From time to time something we read has an impact for no apparent reason and it remains with us. It may be deep or light, serious or humorous, yet for some reason it influences our perspective. The analogy of David the giant killer presented by John Maxwell in his book Be a People Person comes to mind.

Maxwell presents the question of how many giant slayers were in Saul’s army in comparison to those in David’s. The point being once a giant slayer you are in a position to inspire others to slay giants, to approach the task with the understanding that it can be achieved. Many learn the story of David and Goliath when they are young, not so well known perhaps are the consequent examples of giant killers found in Chronicles 20:5-7 5.

In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod. 6 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot – twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

The story of David therefore has at the least two perspectives. The first being the outcome of David’s faith and God’s power and the second of the consequent influence this had on others.