A Fair Fight?

#1 · July 25, 2007, 3:33 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on July 25, 2007, 3:33 pm
Posted by: <@...>
Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. (1 Samuel 17:8-12).

Have you ever noticed that the Israelites allowed Goliath to set the terms of the fight? The New International Version says that Goliath was over 9 feet tall; about 3 meters. (Yao Ming is 7 feet, 5 inches; about 2.25 meters.) They had every right to be afraid - IF they fought as Goliath dictated: one inadequate servant against a mighty warring giant. Goliath set the framework - a box, so to speak - for their thoughts. In doing so, he tauntingly predicted the battle's outcome (their inescapable failure) and their future (the nation's return to the grip of horrific slavery). Their resulting fear kept them defeated.

How often do we allow the enemy to set the terms of the battles in our lives? Trapped between two unpleasant choices, do we allow fear to render us helpless? How many times do we allow the enemy to define our identity and label us inadequate for God's purposes? Do we allow him to convince us that God has abandoned us, something God explicitly asserted He would never do (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrew 13:5)? Are his lies undermining our future with words like, "You'll never be more than just a ___________"?

"Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (vs. 26) It wasn't merely the ranting of a defiant youth; David understood that he was under covenant with Jehovah God. Any limits the enemy tried to put on him would also have to be big enough to hold the Creator of the universe, who would never leave or forsake him. He was saying in essence, 'It isn't just little me against great big you, Goliath. Permit me to introduce the Third Man in the fight! And by the way, I'm on HIS side!'

Heavenly Father, You are so amazing! Awesome, magnificent … Words cannot describe You; none can compare to You. The power of Your word holds the universe in perfect precision. The power of Your love sent Jesus to the cross. The magnitude of Your vision sees beyond the scope of time and circumstance. And yet You are present in every moment, in every battle, for every one of Your children. Father, please help us to see You more clearly, to trust You more intimately, and to overcome the enemy's lies with Your truth. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Posted by: <@...>

Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. (1 Samuel 17:8-12).

Have you ever noticed that the Israelites allowed Goliath to set the terms of the fight? The New International Version says that Goliath was over 9 feet tall; about 3 meters. (Yao Ming is 7 feet, 5 inches; about 2.25 meters.) They had every right to be afraid - IF they fought as Goliath dictated: one inadequate servant against a mighty warring giant. Goliath set the framework - a box, so to speak - for their thoughts. In doing so, he tauntingly predicted the battle's outcome (their inescapable failure) and their future (the nation's return to the grip of horrific slavery). Their resulting fear kept them defeated.

How often do we allow the enemy to set the terms of the battles in our lives? Trapped between two unpleasant choices, do we allow fear to render us helpless? How many times do we allow the enemy to define our identity and label us inadequate for God's purposes? Do we allow him to convince us that God has abandoned us, something God explicitly asserted He would never do (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrew 13:5)? Are his lies undermining our future with words like, "You'll never be more than just a ___________"?

"Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (vs. 26) It wasn't merely the ranting of a defiant youth; David understood that he was under covenant with Jehovah God. Any limits the enemy tried to put on him would also have to be big enough to hold the Creator of the universe, who would never leave or forsake him. He was saying in essence, 'It isn't just little me against great big you, Goliath. Permit me to introduce the Third Man in the fight! And by the way, I'm on HIS side!'

Heavenly Father, You are so amazing! Awesome, magnificent … Words cannot describe You; none can compare to You. The power of Your word holds the universe in perfect precision. The power of Your love sent Jesus to the cross. The magnitude of Your vision sees beyond the scope of time and circumstance. And yet You are present in every moment, in every battle, for every one of Your children. Father, please help us to see You more clearly, to trust You more intimately, and to overcome the enemy's lies with Your truth. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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