The Israelites saw Goliath as he came out of his tent, a terrifying sight to behold. Have you ever been terrified? I certainly have been! Many times! Now the standard method of warfare in their time was to fight by proxy, and Goliath proposed just that. He basically said, “You pick your strongest guy. If he wins, we will serve you. If I win, you will serve us.” This type of warfare reduced the casualties.
1 Samuel 17:11 NIV says, “On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.” Wouldn't you have been if you were in their shoes? Imagine that your enemy is nine feet tall and standing on the opposing hill, shouting at and mocking you. Are you scared? Now how would you like to serve a king who was just as afraid? You see, the Israelites had forgotten who their giant really was. Somehow they had gotten the idea that their king would protect them. As they stood in the ranks on Day One and shook in fear, they saw their king and his generals also quake with fear. They knew then that they were in trouble.
1 Samuel 17:11 NIV says, “On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.” Wouldn't you have been if you were in their shoes? Imagine that your enemy is nine feet tall and standing on the opposing hill, shouting at and mocking you. Are you scared? Now how would you like to serve a king who was just as afraid? You see, the Israelites had forgotten who their giant really was. Somehow they had gotten the idea that their king would protect them. As they stood in the ranks on Day One and shook in fear, they saw their king and his generals also quake with fear. They knew then that they were in trouble.
Day One ended as it began with more taunts from the giant. Day Two was no different. Day Three was more of the same. Morning and night, the giant taunted and mocked them. Day after day it continued for 40 days. Day after day, Goliath came out of the camp, stood on the opposite hill, and shouted down at them, shaming their leaders, shaming their soldiers. He probably shamed the soldiers' families, relatives, friends, and ancestors as well.
Day 40 dawned and God was ready to act. David's father Jesse was worried about his adult sons who were at war so he sent David, his youngest son who was a shepherd, to find his brothers and see how they were doing. God had an elegant plan, which involved this young boy, a slingshot, and a stone, to teach the Israelites about His power. God had a plan to prove that there was no one more powerful than He. God had a plan to prove that He had power over giants. When Jesse asked David, who had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel, to deliver a sack lunch to his older brothers, little did he know that he was sending his youngest son on an adventure where he would collide with a king. David's day began as an obscure delivery boy and ended with him becoming the most famous warrior of all time.
But Day 40 was just another day for Goliath. He got dressed, brushed his teeth, and strode out, never suspecting that he would not return. When he got to the edge of the hill, he didn't have to think about what he was going to say. His taunts were working; each day the Israelites were growing more and more discouraged. Each day their hearts grew sick; each day they looked around the ranks hoping that someone would have the courage to fight the giant. There was no reason for Goliath to stray from his script. The discouragement was evident in the Israelites’ faces and body language. Have you ever seen somebody who is discouraged? It affects their facial features, their shoulders, their overall posture, and their walk. Discouragement is deadly. And discouragement was taking its toll on the Israelites. When King Saul woke up that morning, there was no reason for him to hope that help was on the way. He knew that he did not have the courage to face the giant nor did any of his men. This was the price Saul paid for going to war without God’s blessing.
Giants mock and shame us. But God has power far greater than the giants in our lives. There are days when we get discouraged. There are times when it doesn't look like there's any help on the horizon. I know these things because I've cried myself to sleep as I prayed for God to act against the giants in my life.
Day 40 dawned and God was ready to act. David's father Jesse was worried about his adult sons who were at war so he sent David, his youngest son who was a shepherd, to find his brothers and see how they were doing. God had an elegant plan, which involved this young boy, a slingshot, and a stone, to teach the Israelites about His power. God had a plan to prove that there was no one more powerful than He. God had a plan to prove that He had power over giants. When Jesse asked David, who had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel, to deliver a sack lunch to his older brothers, little did he know that he was sending his youngest son on an adventure where he would collide with a king. David's day began as an obscure delivery boy and ended with him becoming the most famous warrior of all time.
But Day 40 was just another day for Goliath. He got dressed, brushed his teeth, and strode out, never suspecting that he would not return. When he got to the edge of the hill, he didn't have to think about what he was going to say. His taunts were working; each day the Israelites were growing more and more discouraged. Each day their hearts grew sick; each day they looked around the ranks hoping that someone would have the courage to fight the giant. There was no reason for Goliath to stray from his script. The discouragement was evident in the Israelites’ faces and body language. Have you ever seen somebody who is discouraged? It affects their facial features, their shoulders, their overall posture, and their walk. Discouragement is deadly. And discouragement was taking its toll on the Israelites. When King Saul woke up that morning, there was no reason for him to hope that help was on the way. He knew that he did not have the courage to face the giant nor did any of his men. This was the price Saul paid for going to war without God’s blessing.
Giants mock and shame us. But God has power far greater than the giants in our lives. There are days when we get discouraged. There are times when it doesn't look like there's any help on the horizon. I know these things because I've cried myself to sleep as I prayed for God to act against the giants in my life.
I know about giants!
Tune in for Part Three tomorrow!
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