Giants & Weeds

As I look out across my lawn I am overwhelmed with the weeds of all varieties thriving as if I had thrown out seeds and Miracle Grow together. I am being invaded by an army of thistles, briars, dandelions and other barbarian plants. Some at over 3 feet tall stand mockingly over my roses, strawberries, and decorative bushes like Goliath in the Valley of Elah, taunting, challenging and intimidating. We have mowed-over, dug-out, pulled-up and sprayed but the invasion marches on. Our VERY wet and cool Spring has provided the ammunition for their accelerated growth and multiplication.

I can imagine the scene 3,000 years ago in the Valley of Elah, with the Israelites on one hillside and the Philistines on the other. The Israelites faced an invasion with evil intent to take-over the land they occupied and promised by God. The Philistine’s champion, Goliath, at over 9 feet tall, mocked and challenged his enemy, and behind him the army that had been advancing in overwhelming strength and numbers. King Saul’s troops camped on the hillside intimidated and immobilized in fear. For forty days Goliath called out to the Israelites and issued his challenge, and for forty days the Israelite’s backed down, withdrew in fear and hopelessness. Till a teenage boy came along with grain, bread and cheese for his brothers and the army, heard the challenge, responded to King Saul and said “your servant will go and fight”. With a confidence of God’s protective hand in past challenges of the lion and the bear, and with the assurance of victory in the name of the Lord God Almighty, the shepherd boy David took his courageous (and some seeing the odds may say foolish) stand.

“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”
- 1 Samuel 17:36-37

As we know the events that follow, God delivered the most unlikely victory into David’s hand with a simple rock and sling. I can see the men of both camps jaws drop in disbelief and were awestruck as the giant fell in a cloud of dust and watch this shepherd boy draw Goliath’s own sword and cut off his head. Immediately the tide of confidence turned in the Israelites favor as the Philistine’s fled in fear and decisive defeat.

There are times in my life when I feel the challenge is overwhelming, negative circumstances encircle me, an invasion of chaos, disruption and fear seems imminent as the enemy issues a challenge to my life, my faith and my God. We all have those moments when marriages are strained to the breaking point, when life-threatening illness invade a loved one’s body, when our business fails, we lose our jobs, when tragedy strikes, and family relationships become cold and distant. Naturally we hide, withdraw to where we feel safe, defensive, hoping the threat will just give up and go away. But it remains, till we respond as the shepherd boy with confidence and trust in God, and courageously face the giant in the name of the Lord God Almighty.

So, with shovel, weed-trimmer, gloves, and gallons of Roundup, I am ready to take my stand.