Post from July 20, 2023

”👟 RSD 1178 ✅ Today’s Verse: “David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath…When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.” — 1 Samuel 17:51 (1+1+7+8=17, and it’s the 51st day of the “Summer Verse of the Day”)

Did you ever notice that stories from our childhood (think like fairy tales, Disney, Nickelodeon, TV) seem to have some common themes? You know that the princess is going to end up with her man at the end or that the dangerous journey the characters embark on will end with them safely at home. It seems that, no matter, what we watched as kids, themes like courage, friendship, hard choices, problem solving, and tenacity were common across our TV screens—you could actually learn from all these shows. Even on the scary kids’ shows, (think “Are You Afraid of the Dark?,” “Goosebumps,” “The Haunting Hour”), you have life lessons embedded in there, just packaged differently. Still, just like those non-scary shows where there’s an episode where the main character suddenly becomes popular for an episode and has to learn to navigate that social labyrinth with integrity, the scary shows had some “go-to” situational packaging as well. Think about it: you’re watching a scary kids’ show, and somebody gets a new doll—you know that situation is about to go south. Come to think of it, probably the scariest episode of the ‘60s show “The Hitchcock Hour” also involves a doll…and that show is definitely not for kids; I still remember the episode “Where the Woodbine Twineth,” and it’s…not a “right before bed” episode. There are the Chucky movies too, but those just got campy—nobody does freaky doll stories quite like Hitchcock or R.L. Stine or the writers on AYAOTD on Nickelodeon. For scary kids’ shows, R.L. Stine’s “The Haunting Hour” takes the cake for having the most real-life lessons type of things. In fact, there was this one episode where a girl learns too late that comparison really is the thief of joy, and the twist at the end involved a giant. Like, a giant giant, not that friendly giant who turned the music box crank on “Eureeka’s Castle” (yeah, the happy show from preschool days…also written by R.L. Stine—did you know that?). Anyway, this giant giant was terrifying…and you never actually saw him.

Kids’ shows and fairy tales always seem to have a giant story. Why is that? I think they’re inherently scary because, I mean, 1) evidence shows giants present in human history and 2) it’s the idea that they’re just so much bigger than we are. If they decide that they are a mean giant, how do we compete with that? It’s these questions where the scary kids’ shows are just as valuable as the other (happy) kids’ shows because they teach us that whatever monsters we face in life can be defeated with teamwork, courage, faith, and a little imagination. We’re grown up now, so we’re not really afraid of the things in those scary kids’ shows. I mean, we aren’t afraid of some giant stepping on us…right? See, as we get older, we realize that there are monsters and giants that we have to face in life, but they take on a different form. You’ve heard of “you can’t fight city hall”? Think about it: fighting things that are so much bigger than us is still terrifying for us as adults. It’s pretty much impossible to defeat a giant, I mean—really. Even if it’s not a metaphorical giant threatening to bring us to ruin (in whatever situation), and it’s a real-life ten+ feet tall giant who wants to cause us physical harm—what are we supposed to do? Hide, maybe. The idea of it is quite humbling…and defeating. If it’s any of us versus somebody like that, we’re just too small to come out of that one…unless, of course, we get help from somebody bigger.

Today’s verse has a story with it: God showing us how to deal with giants by enabling an unlikely hero to defeat a literal giant. My dudes, today let’s take a look at the miracle victory found in the story of “David and Goliath.” There was military conflict (isn’t there always…kind of like now?)—this one was the Israelites (the people who acknowledged and worshiped God) versus the Philistines (they…didn’t). In fact, their champion fighter was a guy who was, you guessed it, a giant. A literal giant. It’s a rare human thing, but it does happen—he’s the guy, Goliath, that you’ve heard of. The two armies basically were facing off each day, but Goliath decided to change the rules of battle to become a battle between the two champion fighters. On the Philistine side: Goliath, of course, and on the Israelite side: crickets. See, Goliath was shrewd here; the deal was one-on-one combat, and, as with any battle in the Iron Age, it was going to be a very personal battle. So, the Israelite army didn’t have anyone near that size, and, in hand-to-hand (or hand-to-spear/knife/sword, etc.) combat, size really does matter. See Goliath wasn’t just tall and skinny; Goliath was built, SWOL—this guy’s armor alone weighed more than some men do…definitely not the guy you want to be fighting up close. Plus, part of Goliath’s challenge was that whoever won, won for everybody, so the other side would become the de facto slaves for the other side (if they survived…many times prisoners of war were killed in horrible ways because the other side “could”). So, no takers from the Israelites.

But, as it turns out, three of the Israelite soldiers were brothers who had a worried father and a little brother eager to help by bringing them food on the battlefield. We’ve talked about David (from the Psalms, Solomon’s dad, the king)—he’s the little brother. A kid. Maybe 13 or 14? Probably hasn’t had that big growth spurt yet…not that it would’ve helped much anyway. He gets there one day in time to hear Goliath’s daily challenge. Goliath was mocking the Israelites, mocking their king, mocking God—record screeches…mocking God. David was a shepherd, so he spent a lot of time watching over his flock, and, well, that must’ve afforded him time to think and to pray. David believed in Israel’s bright future that God had promised. David believed that God was on their side. David believed that God was bigger than anything or anyone. David knew this giant who “‘def[ied] the armies of the living God’” could be defeated with God’s help (1 Samuel 17:26). So David, perplexed that no one will step up to defend Israel, volunteers. Nobody was cool with it. But, David pleaded his case before the king. Since David was already employed doing small jobs for the king’s army, going back and forth between the flock and the king, the king already knew him…and still wasn’t sure this was a stellar idea. David pleaded his case. See, as a shepherd, David had his fair share of interactions with large wild animals. Lions and bears (oh my!) love the taste of sheep, and it was David’s job to prevent his flock from becoming dinner for these predators. No firearms back then, so David had to fight beasts up close and personal. Using the fact that “‘the lord who rescued [him] from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear [would] rescue [him] from the hand of this Philistine’” (1 Samuel 17:37). Yesterday, we talked about deriving comfort for the future from the evidence in the past. David’s logic was this: his odds also stunk against the lions and bears, and God brought him through that because he was protecting his flock, doing the right thing. He figured God would come through for someone protecting God’s flock, trying his best to do what God wants. The king decides he’s got a point and knows David and God are close. So, he wished him well (“‘ Go, and the Lord be with you’” — 1 Samuel 17:37) and tried to get him to take the king’s armor…but it just swallowed David (no big growth spurt yet). High-quality weapons are also heavy, so David stayed on script: his shepherd’s staff, a few rocks, and a sling. David, trusting in God, goes to the line to meet his adversary, and Goliath had a field day with David’s size and lack of weaponry.

David simply announces to him, “‘I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head…the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands‘“ (1 Samuel 17:45-47). The chosen champions from the two sides began to face off. David takes the stone, and uses his sling to shoot it into the giant’s forehead…and it, you know, sticks in there…like catastrophic brain injury (eww, right?), prompting the giant to fall “facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him” (1 Samuel 17:49-50). David then borrows a sword and cuts off the giant’s head (I know…eww…but that was a thing to signify victory back then…it’s not like they could make a poster or something). Today’s verse discusses this part and the part thereafter when the Philistines try to get out of dodge…unsuccessfully.

David knew that he was on the right side of things, and, just as God enabled him to strangle a lion, God enabled him to kill a giant. David trusted, obeyed, and, even though he probably wasn’t sure what he would do when he faced the giant, he knew that he’d somehow have everything he needed. So, what does that have to do with us? Sometimes we face giants (thankfully, not usually in person form). “You can’t fight city hall.” “I’m too old to ______.” “I’m too out of shape to _______.” “I’m too afraid to _______.” “I don’t have the resources to _______.” “I’m not smart enough to _______.” “I’ve forgotten too much knowledge in this area to _______.” “I’m too tired to _______.” “I’m not talented enough to ________.” “I’m not important enough to _______.” “I’m not worthy to ______.” “I don’t have enough faith to ________.” Any of that sound familiar? Sometimes giants are the “you can’t fight city hall” kind, and sometimes the giants are obstacles in the path God has laid out for us. A lot of times, the giants seem really big, so we need help from somebody bigger. When life gets to be a lot, try God. David knew God was with him, and he bodily went into an impossible situation because he knew what God was going to do (just not the details).

See, I think that’s it for us: we get too hung up on the details. Does God really need to show us the playbook? Admittedly, it would make me feel a lot better about some things, but that’s not how it goes. We lean on faith in these times so that, as we’re moving through it, we feel God moving alongside us. Our bond strengthens, and so do we. If we saw the playbook, maybe we’d be like, “Oh, ok God: I’ve got this. Take 5.” Or, we’d not hold up our part in it because “it’s just going to turn out anyway—imma sit this one out.” It all sounds dumb, but that’s exactly what we would do. God wants us to show up for things and to do so with His guidance. Think about it: He could’ve sent a lightning bolt or something to take care of Goliath—God didn’t need David. But instead, He chose a 13/14 year old kid. Why? Because God wanted everybody to see that He can use anyone who’s willing to stand up and say, “You know what, God? I’m willing to serve. Use me.” When God uses you to do something great (even small good things are great to those on the receiving end of your small good works), God will give you what you need. David writes in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing,” and his story reminds us that whatever giants we face in life can be defeated with courage, faith, and a little imagination. What about “teamwork” from this list at the beginning-ish of this reflection? Well, guess Who’s on your team…”