pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Goliath


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Fully Trusting in the Lord

Reading: 1st Samuel 17:32-37

1st Samuel 17:37 – “The Lord who rescued me from the power of both lions and bears will rescue me from the power of this Philistine.”

During Saul’s reign as King of Israel, the Philistines and Israelites assembled for battle. The two armies gathered on hills opposite each other with a valley in between. A champion from Gath came out on day one to challenge the Israelites. He was huge, fierce, and strong. Early in chapter 17 Goliath is described in powerful detail: really tall, armor weighing 125 pounds, a spear with a shaft strong as the bar on a weaver’s loom. Each day for forty days Goliath would stride down into the valley and challenge Israel to send out a champion to face him man to man. Saul and the Israelites “were distressed and terrified.” Great fear surrounded Goliath and his challenge.

Sent by his father to bring food to his three older brothers and to gather news of the battle, David hears Goliath’s challenge. Instead of feeling fear, David is upset that this Philistine is “insulting the army of the living God.” The young shepherd boy knows none of the fear that has been immobilizing Israel’s king and army. Filled with God’s presence, David declares, “I, your servant, will go out and fight him!” Saul protests, noting David’s youth. Undeterred, David says to Saul, “The Lord who rescued me from the power of both lions and bears will rescue me from the power of this Philistine.” David trusts in the Lord. He will fight Goliath. With the Lord, David will be victorious.

As we remember this well-known and beloved story, we ask ourselves: What ‘Goliath’ currently has us bound up in fear? Is it the situation in our world? Is it a difficulty at work? Is it a health issue? Is it something else? No matter what it is, no matter how big it feels, God is bigger and is totally capable of leading us to victory. May we, like the shepherd boy, fully trust in the Lord.

Prayer: Lord God, there are many different ‘giants’ that we face. Often it is fear that grips us too. In those moments, whisper your love and your power into our hearts. With your presence and assurance, guide us to surrender our fears, worries, challenges… to you, trusting in you alone for the victory. Amen.


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The Battle Is God’s

Readings: 1st Samuel 16, 1st Samuel 17

1st Samuel 17:46 – “Then the whole world will know that there is a God on Israel’s side.”

Photo credit: Familyschaffner

God sends a grieving Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint Israel’s next king. He brings a heifer as a sort of guise – does it ever get sacrificed? Jesse has six sons pass before Samuel. Right from the start, Samuel thinks this is the one, but God corrects him. Humans see what’s visible to the eyes but God “sees into the heart.” None present are chosen so Samuel asks, “Is that all of your boys?” No. David is brought in from tending the sheep. God says, “That’s the one. Go anoint him.” And God’s Spirit comes up on David right then.

An evil spirit begins to torment Saul. Is that because David has been anointed? Music was thought to calm such spirits. David is known as a skilled musician. He becomes part of Saul’s court, playing the lyre to sooth Saul’s demons. But the time for war comes. The Philistines and the Israelites face off. But instead of army versus army, the Philistines send out their champion, Goliath. This nine foot tall behemoth challenges the Israelites morning and night to send someone out to fight. They cower in fear for 40 days. It’s been a while so Jesse sends David to check on his brothers. David overhears Goliath and asks, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine….insulting the army of the living God?” David sees the battle from a different perspective right away. Soon he is facing Goliath with a staff, a sling, and five stones. David declares to Goliath that God will hand him over to David, adding, “Then the whole world will know that there is a God on Israel’s side.” David slays Goliath and the whole world knows.

When we take the same faith into our battles, trusting that the battle is God’s, not ours, then the world will see the power of God at work once again. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, we can be tempted to think, “with just a sling and a stone.” But we forget the important detail. You see the heart. You guide the stone. David’s heart was filled with love for you and with trust in you. Make that our hearts too, O Lord. Fill us with a sure faith and a trusting love when the giants come our way. Lead us to walk forward in faith, knowing that you still move in our world. Amen.


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Giants

Reading: 1st Samuel 17: 1a, 4-11, 19-23, and 32-49

Verse 32: “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him”.

Photo credit: Steve Halama

We enter today into a familiar story. Israel and the Philistines are at war again. They are encamped across the valley from one another and each day Goliath comes out to challenge the Israelites: “Choose a man and have him come down to me”. No one from the Israelite camp is raising a hand; no one is jumping up and down saying to King Saul, ‘Pick me! Pick me’! At the sight of this nine foot tall behemoth the Israelites are “dismayed and terrified”. Day after day this scenario plays out. Day after day Israel is dismayed and terrified.

We all have our giants. In 7th grade it was a bully named Leo. He towered over me in many ways. When I was nineteen it was going to my parents to tell them I’d failed out of college. At three stops in my twenties I worried and stressed about being a good father for these three little human beings. At 47 I was a bit terrified and a lot unsure about the future as I left my career of 23 years to enter vocational ministry. In my mid fifties now, I still worry and stress about being good enough, about letting go and letting God lead, and about the upcoming rupture in my denomination and most likely in my church. There are days when the old giants come back and haunt me. There are days now when my current giants hold me back in fear. We all have our giants.

David arrives at the battle front just as Goliath is once again shouting down the Israelites. Brought before Saul, David says, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him”. The Spirit of the Lord that came upon David when he was anointed by Samuel remains strong as ever in him. With full trust in God, David slays Goliath “in the name of the Lord Almighty”. The battle truly belonged to the Lord.

This is true for you and for me too. Yet in our battles with our giants we try and fight on our own. Some days I flail against my fears and doubts and other days I don’t even step near the battle line. On these days my giants win without a fight. But what if we did not fight alone? What if we “gave it all” into God’s hands – ourselves and our giants? If we would but do this then our giants would fall “facedown on the ground”. May it be so for you and for me. The battle belongs to the Lord.

Prayer: God of heaven’s armies and my little battles, go with me today. Remind me that I too am anointed by your Holy Spirit. Remind me that you are the only one in control so that I can fully trust in you, the Lord Almighty. I fight on my knees now, giving it all to you. Amen.


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Walk on in Faith

Reading: Genesis 22: 1-14

Verse 8: “Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering'”.

Our passage from Genesis 22 is one of those stories of faith that we read and wonder if we could do what that Biblical hero did. For me, this passage is right up there with David facing Goliath, Daniel facing the lions’ den, Esther facing the king, and Peter taking that step out onto the water. When our faith feels strong, these are actions we too could take for God.

Abraham has had a long story with God. As a young man he was asked to trust God and, as he left his father’s homeland, it began a long walk with God. After many years the promise of a son came true when Abraham was 100 years old. And now, just over 110, God asks for Isaac as a sacrifice. It is not to occur then and there. No, Abraham must make a three day journey first. This in itself would test many of us and would push us to the brink – walking for three days with nothing to pray and think about other than offering your only child. Abraham walks on in faith.

As they begin to head up the mountain, Isaac has put the pieces together – wood, fire, knife… He asks Abraham, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering”? That question might have been enough for me to turn and head back down the mountain. But in an awesome testament to his faith Abraham says, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering”. Again, Abraham walks on in faith.

Today, as we consider this story, what step of faith is God calling you to take? Reflecting on how God has been with you as you have stepped out before, how will you begin to walk forward in faith today?

Prayer: Lord God, as a new chapter opens, grant me the courage to step forward in faith and trust. Help me to lean on you in moments of fear or doubt. Guide me by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.


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In the Lord Almighty

Reading: 1 Samuel 17: 19-23 & 32-49

Verse 47: “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s”.

In some ways, today’s scenario is a bit comical. For days now this scene has unfolded: get up, cook some breakfast, get dressed for battle, form up in battle lines, shout challenges and curses at your enemy, hear Goliath’s challenge, stand there all day. At the end of the day they return to camp and get up to do it all over again. Each day a giant comes forth and requests a one-on-one battle to end this silly “charade” – I mean “war”. Goliath himself is comically large – over nine feet tall, intimidating, powerful. Goliath’s bravado causes the Israelites and their king, Saul, to become silent. None of them can even imagine going out to face the giant. Day after day this scenario plays out.

Goliath is representative of some if the people we meet. In their own minds they are larger than life. They see themselves as vastly superior in their chosen field. They look down with disdain on all other human beings who are clearly less. They rely on their own strength or abilities or intelligence or expertise. They fully trust in themselves alone.

In our silly story, David is the clueless outsider. He happily wanders into camp and hears something different in Goliath’s challenge. David hears Goliath challenging God. In David’s mind, it would not matter if Goliath was nine feet tall or ninety feet tall. For David, you don’t mess with God. David trusts not in himself or in the five smooth stones in his pouch. He remembers how God saved him from the lion and the bear – two that should have devoured this little shepherd boy. Just as with them David comes against Goliath in the name of the Lord. Demonstrating his faith in God alone, David says, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s”. Nine foot tall giant? Just watch what God can do!

This too should be our battle cry. The world will and does bring many giants and obstacles into our lives. On our own, they can seem insurmountable. To each we face, may we too say to them, “I come against you in the name of the Almighty Lord”. May we fully trust in our God who can do all things. Then our giants will fall facedown on the ground too. May it be so. Amen.


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Call Out

Reading: 1 Samuel 17: 1-11

Verses ten and eleven: “This day I defy the ranks of Israel… Saul and all the Israelites we’re dismayed and terrified”.

Today’s passage is the beginning of a familiar story. The Philistines and Israelites, long-time enemies, are drawn up for battle. In our lives, those one or two sins that always seem to pop up are like these two armies – always just about ready to do battle. In this occasion though, the Philistines have a “champion”. In reality, this is someone who you think can whip anyone the other side sends out. In hockey, this would be the enforcer – the big guy you have to deal with if you get a little too rough with the other team’s star. In our childhood days, this was that really big kid you wanted to pick for your team. Unless the other side got to pick first – then he was called a bully or worse.

What is your persistent sin? What are the two or three things that you always wrestle with? Is it pride or ego or the need to be in control? Those are mine. Is it the tendency to judge or to compare yourself with others? Mine too. Is it something else? We all have these sins that bully us, that seem to always be right there on the front line, ready to do battle with our inner compass, the Holy Spirit.

Goliath steps up to the battle line and says, “This day I defy the ranks of Israel… Saul and all the Israelites we’re dismayed and terrified”. The people of God, the atmy of the chosen people, hear this challenge and stare at the ground. Instead of calling on God and going out to face this bully, they cower. We sometimes act the same way with our sins. Instead of turning to scripture or going to God in prayer at first temptation, we look away. We pretend the sin isn’t lurking. But the temptation is still there. It calls out over and over and eventually we give in, we sin.

If there is a giant calling out to you today, may you call on the name of the Lord, trusting in the One who can defeat anything. Call out! When you do, Satan will flee. May it be so today. Amen.


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Perfect Creations

Bullying has many forms.  It can be blatant or subtle and can lead us to act differently.  The act of bullying occurs at all levels of life and in all places.  It can happen at work, at school, at home, and even at church.  A bully’s main desire is to be on top.  In modern times, social media has taken bullying in a whole new direction.  You no longer have to be present to bully someone.

Goliath is a classic bully – physically intimidating, hurls insults with his words, seeks to be the alpha male.  We’ve all faced this type of bully.  Saul’s bullying is a little more disguised.  He wants David to wear his armor, to don his tunic.  In short, he wants David to be like him.

David counters both.  Against Goliath David calls on God’s name to defeat his enemy.  David knows he cannot face the giant alone so he calls on the one, true source of our strength – God.  Against Saul he says this is not who I am.  David goes out to face the giant just as God created him and using the skills with which God has gifted him.  He knows how God created him and David trusts this.  We find great examples here in David.

When faced with a challenge, we too need to turn to the source of all we have and are – God.  He promised to be with us and to strengthen and encourage us.  And we also must remember that God created us just as we are and that we are perfect in His sight.  We must not bend or break but must remain true to who God created us to be.  We are each His perfect creation, a child of God.  If we live each day and face the challenges that life brings as a child ofn the one, true king, life cannot defeat us.  God is on our side.

Scripture reference: 1 Samuel 17: 32-49


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An Awesome God

Think for a moment about the awesome and amazing things God has done in your life.  Think of all the miracles and ways you have seen God at work in the world.  Think of all the times you have felt His presence or have been guided by the Holy Spirit.  God is alive and well.  Our God is an awesome God!

Goliath, the Philistine champion, came out and challenged the Israelite army to send forth a man to do one-on-one combat.  He was over nine feet tall and wore heavy armor.  For sure he was an intimidating presence.  It’s not a wonder no one stepped forward.

Think for a moment of those times when you faced a crisis or struggle and your friends and family surrounded you with prayers and presence.  Think of a time when together your church has overcome a challenge.  Think of a time when you have come alongside another in need.

Goliath instilled fear and trembling in all of the Israelite army.  Day after day after day he came and called them out.  Day after day after day the army of God cowered in fear.  So many time God had brought Israel victory, often against the odds.  So often God had been right there with them.

Today we have a few Goliaths.  We have them in our own lives – priorities askew, addictions calling, busyness…  We have them in our churches – declining numbers, the question of relevance…  Today we have the same God that allowed David to face Goliath and win.  We have the same God who will help us win, even against the odds.  He is still an awesome God.  Call on Him and see.

Scripture reference: 1 Samuel 17: 4-11