We can imagine Day 1: out from the camp of the enemy the Giant emerges. Some clatter of shields behind him perhaps. A booming voice. A challenge.
He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.”
Lent is familiarly a time of self-discipline. The world rushes on, but time aside is taken by devout people to harness their souls. It has become harder as the modern world pulls us away into 24/7 activity,
Goliath harnessed Israel to a stop for 40 days. This was not 40 days of self-discipline, but 40 days of terror. Day after day the challenge went unanswered. It took faith in God - and a skilled good shot - to bring the terror to an end.
2020 will be remembered for a dramatically extended international Lent.
What are you giving up for Lent? As the coronavirus giant stares out the nations of the world - travel, workplace, clubs, theatres, church services, school, public transport, toilet rolls, shopping in general, football, cricket, conferences, rugby, gym, swimming, meeting friends. Fear achieves what self discipline rarely can.
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