The Un-Series: Week 7 Day 3
1 Samuel 17:1-11(NLT)
The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. 2Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah. 3So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.
4Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! 5He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6 He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.
8Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! 9If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! 10I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” 11When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken. (NLT)*
17:4 Hebrew 6 cubits and 1 span [which totals about 9.75 feet or 3 meters]; Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read 4 cubits and 1 span [which totals about 6.75 feet or 2 meters].
17:5 Hebrew 5,000 shekels [57 kilograms].
17:7 Hebrew 600 shekels [6.8 kilograms].
What a bully! That’s what comes to my mind when I think about Goliath as he taunted the Israelites, marching around like the ancient day Hulk, and yelling for someone to fight. He sure knew how to use weapons of the world to his advantage, obviously his spear, but he also used intimidation and control to orchestrate fear in the Israelites. In doing so, Goliath was able to keep them focused on his size and strength.
Isn’t that how the enemy works? He uses weapons of the world to instill fear in us. He stomps around like Goliath dishing out shame, depression, anxiety, judgement, comparison, guilt, etc. When we allow these worldly weapons to be used against us, they cripple us, distracting us from what God has intended for us. We might see various “Goliaths" in our lives as obstacles that seem difficult to overcome. Instead of obstacles, however, could we see our “Goliaths" as reminders of our need to surrender to God; to take up His armor and use Kingdom weapons?
As Ephesians 6:11 states: 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Let’s suit up!