June 19, 2021

Fear: It’s Risky Business

Claire Keene | Read 1 Samuel 17:1, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49

(Image: Pixabay)

1 Samuel 17:1, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49

¹ The Philistines assembled their troops for war at Socoh of Judah. They camped between Socoh and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. ⁴ A champion named Goliath from Gath came out from the Philistine camp. He was more than nine feet tall. ⁵ He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore bronze scale-armor weighing one hundred twenty-five pounds. ⁶ He had bronze plates on his shins, and a bronze scimitar hung on his back. ⁷ His spear shaft was as strong as the bar on a weaver’s loom, and its iron head weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer walked in front of him. ⁸ He stopped and shouted to the Israelite troops, “Why have you come and taken up battle formations? I am the Philistine champion, and you are Saul’s servants. Isn’t that right? Select one of your men, and let him come down against me. ⁹ If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will become your slaves, but if I overcome him and kill him, then you will become our slaves and you will serve us. ¹⁰ I insult Israel’s troops today!” The Philistine continued, “Give me an opponent, and we’ll fight!” ¹¹ When Saul and all Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were distressed and terrified. ¹⁹ They are with Saul and all the Israelite troops fighting the Philistines in the Elah Valley.” ²⁰ So David got up early in the morning, left someone in charge of the flock, and loaded up and left, just as his father Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp right when the army was taking up their battle formations and shouting the war cry. ²¹ Israel and the Philistines took up their battle formations opposite each other. ²² David left his things with an attendant and ran to the front line. When he arrived, he asked how his brothers were doing. ²³ Right when David was speaking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came forward from the Philistine ranks and said the same things he had said before. David listened. ³² “Don’t let anyone lose courage because of this Philistine!” David told Saul. “I, your servant, will go out and fight him!” ³³ “You can’t go out and fight this Philistine,” Saul answered David. “You are still a boy. But he’s been a warrior since he was a boy!” ³⁴ “Your servant has kept his father’s sheep,” David replied to Saul, “and if ever a lion or a bear came and carried off one of the flock, ³⁵ I would go after it, strike it, and rescue the animal from its mouth. If it turned on me, I would grab it at its jaw, strike it, and kill it. ³⁶ Your servant has fought both lions and bears. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them because he has insulted the army of the living God. ³⁷ “The LORD,” David added, “who rescued me from the power of both lions and bears, will rescue me from the power of this Philistine.” “Go!” Saul replied to David. “And may the LORD be with you!” ³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own gear, putting a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹ David strapped his sword on over the armor, but he couldn’t walk around well because he’d never tried it before. “I can’t walk in this,” David told Saul, “because I’ve never tried it before.” So he took them off. ⁴⁰ He then grabbed his staff and chose five smooth stones from the streambed. He put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag and with sling in hand went out to the Philistine. ⁴¹ The Philistine got closer and closer to David, and his shield-bearer was in front of him. ⁴² When the Philistine looked David over, he sneered at David because he was just a boy; reddish brown and good-looking. ⁴³ The Philistine asked David, “Am I some sort of dog that you come at me with sticks?” And he cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said to David, “and I’ll feed your flesh to the wild birds and the wild animals!” ⁴⁵ But David told the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword, spear, and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of heavenly forces, the God of Israel’s army, the one you’ve insulted. ⁴⁶ Today the LORD will hand you over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head! Today I will feed your dead body and the dead bodies of the entire Philistine camp to the wild birds and the wild animals. Then the whole world will know that there is a God on Israel’s side. ⁴⁷ And all those gathered here will know that the LORD doesn’t save by means of sword and spear. The LORD owns this war, and he will hand all of you over to us.” ⁴⁸ The Philistine got up and moved closer to attack David, and David ran quickly to the front line to face him. ⁴⁹ David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone. He slung it, and it hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone penetrated his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

Who or what is your Goliath? Who will protect you mightily, battle for you, gather spoils into your treasury? Who stands between you and your least-desired future? What wealth or weapon lies ready in your vault?

When COVID-19 reached my hometown last spring, churches and universities ceased face-to-face gatherings. Hospitals were buying extra space for quarantine wards. The stock market plummeted. Masks, respirators, and hand sanitizer were in short supply. Sports championships were cancelled. A huge sinkhole gaped maw-like on campus. Already operatives had attacked our digital security. The Southeast had flooded; then a nighttime tornado struck Middle Tennessee, killing thirty-one.

This was a different sort of March madness. Our medical systems, transportation, economy, infrastructure, entertainment, and internet were faltering. We could no longer blissfully depend on them. Those Goliaths could not underwrite our dreams.

We breathe in; we breathe out. Ah, yes. The Spirit still brings life.

Babies will be born today. Parents will conceive today. Some kindly hands and hearts will serve up chili for the hungry. Some pilot will land the plane safely. Some firefighters will save bodies from flames. Some nurse will gently bathe a patient, some doctor save a heart. Some voices will sing hymns, chant prayers to lift our souls. A dad will do the laundry, a mom feed and bathe the little ones. A grandparent will read stories to children whose heads nod sleepily. Some scientist may discover a never-before-seen star. Some teacher will inspire a lifetime’s pursuit. Some priest will bless and pardon, some sailor turn the rudder toward home. Some young shepherd will stand up to a giant and save the people. We love as God anoints us, and the Spirit—not Goliath—empowers our life.

Breathe yourself into us, O God, that we may depend on you alone and breathe you out upon each other. Amen.

Pray the Scriptures Using Audio Lectio
Read Mark 4:35-41

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Lectionary Week

June 14–20, 2021

Scripture Overview

As children of God, we will face opposition; but God will ultimately give us victory. The psalmist cries out to God asking for deliverance from oppression at the hands of his enemies and concludes the psalm with the assurance that God will do so. Tradition credits this psalm to David, who as a boy had risked his life against Goliath based on that same assurance. Goliath mocked the Israelites and their God, but God gave the victory. Paul recounts his sufferings for the gospel, yet he is not overcome or in despair, for he trusts in God. Jesus calms a storm and is disappointed that the disciples show so little faith. Why do they not believe in God’s deliverance? And what about us? Do we still believe in God’s deliverance?

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read 1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49. What “armor” do you use to protect yourself? When have you found the courage to put aside your armor because it was holding you back?
Read Psalm 9:9-20. When have you been provoked to cry out, “Rise up, O Lord?” On whose behalf did you cry?
Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. How have you commended yourself as a servant of God?
Read Mark 4:35-41. How do you find the quiet center when the storms of life rage around you?

Respond by posting a prayer.

I join many of those who will pray for you as you seek to discern what you are called to be at this moment. May God grant you the courage to fulfill that calling. May we all open our eyes and see the misery, open our ears and hear the cries of God’s people, and, like God through the Lord Jesus Christ, be incarnate amongst them.”

View a growing list of resources for the spiritual work of overcoming racism.

—Rev. Sidwell Mokgothu, Limpopo Synod Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and board member for Africa Upper Room Ministries

Fear: It’s Risky Business

Transformed Imaginations

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Fear: It’s Risky Business

1 Samuel 17:1, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49

Mark 4:35-41

Transformed Imaginations

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