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.
The world has a rubric that determines might and power. The above was the rubric for David’s day. The Goliath of Gath was everything man worshiped. His size alone would automatically give him an NFL contract. The equipment he carried would be the envy of every militia on the planet at the time.
When David shows up later he will be carrying a small sling and five stones. In the world’s eyes this battle will be like a little league baseball player trying to hit a major league pitcher’s fastball. No contest!
This the beauty of who God is and what He does for us. We see the challenges they are dressed up like Goliath as completely insurmountable. In our eyes we see the reality of their enormous strength compared to ours. Yet, here is where we have to remember something said to Samuel in the previous chapter. Samuel had gone to David’s father (Jesse) at the command of God. God had chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king of Israel (David). When Samuel saw Jesse’s oldest son and saw how big he was, Samuel thought that this surely was God’s choice. Again, like the world, Samuel had a rubric. He had a way to measure size and strength, that was equated in his mind to success. Yet, note what God told him:
1 Samuel 16:6-7 (ESV)
When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
When we are meet with the challenges of life they often take our minds toward the rubric of the world. God sees something different. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, it was not on a white steed with an army behind Him. It was a small donkey, never ridden before. Jesus did not come with the message of strength. Instead He said this:
Matthew 11:29 (ESV)
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
When your Goliath shows up (and he will) it is okay to be fearful. When Israel saw Goliath this is what happened:
1 Samuel 17:11 (ESV)
When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
But God was going to send them a little boy with a lunch for his brothers in one hand and sling in the other. His outward appearance was frail. His inward heart was full of faith toward God. That is all God requires.
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