It's Complicated(S1) : WK 3 - MON

1 Samuel 17:3-11
… the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.

Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.

Goliath 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! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.

Psalm 143:4
I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.

Are there giants roaming the creek beds of your mind? Taunting you? Blocking you? Creating paralyzing fear and discouragement?

Our study begins with the people of God caught in a face-off against their Philistine enemies. Positioned on opposite plateaus, these two armies are separated by a valley carved by swollen rainy-season rivers. Currently, a shallow creek babbles where the river once flowed. However, the most striking feature of the valley? Goliath. For the past six weeks, each day has started the same way. The nearly ten-foot-tall hulking giant steps from the morning shadows, slams his telephone pole spear into the ground, and begins chanting taunts. His booming bass voice echoes across the canyon, ascending to the tents of the Israelites quaking in fear.

Goliath’s challenge is clear: Send me your best warrior, and we will fight to the death, winner take all. The Israelites feared Goliath. They were afraid of death, slavery, being called out, and failing. They worried no one would step up. As is often the case, overwhelmed by this fear, God’s people were paralyzed and motionless.

Ironically, the Hebrews have their own giant… King Saul. First Samuel 9:2 and 10:23 describe him as “head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.” Yet, in this story, Saul never leaves his tent. He, too, is petrified.

Have you ever experienced this? Where an enemy of your plans and future stands in the way? It’s easy to focus on such obstacles. They consume our thoughts and cloud our vision. We become demoralized and stuck. The giant could be a lack of finances or a habit that you can’t seem to overcome. It might also be a disease or illness. Ultimately, the giant leaves a heavy residue of fear that can easily thwart God’s plans in our lives. We feel immobilized, and no one appears able to help.

However, from the depths of this story, hope emerges. Courage arrives. We do well to note that courage isn’t the absence of fear. Instead, courage steps up in the face of fear. Sometimes, it comes from the most unpredictable places. And when it does, the results can be extraordinary.

1. What are your top 3 fears? The dark, heights, snakes, public speaking… what?
2. What “giant” currently stands in the way of one of your dreams or goals?
3. What idea has God been speaking to you about that seems too scary to try? What conversation would you like to have with Him about that?