A Time To Fight.

A time to fight

1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49

In our text today (1a, 4-11, 19-23) is the lead up to this historic and informative true story we are looking at today. I will predominantly be in Verses 32-49.

The back ground of a very familiar story:

David was taking food to his brothers that were in battle.

David faced down Goliath that was over 9 feet tall. Goliath had all of his battle gear on and was challenging the Israelite army. The Israelite army was shaking in their saddles with fear.

This was a common way of fighting. Each side would pick a champion and who won would determine the war victory.

Now hear the reading of God’s Word.

1 Samuel 17

32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.

“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

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Sometimes life involves trials and battles, but these are ultimately for our good and His glory. James tells us to consider it pure joy when we encounter trials because they test our faith and develop patience and perseverance (James 1:2-4). When we are tested by these trials, we can, in the power of the Lord, stand up against any giant, trusting our Savior to win the victory.

Lets look at some things in this story:

-This story shows, first of all, that Saul was unfit to rule a Kingdom that was made by God. Saul should have been out there doing the fighting or at least leading the best fighter to go out.

- David and Goliath is often referenced as a moral lesson of how underdogs can overcome the odds and be successful. But isn't there more to this than we can see? What was the single ingredient that allowed this terrific success?

-Goliath was taunting the sovereign Lord of the universe. He was challenging God’s people to stand up to him so he could demonstrate that his god was more powerful.

-Have you ever wondered why David picked up five smooth stones to kill Goliath. In other Scriptures Goliath had four relatives either brothers or sons. If they came out David wanted to be ready.