Sunday, July 4, 2004
(Tone 4)
Andrew, Bishop of Crete, Author of the Great Canon
Kellia: 1 Samuel 17:1-11 Epistle: Romans 10:1-10 Gospel: St. Matthew 8:28-9:1
1 Samuel 17:1-11 RSV (1 Kings 17:1-11 LXX), especially vss. 10, 11:
"And the Philistine said, 'I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.' When Saul and all
Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid." After the rupture of relationship
between the Prophet Samuel and Saul the King, Scripture reports that "Samuel went to Ramah...and...did not see Saul again
until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul [because] the Lord repented that He had made Saul king over
Israel" (1 Sam. 15:34,35).
Perhaps a report of the breach between the great Prophet and Israel's king encouraged the Philistines to foray up the valley
of Elah from the coastal plain toward the heart of Saul's kingdom in the Judean highlands. But Saul roused his forces and
met them in the low, rolling hill country between Philistia and Israel. However, the Philistines had a surprise for the army
of Israel, "a champion named Goliath, of Gath" (1 Sam. 17:4), an imposing giant who provoked great fear in "the ranks of
Israel" (vs. 11).
As the Prophet David teaches, fear enervates those whose hearts are not established in God. They shall fear to "look down
upon [their] enemies" (Ps. 111:7 LXX). Fear is the plight of fallen man since that terrible day when Adam heard the voice
of God in the garden and in fear hid himself (Gen. 3:10). The devil never ceases to lure each man into despair whenever
possible. As St. Seraphim of Sarov points out: "Judas the betrayer was fainthearted and unskilled in battle, and so the
enemy, seeing his despair, attacked him and forced him to hang himself, but Peter, a firm rock, when he fell into great sin,
like one skilled in battle did not despair nor lose heart, but shed bitter tears from a burning heart and the enemy...fled far
from him wailing in pain."
The Holy Fathers clearly teach that pride is the source of fear. As St. John of the Ladder says: "A proud soul is a slave of
cowardice; it vainly trusts in itself, and is afraid of any sound or shadow of creatures." Here, then, was the deep sin of Saul
and his army, which the immensity and bravado of Goliath unmasked. He taunts the ranks of Israel: "Why have you come
out to draw up for battle?" (1 Sam. 17:8). Goliath placed the entire contest in the realm of the flesh, and the ranks of Israel
and their King, being filled with pride from victory in earlier campaigns against the Philistines (1 Sam. 14:47), accepted his
perspective and were filled with fear.
St. Peter of Damaskos offers more light on both Israel and Goliath of Gath: the "two passions of overbearingness and
cowardice, though they appear to be opposites, are both caused by weakness." The overbearingness displayed by Goliath
pulled him upward into "something startling and frightening, like some powerless bear," while the cowardice of the
Israelites caused them "to flee like a chased dog." And St. Peter continues, "No one who suffers from either of these two
passions puts his trust in the Lord,.and, therefore, he cannot stand firm in battle."
How then can one break out of the grip of fear? Again, let us learn from the Prophet David who shortly would enter this
field, survey the massive Goliath and the fearful ranks of Israel, and overcome "the pangs of death...and torrents of
iniquity" (Ps. 17:4 LXX). Indeed, let us heed St. John of Kronstadt: "Do not fear the conflict, do not flee it. Where there is
no struggle, there is no virtue; where faith and love are not tempted, it is not possible to be sure whether they are really
present. They are proved and revealed in adversity." Instead, let us say, "I shall not fear; but as for me I will hope in Thee"
(Ps.55:2 LXX).
O Master, graciously illumine our hearts with the light of Thy countenance, maintain the shield of our faith unassailed by
the enemy, upholding us inviolate by Thy grace.