Each of us have something we dread confronting. What is it you fear? What do you do when your fears take hold of you?
The Bible tells us a story that we can all relate to, so lets go there. Turn to 1 Samuel 17 and let’s read.
Let’s time travel to a day in David’s Life. The scene sets in the Valley of Elah, as the Philistines forces have gathered together readied for battle. Why were they there? What did they want? The Bible tells us that the Philistines wanted to conquer and enslave the Israelites, God’s chosen people. I can see it now… People are gathered around for the main event, the Philistines vs the Iraelites. In this corner, standing over nine feet tall was the Philistine champion, Goliath. In the opposite corner, stood the Israelite Army shaking in their boots. Who would they choose? Who would overcome this nine foot giant? Every soldier looking at the other, in hopes that someone would bravely volunteer to walk to their death, or so they thought. Can you see it!! God’s “man appointed” king, the mighty Saul, stood shaking in his boots, too scared to walk forward himself and unconfident he had a champion to fight, not to mention, he had to deal with this huge walking mountain taunting him for forty days? I’d be shaking in my boots too, but had Saul forgotten? Had the Israelite people forgotten who they were? They were God’s chosen people who had witnessed and lived through miracle after miracle, yet it appears their faith in trust in God was nowhere to be found. So where was their trust and faith in a time like this?
With the past forgotten or hidden by his circumstance, Saul’s army stood fearful, unsure of what was to come, but how many of you know that God never ceases to stand still. Unbeknownst to them, God had a plan already in the works. As Saul’s army awaited, along comes David, sent by his father to check on his brothers. Arriving on the scene, David proceeded to locate his brothers only to find the sorriest of sights. As he listens to this giant mock the people and God, the bristles on the back of his neck just stand. Unwilling to hear any more, he fearlessly steps forward and accepts the challenge no one was courageous enough to accept. Can you imagine what the soldiers thought as they looked at this young man, small and scrawny in comparison to the Philistine giant? It was probably too much for any one person to contain, but at least someone stepped up. They sure weren’t going to volunteer to walk to their death, it was much easier and a whole lot safer for hold off until someone else accepted the challenge?
This must have been a hilarious thing to see. Can you imagine the two of them side by side? Mighty midget vs “the Rock of Gibralter”? Can you imagine what thoughts were running through the minds of the Israelite army as David prepared for battle? I bet all were placing bets, but it couldnt have been on their champion. I wouldnt be surprised if they were finally coming to terms with the fact that they would forever be slaves to the Philistines, if they lived at all. Just like people though, “Too chicken to take the gavel themselves but very willing to criticize those who are”. Isnt it like people, to judge a book by its cover? I guess it is a good thing that God’s in control for He searches what’s on the inside, girding the unlikely to overcome all odds.
David, as small as he was, was fearless, for he knew that though his size was at a disadvantage, he possessed the “Power” that overcomes all. He staked his life on that fact. As he courageously walked into battle, he secured the most unlikely of weapons, a sling shot and a few stones. What a weapon of choice against that of Goliath. Can you see it? Nine foot Goliath stands girded from head to toe. Upon his head rest a bronze helmet, not to mention, he wore a coat of bronze scale armor and greaves weighing 125 pounds. Judging by the weight of some of this armor, it is not too hard to picture the size and build of this giant. I can only wonder what was running through the minds of those witnessing the fiasco unraveling before them as they see David running head on into this giant sized storm. There is no way anyone would have expected David to defeat Goliath, yet with little to no effort that’s exactly what happened.
Everyday, we as people have fears that appear as giants or Goliaths to us. These fears can be anything and they can range in severity. Regardless, they are the very things we focus our minds on, the very things that keep us from moving past the situations, the very things that prevent us from overcoming the obstacles placed in our lives. Yet, like the Israelites, many of us forget who we are. Our situations, our fears, our Goliaths consume our lives and attention. We have no time to seek God, no time to pray, and certainly, no time to trust and stand upon God’s promises. As a result, situations like these take a toll and wear us down, many succumbing to their effects. Suicide, depression, fear, doubt, sickness and more result. What we fail to realize or should I say, what we refuse to accept is that “God is the solution to these Goliath sized situations”. Funny thing is, we can believe God for a blessing and give credit when we receive it, but we cant stay focused on him when the storms of magnitude hit. We are easily swept off our feet, down for the count and willingly accept the approaching ”TKO”. Yet, we must realize, that this isnt the way God intended things to be. He gave us promises to overcome, promises of strength and prosperity, promises of peace and joy, and even better, promises, that if we persevere, He’ll bring us through unscathed, unharmed and strengthened.
Where are you? Are you hanging onto a Goliath of your own? Like David, your giants can be defeated with the smallest of efforts if God is in the midst. The choice is yours. Will you look and be blinded by the mountain of situations in your life, or will you trust in God to lead and guide you through, resting in Him as He does so? Will you allow your fears to control your destiny or willingly cast them upon God to tend to? Know – when God is in it, things flow, but done by your own strength, things come forcefully. Stand on the promises of God, knowing that in Him, we can conquer our Goliaths, no matter the size.
Tags: 1 Samuel, Add new tag, Bible, David, Fear, Giant, God, Goliath, Israelites, Philistines, Saul
October 16, 2008 at 8:19 am |
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