Goliath’s Brothers Are Coming

GOLIATH’S BROTHERS ARE COMING

2 Sam. 21:15-22

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: 3,000 Year Old Mummy

1. An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a casket containing a mummy. After examining it, he called the curator of a prestigious natural-history museum.

2. "I've just discovered a 3,000 year-old mummy of a man who died of heart failure!" the excited scientist exclaimed. The curator replied, "Bring him in. We'll check it out."

3. A week later, the amazed curator called the archaeologist. "You were right about the mummy's age and cause of death. How in the world did you know?"

4. "Easy. There was a piece of paper in his hand that said, '10,000 Shekels on Goliath'." Unknown

B. TEXT

15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant… thought he could kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” 18 Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Elhanan …killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 At Gath there was a man of great stature, who had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot…he also was born to the giant. 21 Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. 22 These 4 were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

C. THESIS

1. When you're younger and get into a conflict, it's often advantageous to have a brother.

2. DAVID‘S FIRST GIANT. When David prepared to fight Goliath, he gathered FIVE smooth stones to defeat one giant. Why?

3. One possible reason: Goliath had brothers, four of them!

4. When David fought Goliath he was just a teenager, untrained in battle, facing a seasoned warrior.

5. He had just simple faith in a BIG God. The God who had helped him defeat the lion and the bear would help him defeat that Philistine.

6. The next thing he knew, that giant was lying at his feet. It seems like new Christians, untrained in combat, can knock those great giants down.

7. DAVID’S SECOND GIANT. "… The Philistines had yet war again." Christian experience is full of battles.

8. David was now a mature man; he’d fought many battles. He’d defeated many opponents, but that didn't mean he was immune. One almost took him down!

9. Here’s a parallel to spiritual life. You & I don't fight literal giants, but temptations, discouragements, setbacks.

10. You may have taken down your Goliath – those BIG SINS, early in your life – but Goliath has some brother ‘trials,’ just waiting for their chance.

11. This morning I want us to look at some "Other Giants" you may not be expecting, but better watch out for. Title: “Goliath’s Brothers are Coming!”

I. THE OTHER GIANT OF APATHY

A. TEXT

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord….[When Jonah saw God didn’t destroy the Ninevites], 4:1 Jonah… became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” Jonah 1:1-3; 4:1-2.

HUMOR. A Sunday School teacher taught about Jonah. When she had finished, she asked her class, “Okay class, what did we learn today from the story of Jonah and the big fish?” A bright little 8 year old girl said, “Always travel by air.”

B. JONAH: THE PROPHET WHO DIDN’T CARE

1. Years before, Jonah had known the seriousness of sin and the danger of hell. He’d sought God for forgiveness and at some altar of repentance, had been set free.

2. Yet here is Jonah, years later, not caring if the Ninevites died and went to hell. He felt no concern for the lost and their desperate plight.

3. Apathy is: “no emotion.” This giant attacks many Christians who been saved a long time. Have you lost your excitement, fervor, enthusiasm?

C. ILLUSTRATION: MAN OVERBOARD

1. One day Hudson Taylor was traveling on a Chinese junk from Shanghai to Ningpo. He’d been witnessing to a man named Peter who rejected the gospel but was under deep conviction.