FACING YOUR GIANTS

Sir,

It was a quiet day in the valley of Elah. The warriors from Israel had been camped along the valley for 40 days. King Saul was in his tent with a troubled heart. The answer had not come in the past 40 days and there seemed to be no hope in finding it that day. Then it happened just like each day prior. Goliath of Gath walked from within the Philistine camp and made his way to the edge of the valley.  His voice and words were as frightening as his appearance.  To call him a giant seemed almost an understatement.

Normally, David was close by Saul to play the harp and soothe him when he called but not for the past 40 days.  David had gone home before the army marched to Elah because his elderly father needed him to help with the sheep.

Cursing

Even though David was home, three of Jesse’s sons were in the valley of Ellah. Jesse longed to know how the battle was going so he decided to send young David to take some food and check on them.Upon  David’s arrival at the valley, Goliath emerged from among the ranks of the Philistines and began his usual cursing and mocking of the army and God of Israel. 

When Goliath stepped forth the army of Israel turned and ran.  David was amazed at what he witnessed.  Never in his life had he seen the armies of God turn and run for fear of one man. 

In his bewilderment David asked, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” His eldest brother, Eliab, was really irritated with David and asked him why he was not back tending the sheep where he belonged. Eliab’s ears were not the only ones to hear David’s questioning.  The report spread quickly to Saul’s tent and he sent for David. Sensing the problem, David quickly said to the king, “Don’t worry.  I’ll go out and fight the Philistine for you.”

Agreed

Reluctantly, Saul agreed to let David go out to meet the giant.  Since Saul was not using his personal armour he took it and placed it on David.  King Saul was no ordinary man when it came to physical size so the king’s armor swallowed David whole when it was draped upon him.  David knew in an instant that Saul’s armour was not going to work at all.  Instead of Saul’s armour David chose to wear the armor of the King of kings. 
He left Saul’s tent, and David picked five smooth stones from the brook.  With a sling in hand and God in his heart, David did something that no man had dared to do in over 40 days: he rushed out to meet Goliath on the field of battle.

Goliath was as arrogant as always and upon seeing David running out to meet him he could not believe his eyes.  He called out and said, “Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?”  Goliath then cursed David with a promise to tear him in pieces and leave him for the birds.  Goliath’s taunting did not sway David in the least.  He ran swifter than before and he called out to the giant, “You come with the weapons of war, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts and the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.”

As David ran forward he loaded one of the smooth stones in his sling and released the stone. It all happened so fast Goliath never knew what really happened.  That stone smashed into his forehead with a cracking thud.  Almost instantly the giant lost consciousness and crashed to the ground.
After the fall of the giant, David ran toward the crumpled body.  When he got there, David drew Goliath’s sword.  With all his might he raised it above his head and brought it down across the giant’s neck.

The silence was broken by the cry of war from the armies of Israel.  The men of Israel charged across the valley in pursuit of the Philistines who turned and ran when they saw their champion fall.  That day saw the fall of many Philistines and the restoration of glory to the God of Israel. Dearly beloved, I know that none of us have ever faced a Philistine giant.  However, I know that modern-day giants come in many forms.  They come in the form of financial turmoil.  They come in the form of unemployment. 

Bopoto Gwinyai
7663 8191

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