Facing Your Giant
Are there things that frighten you?
When have you or I been in a
situation
when we felt
overwhelmed?
How do we deal with that situation?
I remember a tv show from years ago,
when several youths
were fighting
a menacing giant
(fear).
They found a picture
in a book that showed a scary,
fierce beast and
they were all afraid to face this ‘fear’ giant.
They later
discovered the small caption under the picture
of the beast, it said
‘actual size’.
Meaning this scary fierce beast was only 2 inches tall.
Yet, our fears can seem too big to
defeat, too overwhelming.
The disciples are in a boat with Jesus as
they cross the Sea
of Galilee and suddenly there is a storm.
These men are experienced fishermen,
they understand
the danger of these fierce storms.
This is a dangerous situation!
The
boat may sink.
They
may drown.
Their
fear is real.
Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the boat
until the disciples
awake him in their
panicked state.
Jesus
is there, physically present with
the disciples
in their anxiety.
Jesus speaks to the wind and the seas…
“Peace! Be still!”
Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.
Jesus
has authority over the wind, over the sea, over nature,
over all creation!
God
spoke with authority and creation began;
Jesus spoke, and creation responded to
his authority.
God
had authority over primeval chaos at the creation;
Jesus has authority over the power of
nature.
After the sea calms, Jesus then turns to
the disciples and has
a simple question
for them…
He said to them, “Why are you afraid?
Have you still
no faith?”
I think we can relate to the disciples.
We have faith and trust in God,
but there are
times you and I
in
our panicked state, we let our fear over take us.
Our hope is and must be in the trust we have in Jesus Christ!
If you and I let fear and doubt
overwhelm us,
we
may lose sight of our true source of
strength and
courage -God!
This is where the example of David can
speak to us today.
David (the boy anointed who will one day
be king) vs
Goliath (the Philistine who intimidates
and taunts the Israelites).
Goliath is described as a giant.
He was a man, taller than most of the
people of his time;
some historians
estimate his height as 6 feet 9.
He must have towered over most men.
Goliath’s taunts Israel, as a bully might
do.
The
Israelites are frightened, the soldiers did not want
to volunteer to be
the one to fight Goliath one on one;
Saul too did not take up his sword and go to face
Goliath.
Goliath is well armed and ready for
battle:
5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and
he was armed
with a coat of mail;
the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of
bronze.
6 He had greaves of bronze on his legs and
a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.
7 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.
David, on the other hand, the shepherd boy
has no armor, yet,
he
is willing to face this giant. Why?
David is passionate in his faith.
His courage comes
from God.
Is there a living God in Israel?
David answers yes.
David knew from past experience that God was with him.
David protected his flock,
with God’s help he
defeated lions and bears;
David’s confidence, trust, faith are all gifts from God!
Saul tries to arm David for battle with armor and weapons:
38 Saul clothed David with his armor;
he
put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him
with
a coat of mail.
39 David strapped Saul’s sword over
the armor.
This earthly armor was not for David;
his shepherd’s weapons of a sling and a stone
were sufficient for
his task.
But that is not all David took with him to defeat Goliath.
As Paul advises to the Ephesians:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength
of his power.
so that you
may be able to stand against
the wiles of
the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and
flesh, but against the rulers, against the
authorities,
against the
cosmic powers of this present darkness,
against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that
you may be
able to withstand on that evil day,
and having
done everything, to stand firm.
Instead of a helmet of bronze,
put on the helmet of
salvation
which symbolizes
Yahweh’s mission to vindicate
God’s people and
promote God’s cause in the world;
Instead of a javelin of bronze and a spear or a military sword,
wield the sword of
the Spirit with its cutting power
when the word of God
is uttered:
Instead of depending on a shield-bearer,
cover you whole body with the shield of faith;
Instead of a coat of mail,
put on the belt of truth which shows you are prepared, and
the breastplate of righteousness,
a symbol from prophetic literature where it was used in the
crusade against
social evil;
In addition, Paul reminds us that feet need shoes
for marching and
mission;
And one more thing, perhaps the most important thing:
“Pray in the Spirit at all times
in every prayer and supplication.”
Put on the whole armor of God!
God is compassionate;
God is the source of strength;
with God’s help there can be,
there will be positive transformation.
The shepherd boy, anointed to be king,
will go from protecting his flock of sheep
to caring for the
nation of Israel.
David did not defeat Goliath for his personal praise and glory,
it was for glorification of the God of Israel;
it summoned Israel and all the nations to fresh faith
in
Yahweh.
As theologian Walter Brueggemann states
“David refuses to be
like Saul,
like
other nations,
like the Philistines”.
David was assured that God was with him;
the disciples even
with Jesus physically present with them,
panicked in the
boat.
“Why are you afraid?
Have you still no faith?”
David had on the armor of God;
the disciples should have had more faith,
perhaps putting on
the lifejacket of God.
Is there a storm in our lives that feels as if it will overwhelm us?
Do you fear you may drown in sadness or despair?
What giants do we face?
illness…
responsibilities and obligations…
career demands…
loneliness…
insecurity…
uncertainties?
Is your giant...large, powerful, intimidating?
Identify your giant.
Let us take the first step in facing our giants together:
I invite you to close your eyes, if you wish and
take a deep breath;
feel the breath of the Holy Spirit within you.
Recognize your giant -silently name it.
Acknowledge your fear, your doubts, your uncertainty;
You and God are going to take on the giant together!
The giant of your current situation is now frozen
and unable to harm
you.
This is not your first giant
just as David had
faced
lions and bears
before, you have past giants;
Remember a giant from your past,
the emotions you
experienced then.
Remember too how you overcame that giant;
how did God help you
conquer that giant?
What God-given gifts helped you defeat that giant?
Now you and I will face our giants of today. How?
We put on the whole armor of God.
Remember that God was with us in past battles,
God is with you and me in today’s struggle,
and God will be with
us each time we face our giants.
The giant can feel overwhelming, yet
God’s power is
bigger than any giant.
Open your eyes and see this cross behind me.
It is strong, sturdy, and in its larger than any fear
you and I may struggle with;
we can see the
mighty power and love of God.
What are you and I armed with as believers
and followers of
Christ?
Truth
Righteousness
Readiness grounded
in the Good News of Shalom
Trust
Deliverance/salvation
Word of God given by
the Spirit
Prayers.
Fear of the giant, fear amidst the storm….
we can put on the whole armor of God.
Our giants seem big, but once we face them
with the confidence
and gifts God has given us,
with the assurance
that Jesus is in the boat with us,
with the power of
the Holy Spirit…
suddenly our giants
become small, easy to defeat.
You and I can face our giants,
God’s mighty power defeats
them.
Amen.
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| cross at Lake City Presbyterian Church, Lake City, SC |
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