and engaging them. In addition, unless we conquer intimidation we may not be able to conquer anything else.

Our text showed the means David used to obtain victory – a sling and a stone! Of course, there was the non-material means as well, the name of the Lord. The lesson here is this: there was nothing which David employed to silence the enemy that was not available to others. In his verbal engagement, he had challenged Goliath as uncircumcised Philistine. David had the edge of circumcision over the enemy, but so did all other men in Saul’s army. He engaged the name of the Lord, but that name was available to everybody else. Then we are told that he picked five smooth stones from the brook. That brook served the whole community, it was not a private swimming pool. In reality, David had no special advantage over the men who watched Goliath harass them for a long time. In life, what makes the difference is identifying what we have and engaging them. In addition, unless we conquer intimidation we may not be able to conquer anything else.