Facing Your Giants Psalm 18-46-49
Chapter 3 discusses two major points. It begins by examining some of the possible giants in our world. The critical boss. The sadistic coach. The "self-appointed cubical commandant". Who are those Sauls in our lives that make us worried, afraid, depressed? Most of us could identify at least one. David's giant was Saul. The benefactor turned scourge.
Lucado then moves from the relationship of David and Saul to David and Jonathan. While Saul was trying to destroy David, Jonathan was a source of encouragement and salvation for David. Jonathan's main concern was David's well-being---even to the point of rejecting his father, King Saul.
Those David/Jonathan relationships are rare for men in today's society. We are True Gritters. Clint Eastwood wannabes. However, we see in scripture time and time again, the importance of that deep emotional/spiritual connection between men. Does today's church do enough to foster that?
A final thought on today's chapter relates to the first section of chapter 3. As already mentioned, Lucado lists several possible giants in our lives. However, I would challenge the reader to ask the Lord, "Am I someone else's giant?" Is it my voice that a coworker dreads when I say, "Hey, can we talk for a minute?" What is the emotional response of my spouse when I pull my car in the drive at the end of the day? It is easy to point the giant-seeking finger at others, but what if that finger did a u-turn and landed on us?
Welcoome back. I've missed you.
ReplyDeleteGreat insight with the idea that I may be someone else's Goliath or Saul. It may take as much work by the Holy Spirit to help me not be such a person to another as it will to help me face my personal giants.
On the issue of finding a Johathan, I know of no church that facilitates such relationships...or of any that is even trying, so far as I know.
The challenge is (1) finding some one who
trustworthy and (2) finding someone who cares.
Maybe the Home Group movement is an intermediate step, but the need to "keep it private" seems to make real transparency very doubtful.