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. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The 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. He 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. If 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.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
(1 Samuel 17:1-11 ESV)
He was so big, physically, that he was all they could see. Goliath - the one two heads and shoulders above Saul, who was "head and shoulders above the rest." He more than stuck out. He overshadowed all. He was all they could see, and that brought terror. Who or what is our Goliath? The one person, thing or situation that is all we can see or think about? He takes up our time, day after day. It pulls us down out of the Light of Eternity. We allow it, we allow them, to blot out what is behind and beside and before and over them and us: God Himself and His Plan. We need to move our focus. There is much more, so much more for us to see, so that Goliath is seen for who he really is: a big mouthed, small part of reality.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
When it's all you can see...
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. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The 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. He 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. If 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.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
(1 Samuel 17:1-11 ESV)
He was so big, physically, that he was all they could see. Goliath - the one two heads and shoulders above Saul, who was "head and shoulders above the rest." He more than stuck out. He overshadowed all. He was all they could see, and that brought terror. Who or what is our Goliath? The one person, thing or situation that is all we can see or think about? He takes up our time, day after day. It pulls us down out of the Light of Eternity. We allow it, we allow them, to blot out what is behind and beside and before and over them and us: God Himself and His Plan. We need to move our focus. There is much more, so much more for us to see, so that Goliath is seen for who he really is: a big mouthed, small part of reality.
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