Fighters Vs. Flyers Series

INTRODUCTION

In the animal kingdom, the fight-or-flight response involves stress. Animals are inclined to fight or flee impending dangers such as predators and environmental stressors. For humans, the response is based upon an infinite number of factors, from fears to friends, from habits to hang-ups. And as is true in the animal kingdom, sometimes fleeing isn't so much an indication of weakness but of wit.

Sometimes we have to choose whether to stand up and fight a powerful enemy or wisely flee a wicked temptation. In the case of fatherhood, fight or flight is what you teach your kids, not what you do to them. There is perhaps no better (or worse) picture of this than is played out in the familiar story of David and Goliath.

BODY OF SERMON

(Note to pastor: As you transition into the body of your message, summarize the story of Israel's monarchy.)

Following Israel's occupancy of the promised land and Joshua's death, a new generation was born who did not know God or the mighty things He had done (Judg. 2:10).

A horrible cycle of disobedience began where Israel would rebel, be oppressed, cry out to God, and then be rescued by God via the judges, men and women who were called to speak God's truth and rescue God's people. The Book of Judges ends with the startling words, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever he wanted" (Judg. 21:25).

It was moral anarchy and led to a time of struggle. The Book of Ruth begins with famine and ends with the birth of several soon-to-be kings.

First Samuel ushered in the monarchy. The prophets and the priests protected the prescribed worship of God in days when God's word and prophetic visions were scarce (1 Sam. 3:1). And in chapter 8, against the warnings of their faithful prophet Samuel, the people demanded a king. To Samuel's dismay, the Lord commanded him to give in to their demands (1 Sam. 8:1-22).

There was no one more impressive or qualified than Saul, who became Israel's first anointed king--and first rejected king because of disobedience to the Lord. David was named Saul's successor; however, before David could become king, Saul would have to cease and desist, which was unlikely. Not as unlikely as the future king being placed in the current king's court as a soothing harp player, but that's what happened nonetheless (1 Sam 16:14-23).

Being challenged and engaged in all-out war, Israel's face-off with the Philistines brought on a new kind of battle. It would be survival of the fittest, a fight to the death, winner's tribe takes all--the Philistine fighter Goliath versus any man of Israel who dared.

READ 1 SAMUEL 17:1-11.

(Note to pastor: Highlight Saul's fear and the fear of Israel. Compare and contrast 1 Samuel 9:2 and the description of Saul and 1 Samuel 17:4-7 with its description of Goliath.)

Israel's best was afraid of the Philistine's worst. Physical appearance had already been proven important to the Israelites (see the description of Saul in 1 Sam 9 and the admonition of the Lord in 1 Sam. 16) so naturally, the giant would have been an object of great fear.

READ 1 SAMUEL 17:20-32.

Enter the future king, ready to tackle the challenge of fighting the Philistine and defending the honor of god and the people of promise. When all Israel's trained warriors stood on the sidelines, God sent a small boy to do a man's job.

READ 1 SAMUEL 17:33-40.

Saul provided David with reasons why the bold plan would not work. David was just a boy with no formal training, and Goliath was a professional fighter. This should have been enough to keep David back in the fields, but God had a different plan.

(Note to pastor: It's unnecessary to complete the rest of the chapter. Most congregants will know the outcome of David's victory. Today we concentrate on his response to the battle, not his results. Transition the remainder of your message to deciphering truths for dads--lessons they can learn from the David and Goliath story.)

1. FATHERHOOD IS FRIGHTENING, BUT FLEEING IS NOT AN OPTION.

For Saul, becoming king had to be his greatest joy. But it quickly became his biggest challenge. The leader focused on conquest had met his match.

As moms and dads, the day we hold our kids for the first time is life's greatest joy and from that moment forward, it becomes life's greatest challenge and often presents the biggest of giants. In response to such giants our choices are always to stand and fight or to flee in flight.

Sadly, that is the case of 24 million children in this country. Their dads have simply left, opting for a life other than full-time care of the family they started. Many of these kids have been fathered in the foundation of a family where the mother and father exchanged vows and made promises that are now broken.