Introduction

Good morning, cherished family of God. It's such a joy to gather together, united by our shared love of Christ and a desire to grow in our understanding of His Word. Today, we are turning our hearts and minds towards the life of young David, a shepherd boy who would become a king. Our Scripture passage is 1 Samuel 17:24-31, a pivotal moment in David's life that carries deep wisdom and insight for us today.

Let's read together from the Holy Scriptures: "Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear. Now the Israelites had been saying, 'Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.' David asked the men standing near him, 'What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?' They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, 'This is what will be done for the man who kills him.' When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, 'Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.' 'Now what have I done?' said David. 'Can't I even speak?' He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him."

In this passage, we see a young David, overlooked by his family, yet chosen by God. He stands before the giant Goliath, not with fear, but with faith. He is met with hostility from his family, doubt from his people, and a challenge that seems insurmountable. Yet, David stands firm, driven by a purpose greater than himself.

Handling Hostility from Family

As we consider the life of David, we find him in a situation that many of us can relate to. He's facing opposition, not from an enemy army, but from his own family. His older brother, Eliab, is quick to belittle him, to question his motives, and to dismiss his abilities. This hostility from his own family could have easily discouraged David, and could have made him question his worth and his calling. But it didn't. David didn't allow the hostility of others, even those closest to him, to deter him from his purpose.

In our own lives, we may face similar situations. We may encounter hostility from those we love, from those we thought would support us. It can be disheartening and discouraging. It can make us question our worth and our calling. But like David, we must not allow this hostility to deter us from our purpose. We must remember that our worth is not determined by the opinions of others, but by our Creator. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, created for a purpose, and equipped with everything we need to fulfill that purpose.

David didn't retaliate or defend himself. Instead, he turned away and continued to pursue his purpose. He didn't allow Eliab's words to distract him or discourage him. He remained focused on his calling and his faith in God.

When we face hostility, it can be tempting to retaliate, to defend ourselves, to get caught up in the conflict. But like David, we should strive to respond with grace and humility. We should remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

David's faith in God was his anchor in the face of hostility. He knew that his strength and his purpose came from God, not from man. He knew that God was with him, that God had chosen him and equipped him for this moment. His faith in God gave him the courage to stand up to Goliath, to defy the odds, and to face the hostility of his family.

When trials come our way, our faith in God can be our anchor. We can find strength and courage in the knowledge that God is with us, that He has chosen us and equipped us for our purpose. We can trust in His promises, rely on His strength, and rest in His love. Our faith in God can give us the courage to stand up to our own Goliaths, to defy the odds, and to face the hostility of others.

Harnessing the Power of Purpose

As we continue to navigate the narrative of David, we find him standing before Goliath, a giant of a man who has defied the armies of Israel ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO