Facing Down Goliath

"Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. 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. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span." - 1 Samuel 17:1-4 ESV

Goliath was a giant from a nation that reveled in war and all things warlike. War was a sport to them. Goliath was just out looking for a few more notches on his belt and basking in all the fear and shame he could produce in other people.

Fears are mighty foes and fear mongers capitalize on fear. They push anything that looks unstable and try to make it fall. It is emotional pyromania.

One of the healthiest things we can do is face our fears but to be honest who wants to go against Goliath? He has chewed up and spit out many men. It is what he does for sport.

"And the Philistine said to David, 'Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, 'Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.'

Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.'

When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine." - 1 Samuel 17:43-48 ESV

Oh, It make you want to cheer inside doesn't it?

If fear is motivating us then we will just cower on our side of the mountain as the enemy amasses force on the other side. Goliath was just a stalling tactic. All that bologna about champion versus champion just a ploy to play on their honor to bring an easy victory. The Philistines wanted to shame the people to make them easier to fight. They never had any intentions of serving Israel.

It is easy to live a life of avoidance isn't it. To just cross unto the other side of the street face forward and just not get involved.

David wasn't a servant of Saul. He was on no man's leash. He was an arrow in the quiver of God. He was a free man.

Grace defies fear because it declares that God has given favor to a person. It is favor that no person or event can take away or diminish. It isn't foolish but it also doesn't back down.

David's speech was for the armies of Israel and for himself. His words made this contest a contest against God and His favor.

Go ahead and speak to that looming cloud that tries to cast it's shadow over your life. Rally your troops. A man or woman who serves The King of Kings needs never cower in fear.

We live in a victory that has already been won when we say, 'The battle is The Lord's!'

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