Heavenly Father, I present my sins before You, hiding nothing so that I mayreceive Your grace and mercy. - P131
As one fully forgiven, I worship You, givingYou the praise You so richly deserve and enjoying Your goodness. In Jesus‘
name, amen. - P131
4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath.
came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. - P132
9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become yoursubjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you willbecome our subjects and serve us.‘
10 Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the armiesof Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other."
- P133
11 On hearing the Philistine‘s words, Saul and all theIsraelites were dismayed and terrified.
- P133
The Philistine army assembles for war, and the Israelites draw up their battleline to meet them. A champion named Goliath comes out of the Philistinecamp wearing bronze armor that weighs five thousand shekels. - P133
He mocksthe Israelites and challenges them to a fight. On hearing his words, Saul andall the Israelites become terrified. - P133
Our passage today sets up an epic scene that we can easily imagineplayed out on the big screen. - P134
The Philistine army assembles on one hilland the Israelites on another, with a valley in between. Enter Goliath,
who is not only a three-meter mountain
of a man but also wears armorthat weighs almost sixty kilograms and wields a weapon with an ironpoint of almost ten kilograms! - P134
You can imagine the Israelites coweringin fear-a natural response when we face life-threatening situations.
- P134
But as mighty as our enemy seems, our God is the strongest warrior ofall. - P134
And He is always on our side. - P134
May we take heart in is truth andlive with courage, trusting in God‘s power. - P134
Goliath‘s terms are straightforward:one fight with two contenders whoeach represent their entire army. The stakes could not be any higher asthe loser‘s people will become the winner‘s slaves. - P134
Goliath knows thatthere is no one in the Israelite army that comes close to matching hisphysical power, and his defiant challenge strikes fear into the Israel-ites‘ hearts. - P134
Our enemy, Satan, often uses similar tactics like fear andintimidation in his attempt to bully us into accepting defeat. - P134
Whensuch attacks arise, we must remember that everything that comes outof the enemy‘s mouth is a lie. - P134
Let us look to God‘s Word and cling tothe truth: Jesus defeated Satan on the cross and all His followers share in His decisive victory. - P134
Dear Jesus, I am ever susceptible to the weaknesses of my flesh, the attacksof Satan, and the temptations of this world. - P135
But I praise You for being myadvocate and champion, and in You alone I find my salvation and solace. InYour name, amen. - P135
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