Lessons From the Life of Goliath
by Shaun Brooks, D.Min.
When we think of the name Goliath we are reminded of the larger-than-life giant who fell at the hands of the young shepherd named David. It is probably the most well-known story in religious and secular settings but rarely do we take the time to study Goliath and glean some practical lessons from his misadventure on the battlefield. Though not much is written about him in scripture there are at least four things that jump out about the story of Goliath that may prove advantageous to those in a ministry context.
There are some battles we face that have been waging long before we were born.
Goliath was on that battlefield because of various factors, some of which he had no control over. Goliath had no control over his genes or his ancestry. For better or for worse he was a descendant of the Anakites who were a warlike people as seen in the many encounters with the Hebrews. Goliath found himself in a war that was waging long before he was born, and like Goliath, there are battles that we face that existed long before we came on the scene. There are battles that have been passed down genetically that we confront daily that affect our individual choices. Researchers today have shown that even our hobbies may be gene-related to what our ancestors participated in. Another aspect to this is that within your ministry context, there may be church conflicts and skirmishes that you unfortunately inherited and are cast in the front lines because you are the pastor or leader in charge. In some people’s minds, you have the greater say, and it is incumbent on you (because of your stature and influence in the church for you) to go out and take the lead.
Understanding why you are facing these battles is critical to your health and longevity in ministry. If it is important to know one’s family history when speaking to a doctor so that the best diagnosis and prognosis can be achieved, it is important to find out the history of the issue and previous battles faced in the church. The only way to break generational trauma, or even church trauma is to understand the past and its context, and decide on making better life choices. Sometimes a better understanding of the past can inform you of a better path to take in the future.
Don’t be a loner.
For forty days, Goliath walked ahead of his army and taunted the Israelites. He was a champion of course but positionally we note that he made himself very vulnerable by removing himself from his companions. Sometimes in ministry, while on the battlefield, we may find ourselves moving alone seemingly invincible to defeat. Scripture has much to say about pride, and we relate it well to the story of Goliath, but we miss that sometimes we are doing exactly what caused Goliath’s downfall. With each step forward, Goliath leaned more upon his prowess and less upon the strength of his army.
Pastors often carry heavy burdens and are dealing with their habits and dispositions but for some reason, we have convinced ourselves that we can handle it alone. We don’t need anyone, we can laugh and shrug it off, and keep moving. Our spouse and children may eventually buy into that, and our elders and board members may celebrate that. They may feel comfortable with the fact that you will always go in and out on your own. The problem here, however, is that you are most vulnerable when you battle with personal as well as church issues on your own.
Goliath had an army at his disposal, but he was now used to facing his issues alone. This automatically made Goliath the prime target of attack and his fall brought collateral damage to everyone associated with him. When Goliath fell at the hands of David, the Philistines had no more strength, for they had no contingent plan in place. If you fall, a lot of individuals may fall with you, if you act as the engine behind the wheels. Instead of being the loner, why not engage with a colleague or a trusted ministry leader and talk about some of your battles, and the frustrations you may be facing? If you are married, your spouse can be that person who prays for you and encourages you in areas where your battles are becoming more intense. Sometimes you may need to see a therapist or counselor, and in doing so strengthen your ability to be there for those dearest to you. You are important on the battlefield, and your role as a ministry leader is essential, but understand that you don’t have to face it alone.
Dr. Shaun Brooks serves as Disabilities Ministries Coordinator for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference.
