Scripture
Goliath Challenges the Israelites
1The 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[1] tall! 5He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds.[2] 6He 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.[3] 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.
Translation notes (3)
- 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].
33I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
When we follow people on social media, we often assume that their lives are perfect. We see the vacations they are on, the cute pictures of their children, the new houses they bought, and so much more, leading us to assume that their lives must be without trouble and hard times. However, if we get to know them and their stories, we will quickly find that there is much more they are facing behind the highlight reels on their social media accounts. The truth is, we all face adversity. We all face hard times, and no one is exempt from the pain of this life on this side of heaven. The good news is, we have a God who walks with us through our pain.
The Israelites were walking through a very difficult time in 1 Samuel 17. They were fighting against the Philistine army, and many of them were frightened. There was one particular member of the Philistine army, a giant of a man named Goliath, who terrified them. He would taunt the Israelites, calling just one man from the Israelite army to fight him. If the Israelite man won, the Philistines would surrender to Israel, but the Israelites would be slaves to the Philistines if the Israelite man lost. According to 1 Samuel 17, "when Saul and the Israelites heard this taunting from Goliath, they were terrified and deeply shaken" (verse 11).
Faith always pushes through our fears. Saul's inability to pass through his fear left him in a place of isolation. As a result, Saul and the Israelite army were overcome by fear instead of faith. This is not what God wants from us.
The truth is, Scripture teaches that while on this earth, we will have hard times. Jesus said in John 16:33, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world." We do not get to choose if and when we will face hard times, but we get to choose how we will respond to our difficulties when they come. Will we panic and fret, or will we trust that Christ has overcome the world? Only one of these paths leads to peace. May you and I have peace today, regardless of what we are facing, because Christ has, indeed, overcome the world.
Moving toward action
What adversity are you facing today? What makes you feel inadequate to do the thing God has called you to do? Take it to God. Tell Him the struggles you are facing, and the enemies that you feel are surrounding you. Ask Him to make Himself known through your life and to show His strength when you feel weak or vulnerable. Ask Him for confidence as you seek to follow Him throughout the challenges up against you.
Going Deeper
Read 1 Samuel 17:1-11 (NLT)
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