I don’t know about you, but when I read a novel I always identify with the protagonist (the hero); and I find I do that in Scripture as well. Take our favorite hero story, David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. Haven’t you read that and thought of yourself as David and thought of your biggest issue in life (or biggest current challenge) as Goliath? Perhaps you remember a preacher (even me*) encouraging you to do the same? On the one hand that’s not wrong, God does give us the strength we need to handle “our Goliaths.” But that’s probably not the primary message we should be taking away from God’s hero stories. For instance, in 1 Samuel 17, I’m not “David,” I’m one of those weak-kneed Isrealiiets cowering behind David. David, in this story, represents Jesus!
Now, if you’ve gotten this far in this blog, you might be saying, “Thanks P.S.; now how am I supposed to benefit from that point of view on the story?” By remembering, what only David remembered among all of the Israelites that day – The battle belongs to the Lord! (1 Samuel 17:47; 2 Chronicles 20:15)
You don’t have to fight every battle, you don’t have to win every fight, but you do have to know and trust one Who already has!
Because I’m His,
Pastor Scott
*Yes, I have preached this POV; the POV of David as representing Jesus is NT.
Grace Notes 
I admit I also always identify with the hero, same when Jesus confronts the pharisees. I always think I would be the apostles or the one who immediately started following Christ. But if I’m being honest, I’m more often the one saying we need to follow the “rules” and not deviate from what we’ve always done. Or I discredit a new preacher because he speaks differently than I’ve been taught. It is healthy, I think, to be a little skeptical, but I fall into phariseasim more often than I want to admit.
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