Goliath

2. July 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our text today is a very familiar story in the life of the church.  It is the story of Goliath, the Philistine that tormented the children of Israel and put them in fear. 

Let’s look at the text:

I Samuel 17: 1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. 4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him. 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was old and well advanced in years. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. 17 Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

As you will notice in our text, Goliath was over nine feet tall with a bronze helmet and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing 5 thousand shekels.  He was intimidating and he harassed the children of Israel day and night with his threats of making them servants.     He challenged them to find a man that would fight him and if Goliath won then the children of Israel would be slaves to the Philistines and if the children of Israel won, the Philistines would be their slaves.

Goliath’s appearance alone was too intimidating.   There had been no challengers so far from the Israeli camp.  

The text goes on to reveal to us that Jesse, the father of David had three oldest sons which followed him into battle.  Our story tells us that David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep.  One day Jesse told David to take some grain, bread, and cheeses to his brothers and to the commander of the camp.     This is where our story ends today. 

Now, most of us know this story and how it will turn out.   When this story is taught we usually deal with the “giants” or intimidators in our life that appear to be so overwhelming that we can’t defeat them. 

I don’t know about you,  but I have been in an intimidating situation for the past month and the situation potentially can lead to major financial success for me but there are these giants that are at my door that are making me feel so overwhelmed.    When I read this story today, I made up my mind that I am going to emotionally fight my way through this and not let these thoughts in my mind overtake me and cause me to miss my blessing.    Goliath was an intimidator.   He looked strong and overwhelming but we will see in our story on next week how he is easily taken out.

I will not be posting tomorrow.   For those of us in the states, it is when the 4^th of July is celebrated seeing that the real holiday falls on a Saturday.   Most of us are off tomorrow and are traveling and will not be at our computers.   For my friends in other lands where this holiday is not celebrated, I wish you a wonderful weekend and I will return to our story and my posting on Monday.

Happy 4^th of July and May God bless you all.

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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