1. Introduction
a. In today’s world we are constantly forced to face the issue of size.
(1) A marketing ploy of McDonald’s in the past was “Would you like to super size that,” where for just a few cents more you could get an extra large serving of French fries and an “ocean-sized” beverage.
(2) In reality TV we are confronted with The Biggest Loser, where individuals are struggling to lose a large amount of weight.
b. Self-help books tell us that there are no problems too big or too small to overcome. More importantly, they tell us we have the ability to win; we possess the power to succeed, to overcome, with no outside help.
c. That is not always the case. It is always easier when you have someone to lean on, someone to confide in, someone to call when you falter.
d. What we will discover this morning is that bigger is not always better, except, of course, where God is concerned.
2. David’s Goliath vs. Our Goliath
a. Read 1 Samuel 17: 1-54
b. We frequently use this story metaphorically. Any time we are facing a problem bigger than us, we are “facing our Goliath.”
c. David’s Goliath was tangible – a 9-foot-tall man with super-human strength, carrying an appropriately sized spear and shield.
(1) Our Goliaths don’t carry swords or shields, they carry weapons of unemployment, obesity, alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual abuse, etc.
(2) Our Goliath’s don’t prance and parade about the hills of Elah, they are up close and personal – the office, the bedroom, the classroom, even sometimes the church. He brings:
• Bills we can’t pay
• Grades or scores we can’t make
• People we can’t please
• Drink we can’t resist
• Pornography we can’t refuse
• A job or past we can’t escape
• A future we can’t face
d. We know our Goliath – we see or have seen his or her face, we know his or her voice. But is Goliath all we see or hear?
e. We can be like David and see and hear more.
(1) Re-read v. 26—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?”
(2) David shows up not talking smack or trash, but talking God. Everybody else, Saul and his soldiers, have completely ignored God.
(3) When David confronts his Goliath, he continues in the same vein.
(4) Re-read vv. 45-47—David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
3. God-focus vs. Giant-focus
a. David sees what others don’t and refuses to see what others do.
(1) He focuses on God.
(a) It’s not that he doesn’t see the problem—his inability to not eat the whole German Chocolate Cake, his inability to not berate his child one more time, his inability to not secretly visit the porn site just one more time.
(b) He just sees God more than he sees the problem.
(1) He sees God in all his glory, in all the resources behind Him.
(2) Because he does, David rushes to the problem, not away from it.
b. You say, but I’m not David, nor am I like him. I say, “aren’t you?”
c. Despite his shortcomings, David was a man after God’s heart.
(1) He fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered.
(2) He stared down Goliath, yet ogled at and lusted after Bathsheba.
(3) He could lead armies, but couldn’t manage his family.
(4) He raged, he wept, he was bloodthirsty.
(5) He had eight wives.
(6) Through it all, though, he had one God.
4. Never Alone
a. Our giants —Ultimately we have to face them or they will subdue and overcome us.
b. We don’t, however, have to face them alone. We must focus first and foremost on God. It worked for David, it will work for us.
c. Looking back at our passage, let’s see where David’s focus was.
(1) First, how much did he dwell on Goliath? Only two times is Goliath mentioned, and then not by name.
(a) v. 26—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?”
(b) v. 36—Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
(c) No questions about Goliath’s age, capabilities, social standing or intelligence. No concerns about Goliath’s weapons — weight of the spear, size of the shield, strength of his armor.
(2) God, on the other hand, is mentioned no less than 9 times.
(a) v. 26 — “the armies of the living God”
(b) v. 36 — “the armies of the living God”
(c) v. 45 — “the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel”
(d) v. 46 — “The Lord will deliver you into my hand…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel”
(e) v. 47 — “The Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands”
(3) God focus outnumbers Goliath focus nine to two or 4.5 to one.
(a) Do you think of God’s grace four times as much as you do your guilt?
(b) Is your list of blessings four times as long as your list of complaints?
(c) Is your mental file of hope 4 times as thick as your mental file of dread.
d. David teaches a simple, but powerful concept: Focus on giants—you stumble. Focus on God—your giants tumble.
e. Read Isaiah 51:11-16
(1) While focused on the righteous remnant of Israelites, this passage also speaks to us as we battle our Goliath.
(2) The people and things we fear are only men or man-made and He is God, the all-powerful creator.
(3) We will be freed to return to our “promised land” because God is our God. He is intimate with us and protects us with His hand because we belong to him in a unique relationship as His people.
(4) Read:
David Yarborough tells the story from one of Max Lucado’s books of a lady who had a small house on the seashore of Ireland at the turn of the century was quite wealthy but also quite frugal. The people were surprised, then, when she decided to be among the first to have electricity in her home. Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door. He asked if her electricity was working well, and she assured him it was. "I’m wondering if you can explain something to me," he said. "Your meter shows scarcely any usage. Are you using your power?" "Certainly," she answered. "Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles; then I turn them off." Yarborough goes on to say, “She tapped into the power but did not use it. Her house is connected but not altered. Don’t we make the same mistake? We, too-with our souls saved but our hearts unchanged - are connected but not altered. Trusting Christ for salvation but resisting transformation. We occasionally flip the switch, but most of the time we settle for shadows.
5. Summary
a. Goliath can be found in many locations: lurking on the internet, hiding in a bottle, sitting in the cubicle next to yours, sleeping in the bed next to you.
b. You can conquer your Goliath, and you don’t need five stones. You know, four extras in case you miss the first time you throw?
c. You only need one stone, and that stone has a name—Jesus.
d. He is there to lift you up, to support you, to carry you over the quicksand, to carry you through the rushing and raging waters.
e. Ludie Pickett, in 1897, wrote a classic hymn whose words support our lesson today. The title of the hymn is No, Never Alone!
I’ve seen the lightning flashing, I’ve heard the thunder roll.
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, which almost conquered my soul.
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, bidding me still to fight on.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!
The world’s fierce winds are blowing, temptation sharp and keen.
I have a peace in knowing my Savior stands between
He stands to shield me from danger when my friends are all gone.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!
When in affliction’s valley I tread the road of care,
My Savior helps me carry the cross so heavy to bear;
Though all around me is darkness, earthly joys all flown;
My Savior whispers His promise, never to leave me alone!
He died on Calvary’s mountain, for me they pierced His side.
For me He opened that fountain, the crimson, cleansing tide.
For me He waiteth in glory, seated upon His throne.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!
Refrain
No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
He’ll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
6. Invitation
