April 9, 2016
One of the best loved stories in all the Bible is that of David and Goliath. We like stories of unlikely heroes who, outnumbered and out gunned, somehow find a way to overcome the odds.
Let’s see what we can discover in this story ……. It goes something like this:
The Players:
• David - He had already been anointed by Samuel and knew that some day he would be king
• The army of Israel led by Saul
• The Philistine army
It was war season and Israel and the Philistines were at war – AGAIN:
• The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side of the Elah Valley and the Israelites stood on the mountain on the other side of the valley.
• Sometimes, in order to prevent large-scale losses, a champion was chosen from each side would represent the opposing armies.
• Among the warriors of the Philistines was a champion fighter – Goliath from Gath who happened to be a GIANT.
Let’s talk about Goliath for just a moment - we don’t know how tall he actually was – some scholars suggest he was around 10 feet tall {Robert Wadlow, the tallest confirmed person EVER was 8ft 11in}. Not sure I agree but not sure it matters either because Goliath wasn’t just tall – he was huge. He had a helmet and coat of chain meil that weighed 125lbs. He wore bronze greaves that covered his legs. He also had a sword and spear and a man who went out before him with a shield. No doubt about it, Goliath was ready for war - AND HE WAS MEAN!
Twice a day both armies would put on their armor and stand across the valley from each other. Goliath would then come to the front lines and cry out to the armies of Israel:
• 1st Samuel 17:8-9 - "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 "If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together."
He did this for over a month. Everyone in Israel’s camp was dismayed and greatly afraid – they were already defeated and they hadn’t even fought the battle yet (they had forgotten God’s covenant promises):
• Deuteronomy 20:1-4 - When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. 2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. 4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
Nothing happened for 40 days. King Saul actually offered his daughter in marriage and military exemption to any soldier who would go out and kill Goliath. NO TAKERS!!
This is the situation David walked into when he brought food to his 3 older brothers who were in the army. David was filled with righteous indignation. Goliath was not simply mocking the army of Israel. He was mocking the God of Israel.
David: Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? Let no man's heart fail because of him; I will go and fight this Philistine.
Saul: You are not able to fight this Philistine because you’re just a child and he is a man of war.
David: I have killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them - dead, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD, who delivered me from the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.
Saul: Go, and the LORD be with you!
David was given the kings armor to wear, but he found it impossible to move in, so he took it off. He found 5 smooth stones from the streambed and stood before Goliath with only his sling and those 5 stones.
Can you hear the laughter from the Philistines, maybe even the laughter from the Israelites?? The odds were not in David’s favor. And yet, there stood he before Goliath - unafraid:
• 1st Samuel 17: 45-50 - Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. "This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you….., that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD's and He will give you into our hands." Then it happened when the Philistine rose to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground. 50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David's hand.
Truths:
• David was bold for God’s honor. He was not fighting for his own glory, but for the Glory of God.
• David did not listen to the nay sayers.
• David had a good memory. He didn’t quake in his sandals because he remembered that God had been faithful in his past and he knew that God would remain faithful in his present.
• David practiced.
• David did not trust the armor of men – he trusted God.
• David knew that the battle was not really his to fight (Jon Huss – one man and God is a majority).
• David had hope in a hopeless situation.
Every day we face giants. These giants come in different shapes and sizes – and they always show up un-invited. We go to the closet and get out our plastic sword and rubber arrows – we wave them around and make lots of noise, but in our very heart of hearts we are really “dismayed and greatly afraid”. Why - Because:
• We are comparing ourselves to the giant we are facing.
• We listen to those around us who are only too happy to point out that the giant is bigger and stronger and meaner then we are.
• We know the weapons we carry are flimsy at best.
The giant wins before the battle even starts because we have become convinced that we will lose.
How do we defeat our giants?
• Remember that the giant isn’t really after you – the giant is out to destroy God’s honor – be bold for the honor of God and remember that you are not fighting for your glory, but for the Glory of God.
• Don’t listen to the nay sayers.
• Don’t get spiritual Alzheimer’s - remember that God had been faithful in your past and know that He will continue to be faithful in your present and future.
• Practice.
• Don’t trust your own armor - take up the whole armor of God.
o Ephesians 6:10-17 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• Remember you are not alone – one man and God is a majority.
• Have hope.
Joshua 1:5, 9 - As I was with Moses, so will I be with you”… I hereby command you; Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
