Saturday mornings were my favorite time of the week. I would awaken early, before my Mom and Dad, creep down the stairs, turn on the TV with the knob on the front, change the channel with a dial to one of the three channels that we had. Then I would turn down the volume on another knob on the front of the TV, and lay on the floor on my stomach to wait for it. I saw the test pattern on the screen from the television station being shutdown overnight. It was a series of colors and then when the station was ready to ‘boot up’ (in today’s language), it would play the National Anthem and show a picture of the U.S. flag. Oftentimes, there would be a prayer or a religious acknowledgement before the station began for the day. After the station would begin, there would be a quick farm report regarding agricultural subjects like harvesting tips, farm equipment, and other things that may be of interest. Once all of that played, now we’re cooking with gas, and ready for my program to start, ‘Davey and Goliath’. Davey was a little boy with a big dog named Goliath. The stories were very short, only 15 minutes. In each of the episodes, the clay animated characters of Davey and Goliath experienced a challenge or conflict within themselves or in their friends. After drawing on the wisdom of their parents, another individual, or their own moral compass, the end of the story showed wisdom and the right thing to do.
About the time that Davey and Goliath was over, my Mom and Dad would be up, and the day would begin. However, that early morning lesson of Davey and Goliath, no matter how simple it was, was filed away inside my brain and helped form some of the tools in my moral and religious toolbox.
I was pondering on the real, alive, actions of David and Goliath this week. It wasn’t an animated story, nor was it a little fable that little ones found mildly interesting. It was about a real boy by the name of David who a young boy who tended after his father’s sheep. He had 7 older brothers, and 3 of them had volunteered for the King’s army to fight the Philistines.
4-7 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was a giant of a man, measuring over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, a two-hundred-pound coat of mail, bronze leggings, and carried a bronze javelin several inches thick, tipped with a twenty-five-pound iron spearhead, and his armor-bearer walked ahead of him with a huge shield.
8 He stood and shouted across to the Israelis, “Do you need a whole army to settle this? I will represent the Philistines, and you choose someone to represent you, and we will settle this in single combat! 9 If your man is able to kill me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, then you must be our slaves! 10 I defy the armies of Israel! Send me a man who will fight with me!”
That was quite an challenge to the Israeli Army who was armed to battle Goliath. Why get both armies involved? You choose someone to fight for your side, and they will fight me. If your man of choice is able to kill me, then we will be your slaves; however, if I am able to kill him, then you must be our slaves. OK. Who should we choose that would be able to fight and destroy the giant?
Little David, who tended the sheep, had slipped away to the battle area to check on his brothers to make sure they were okay, and he would take that word back to his aging father, Jesse. David heard this call to action, and quickly believed it was he that should be the one to conquer this Giant. What?? He stepped forward and said ‘Don’t worry about a thing, I’ll take care of this Philistine!’ as the whole Israeli army was running away in fright. King Saul was on the scene as the two armies faced one another, with the Giant stepping forward from the Philistines, and young David rose to the occasion and was convinced that God had chosen him to conquer this giant of a man.
David shouted to the giant ‘You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord. Today I will conquer you!’ ‘As Goliath approached, David ran out to meet him and, reaching into his shepherd’s bag, took out a stone, hurled it from his sling, and hit the Giant Goliath in his forehead. The stone sank in, and the man fell on his face to the ground.’ He had conquered the Giant with a stone and his sling shot, with the unshakable faith that God would give him the strength to do so, and he did! Reread the account of the true life David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 to bolster our faith.
What are the Giants in your life right now? Chronic Illness? Relationship issues? Fear of COVID that you would get it or someone you love? Financial Fears? Employment Fears? Housing Fears? A combination of it all? I saw a picture on Facebook this week that expressed what many of us may be thinking in our prayers in this time of great uncertainty.
God already knows what Goliath we are facing today, better than we do. Matthew 17:20 says ‘“For if you had faith even as small as a tiny mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would go far away. Nothing would be impossible.’ God will make a way when there seems to be no way.
As hard as it sounds, if we are able to assemble our troops for battle with God, step forward with just a little mustard seed-size faith, speak words to those Giants that we will be the one to conquer, we will watch God do the battling for us.
For those of you whose souls are touched best by music, much like mine, below are the lyrics and the youtube link to two songs that are so appropriate. Just sit back, relax, rid your mind of worry and fear, and allow the music to fill you with His strength to do battle.
God Will Make a Way
Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way
By a roadway in the wilderness, He’ll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade but His word will still remain
And He will do something new today
Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way
By a roadway in the wilderness, He’ll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade but His word will still remain
And He will do something new today
Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way
God Will Make a Way
Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed
Faith as small as a mustard seed
Will move mountains move mountains
Faith as small as a mustard seed
Will move mountains by the power of God
Believe what Jesus said was true
Believe He meant it just for you
Wait and see what God will do As you pray as you pray
May you be greatly blessed in whatever battle you face today.
Candy
Musings from Candy 