1 Sam
17:3-11 (ESV) And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and
Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4
And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of
Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on
his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was
five thousand shekels of bronze.6 And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a
javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was
like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron.
And his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of
Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a
Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and
let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we
will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you
shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I
defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight
together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the
Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
NOTE: "Saul and
all Israel … were dismayed and greatly afraid." It makes sense. Goliath is
nine feet nine with a bronze helmet, mail armor weighing 156 pounds. His legs are covered with bronze
armor. His spear's head weighed eighteen pounds. He was either incredibly slow
with a short range attack, or incredibly strong. The latter seems to fit with
the story most closely. Everyone was frightened because everyone viewed the
problem from the external, with the perspective of the world. And that would
seem the prudent thing to do. But the real answer to a problem that is
surmountable is to go to God. And if God has called you to tackle the monster,
then go in faith. Stop looking at the externals and start looking at the
unseen. Israel's fear paralyzed them. And none seem to consider that God is on
their side (and in this case, he is really is on the side of the Israelites).
Another danger, and equally as great, would be too ignore God because the enemy
is small and weak. This was Saul's problem when Jonathan started a rout in the
Philistine army. It was too obvious and so he decided he did not need to
inquire of God after starting to inquire of God. In all things, we need to
present our requests to God. Whether big or small, we need to make an integral
part of our lifestyle, not an add-on or an afterthought. I have been guilty of
both extremes. Going to God in the difficult times and forgetting God in the
easy times. Lord forgive me for such arrogance and selfishness. I need you all
the time.
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