Series: The Songs Of A King [#1]
AFTER THE GIANT FALLS
Psalm 9:1-20
Introduction:
This morning, I want to retell a story to you that most likely even the youngest of children in here know. When David was around 15 years old, his father Jesse sent him with some food to take to his 3 oldest brothers who were in the Israelite army. When David arrived he found the Israelite army on 1 hill and the Philistine army on another with a valley in between the 2 armies. While David was talking to his brothers, he got to hear what had frightened the Israelite army for 40 days- Goliath. This 9’9” giant came out 2 times every day and shouted out a challenge to the Israelite army that he would fight an Israelite 1 on 1 and the winner would be the winner for the entire army. (Use the poster representing the 9’9” Goliath to make comparisons.)
Each time the Israelites would hear this, they would all cower in fear. David was talking to his brothers and men around him about it and David’s oldest brother Eliab was not pleased that David was asking questions. Eliab told David to go back to tending sheep and let the men handle this. Eliab and David were overheard by some men who reported this to King Saul and King Saul sent for David. When David arrived, he told King Saul not to worry about it because he was going to go fight Goliath. King Saul tried to fit his armor on David but it was too much for David. David had never worn armor, so he took off Saul’s armor and went to the river to pick up 5 stones. Why 5 stones? Was David afraid of missing? David picked up 5 stones because Goliath had 4 giant brothers and David thought he might end up having to kill all 5 giants.
When David arrived, Goliath thought that this must be a joke that out of all of those soldiers, the best that the Israelite army had was a boy with no armor. Now we know that David told Goliath what was going to happen to him and then David struck him between the eyes with a stone and the giant fell face first to the ground. After Goliath was down, David took Goliath’s sword and cut his head off. The Philistine army ran in fear and the Israelite army chased them down and killed many.
David walked to Jerusalem with the head of Goliath and Goliath’s weapons. David was summoned to Saul and David went to see him, (with the head of Goliath in his hand).
With the story of David and Goliath on our mind, I want us to ask ourselves the question, “What happened to David after everything was over?” 1 Samuel 17 tells us the story of David and Goliath; but we are then taken to a story about the friendship of David and Jonathan, (Saul’s son) in 1 Samuel 18. It is after great victories when we need to be on guard the most and we find that after this battle, David wrote a song about what he felt and what had happened. I want us to examine Psalm 9 and see how we should handle the aftermath of victory.
Psalm 9:1-20
After everything has calmed down, reflect on the fact that…
1. We all end up in tough situations.
David was sent to take food to his brothers, not to fight a giant. David didn’t ask to be put into this situation; but he found himself right in the middle of it anyway. We all have enemies. We all find ourselves in bad situations although we didn’t plan for it. That’s life. It never is an “if I’m in a bad situation”; but “when”.
Reflect back on your life. How many times have you found yourself in a bad situation and wonder how you got there? God allows us to go through those tough times and honestly, when you look back, you ask God, “Why”. While it is ok for us to ask God, “Why”; we must remember that we are going to go through things and what matters isn’t why; but how we go through them.
After everything has calmed down, reflect on the fact that…
2. God delivers His people.
God not only knows what is happening to us; but He also cares about what happens to us. David went into the battle knowing that God would give him victory. I believe that David felt like that it did not matter who fought Goliath as long as it was someone who trusted in God; and God would give them the victory.
When you are in a conflict with someone, don’t forget that God defends and delivers His people. Now don’t take that as a license to do stupid things and then expect God to jump in and help you. Instead, remember that God will judge all and that you must allow God to deal with that person. Sometimes, as in David’s case, God will use you to defeat the enemy; but often times you just have to trust the Lord that He’s got it. Do you believe that God is looking out for you?
After everything has calmed down, reflect on the fact that…
3. God is showing you who He is.
How do you get to know someone? You get to know them by talking and listening to them; but the way you grow closer to someone is through going through something with them. As we experience things in life, we find out personally who God is. We grow closer to Him when we go through things with Him by our side. It is amazing what God does for us and who He is.
Conclusion:
The result of David’s reflection of his victory over Goliath is His praising and worshipping of God. When you think of what God has done in your life and how He has given you eternal victory through Jesus Christ it should cause you to worship and praise Him.
