1 Samuel 17:1 – 11 “Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines.
The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them.
Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height, (Goliath was approximately 9 feet 9 inches or 297 centimeters tall), and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels, (5,000 shekels is approximately 125.6 pounds or 57.0 kilograms.) and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. (600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms.) In addition, his shield bearer went before him.
And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. If he is able to fight 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 labor for us.”
Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”
On hearing the words of the Philistine, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid.”
Saul was no coward, but he had never faced a giant before. When the Israelites first came into Canaan, there were giants in several different places, and they routed those giants with the help of the Lord. Caleb at age 85 took on the task of clearing out giants from the town that he re-named Hebron. But these giants and the manner in which God dealt with them had become the stuff of legends, old wives’ tales to frighten children. Now Saul was having to face up to reality; giants still existed and one was challenging his army.
Why did Goliath appear at this particular time? Certainly, Saul wanted nothing to do with him, and yet, Saul may have been partially responsible for Goliath’s arrival. Saul did not worship the One True Living God. Had Saul been playing with Dagon worship? Dagon was the major Philistine deity. Or had Saul involved himself in other pagan rites? All we know is that the Holy Spirit had departed from Saul and all the Israelites, leaving them “dismayed and greatly afraid.” As a leader, Saul had left his people spiritually unprotected by failing to truly worship the Lord. There were probably other Israelites who were also worshiping pagan deities, which didn’t help either. The spiritual wall was down, and the Philistines came through the breaches. The Israelites were at a loss as to what to do next.
APPLICATION: What do you do when a giant shows up? There are all kinds of giants out there, from local ones to international ones. As I am writing this, Russia is attacking Ukraine and the Ukrainians are hanging on. Russia is far bigger and more powerful than Ukraine; the Russian forces definitely possess the relative proportions of Goliath. But most Ukrainians are Christians and Christians around the world are praying for Ukraine. God continues to do miracles in Ukraine. One hospital was running out of supplies just as a van pulled up, bringing the very items that they needed. Relief workers are telling stories of God’s protection and provision.
Many of us are facing or have faced giants, giants of poverty, struggle for education, discrimination on the job, family antipathies, and other problems. If we look inside ourselves, we feel we are woefully inadequate and we see no solutions, apart from continued submission to terrible circumstances. But if we will trust God, He will bring deliverance and relief. Notice, we will still have to face our giants; giants don’t go away because you have turned your back on them. But God can give us perfect solutions and perfect peace if we will only trust Him.
Why not tell God all your problems and then wait quietly to see what He will advise you to do? But be prepared! God may order you to do the very thing you have been dreading. If God orders you, then you can rest in the knowledge that He is the One who will give you the strength and the power to go ahead.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, there are many people facing gigantic problems. Be with them, strengthen them, help them and keep them. Be with the Ukrainians and bring an end to that war! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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