Fear Not Goliath

Last month, I mentioned a woman of faith whom Jesus complimented.  Convinced that God would meet her needs, she put all she had in the temple treasury.  I labeled it an act of Stewardship beyond Survival.  To me, her story is good news especially for people of faith in these days of economic hardship.  There is more good news.  In an old, old story about a young man (boy actually) survival and stewardship merge into an historic act that vanquishes a so-called invincible foe.  (Samuel 17: 1-58)  

The foe is Goliath the Philistine.  He threatens and wreaks havoc among the Israelites.  King Saul, the leader of the country and his army are afraid to challenge Goliath.  Acceptance of retreat and defeat seem inevitable.  But David, the shepherd boy, places another option before Saul.  He recalls dangerous confrontations with lions and bears over the sheep in his care.  And God delivers him and them. “If God can deliver David and his sheep from the jaws of lions and bears, God can deliver his country from the devastating power of Goliath,” reasons the shepherd boy.  With slingshot and stone, the shepherd boy does battle with Goliath and defeats him.  Much ado is made about David’s weapon of destruction.  Look deeper.  Goliath’s demise has more to do with the depth of David’s faith not slingshot weaponry.  Believing that “the battle is the Lord’s…the Lord saves and delivers, David accomplishes a so-called impossible task.  And his nation gets back to the task of being about God’s business.

These days, it feels like too many of God’s people perceive the failing U.S. economy as Goliath.  In the clothes of job loss, foreclosures, a depressed stock market, bankruptcy, inadequate support for mission and ministry, the loss of hope, unrelenting anxiety etc., this economic Goliath is wreaking havoc in church and society.  If the biblical faith stance of David is credible, we know that is not the case.  Against Christ and his church, all goliaths face one future, defeat.  Granted it is extremely hard to maintain a strong faith when all sorts of goliaths pin God’s people to the wall.  Goliaths do have power; to intimidate, to misdirect, to change your mission, to make you think the possible is no longer possible, to make you live in fear 24/7, to kill even if you are a king with an army like Saul.  Yet, the shepherd boy embodies a familiar refrain expressed countless times in scripture and life “fear not, I am with you.

Whatever goliaths we face; confront them.  Go with God.  And do not be afraid.  But take more than David’s slingshot and five stones with you.  The multiplicity of goliaths threatening meaningful mission and ministry   require the whole armor of God for the struggle.  So, “gird your loins with truth…put on the breastplate of righteousness…shod your feet with the gospel of peace…take up the shield of faith…the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit.  (Ephesians 6:10-17) No goliath can withstand that kind of armament.  By the way, if we must give in to fear.  Do this.  Fear not those who can kill the body.  Fear him who can destroy both body and soul!!! (Mt. 10:28)

By: Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton On 3/1/2009
Topics: Bishop