Giants & Emperors Without Clothes

SCRIPTURE: “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 1 Samuel 14:39-40 NIV

THOUGHT: Probably once a day I think of the old folktale by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Turns out they aren’t clothes at all, and the gullible and vain emperor is parading himself naked through the streets, preening for the masses – who readily bow and scrape to his version of reality. It takes a child, unhindered by fear and convention and ambivalence, to break the spell and halt the spectacle.

I thought of that child again this morning as I re-read the story of David and Goliath. Young David didn’t want King Saul’s tunic. He didn’t want the armor of a warrior. He didn’t care about his older brother’s taunts and insults. He didn’t feel uncomfortable telling an army they were wrong to cower in fear from a giant who insulted God, day after day. He didn’t shy away from telling an earthly king he didn’t need his armor or cautionary reluctance. He moved toward a giant menace with clarity and purpose. David saw the truth of the matter and, unhindered by fear and convention and ambivalence, broke the spell and halted the spectacle on behalf of the higher King he revered.

PRAYER: Oh God, help me be as innocent, bold, and clear-eyed as a child, trusting you rather than fearing giants and emperors without clothes.

Dear Reader,
I’m glad you’re along and I pray you will be blessed, challenged, and encouraged in your faith by something you read here.

There are archives by topic below – now more than 1000 of these daily meditations to browse.

ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.

Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.

FREE TO YOU:
If you’d like to be notified of this blog each weekday, please look for the little blue “follow” button below (just above the topical search), and welcome!