Facing Giants!

In our text today the Israel community finds themselves on the brink of a fight with the Philistines people. Here the Israel army faces a giant called Goliath. Let's look at the text:

1st Samuel 17:1-11 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. ²Saul and the Israelites gathered and encamped in the valley of Elah, and formed ranks against the Philistines. ³The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. ⁴And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. ⁵He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armoured with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. ⁶He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. ⁷The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. ⁸He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. ⁹If he is able to fight with 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 serve us.’ ¹⁰And the Philistine said, ‘Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.’ ¹¹When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.


While the Philistines were boasting, big, and bold the people of God the Israelites were afraid! In life we will all meet Giants, the question is will we be afraid to face them or will we face our Giants with courage? How do you face the Giants of unemployment, illness, grades, money and faith? Until this point in our text the people of Israel have been taken care of by God for many years, but it seems that there faith and memory has vanished.

Brothers and sisters when Giants arise in your lives remember what God has done for you and where you have come from. Stand on your faith fearing only what God will do to those Giants on your behalf!

Be Well, Love Pastor J