Title: 5 Smooth Stones
Theme: To show 5 things David did to overcome the giant. 5 teachings of the faith that are important.
Text: 1 Samuel 17:26 - 36
1 Samuel 17:26-36 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (27) And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him." (28) Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." (29) And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" (30) Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did. (31) Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. (32) Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." (33) And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." (34) But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, (35) I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. (36) Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."
Introduction
What intrigues me about this story is the confidence that David had. I think that this is what makes this story so popular. 1) The giant is defeated 2) David exudes (radiates, displays, shows, projects, conveys, oozes) so much confidence in the task.
This was despite the rejection of seemingly everyone around him. The prophet, his brothers, his father and even the king.
In the previous chapter we learn of David’s anointing. Samuel the Prophet comes to Jesse’s family to anoint a king. Jesse presents all his children except David who is in the field, minding sheep.
1 Samuel 16:6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him."
After going through all them Samuel is surprised when God does not choose them. He learns there is another son. He is smaller and younger but God chooses him.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
This is encouraging for us but it is the same challenge.
Illustration: When I worked for Radio Shack we were paid on commission. So the more we sold the more we made. When people would come in your goal was to find their need and sell as much as you can to them. It was always tempting to judge someone by their dress. Yet I have had some of the largest sales from the least of likely people.
This verse is not just about the confidence God has in us but I believe it is a challenge to us not to judge people on the outside. I have met people who are unassuming and not the best looking on the outside but on the inside they are a mighty warrior.
As in Gideon in Judges 6. Found in the winepress threshing wheat. But God calls him a mighty warrior.
On the inside the have the confidence and prayer of a giant killer.
In spite of being rejected by everyone around him.
Samuel, Jesse, brother, Saul
Brother: 1 Samuel 17:28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
David: 1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"
Saul: 1 Samuel 17:33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."
What gave David this overwhelming confidence:
1) Remembering what God has already done
1 Samuel 17:34-37 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, (35) I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. (36) Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." (37) Moreover David said, "The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!"
In the quiet places of David’s life he learned to fight. He learned to battle when no one was looking. Writing Psalms on the backside of the dessert he defeated the enemy. When everyone was dejecting him and he is was doing what no one else wanted to do. He was fighting the enemy.
So when finally he had to become public there was no issue.
2) Remembering the cause (purpose)
1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"
Cause is God’s will. God has a purpose to be fulfilled and this purpose is not to be defeated by this giant.
God’s purpose is not to be cowering on the side of the valley shaking in fear from the yell and stature of the enemy. The enemy looks big. The stakes are high. But God is bigger
Romans 8:28 And we know (have faith in God) that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
“work together”
2. The words "work together" (sunergei PWS: 4421) mean to create and eliminate, place and replace, connect and group, interrelate and intermingle, shape and forge, press and stretch, move and operate, control and guide, arrange and influence. The words "work together" are also present action which means that all things are continually working together for good. God is in control of the believer's life. Daily, moment by moment, God is arranging and re-arranging all things for the believer's good.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Romans.
God will protect those who are His followers (love God and called to Him)
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19).
"Fear thou not; For I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
"When thou pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when thou walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:2).
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
1. This passage is often abused and misused. It is not dealing so much with theology or philosophy, but more with the spiritual experience of the Christian believer. If the pure logic of philosophy and theology are applied, then the passage says that God chooses some for heaven and others for a terrible hell. But this is simply not the meaning God intends for the passage. What God wants believers to do is to take heart, for He has assured their salvation.
God knows the suffering that believers go through daily (cp. Romans 8:28-39). God "did foreknow" even before the foundation of the world (Romans 8:29). But no matter how great the suffering, no matter how great the opposition, no matter how great the struggle, God is going to complete His purpose for believers. God has "predestinated [believers] to be conformed to the image of His Son," and absolutely nothing can change that. Why? "That Christ might be the first-born [have the preeminence] among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).
2. Believers will be conformed to the image of God's dear Son. The words "conformed to the image" (summorphous tes eikonos PWS: 719) mean both an inward and an outward likeness.
a. "Conformed" (summorphous PWS: 719) means the very same form or likeness as Christ. Within our nature—our being, our person—we shall be made just like Christ. As He is perfect and eternal—without disease and pain, sin and death—so we shall be perfected just like Him. We shall be transformed into His very likeness.
b. "Image" (eikonos PWS: 719) means a derived or a given likeness. The image of Christ is not something which believers merit or for which they work; it is not an image that comes from their own nature or character. No man can earn or produce the perfection and eternal life possessed by Christ. The image of Christ, His perfection and life, is a gift of God. To be conformed to the image of God's Son means...
• to become a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).
• to be adopted as a son of God (Ephes. 1:5).
• to be holy and without blame before Him (Ephes. 1:4; Ephes. 4:24).
• to bear the image of the heavenly: which is an incorruptible, immortal body (1 Cor. 15:49-54; cp. 1 Cor. 15:42-44).
• to have one's body fashioned (conformed) just like His glorious body (Phil. 3:21).
• to be changed (transformed) into the same image of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18).
• to be recreated just like Him (1 John 3:2-3).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Romans.
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
1. God has called the true believer. Some time ago the Spirit called and stirred the heart of the true believer to come to Christ. The believer responded to the call. Scripture definitely teaches that the believer had a choice. He could have chosen to respond or not to respond. (Cp. Rev. 22:17.) Thank God he responded and came to Christ. Therefore, the call was effective; the call worked. The believer did respond to Christ. (See note, Draw—• John 6:44-46 for God's part and man's part in salvation.)
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20).
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).
2. God has justified the believer. Again, note the past tense. Justification has already taken place for the true believer. (See note, Justification—•Romans 5:1.)
Thought 1. The point is clear. If the believer has been truly called, if he has been truly saved, then his deliverance from struggling and suffering is assured. His deliverance is a past fact and it is set eternally by God. No matter how deeply the believer senses his shortcoming and failure, his struggle with the sin and suffering of this world, he is a child of God. Every time he comes short or stumbles and falls, he needs to get up and begin all over again. He must not become discouraged and defeated, self-accusing and incriminating, feeling unworthy and undeserving, unwanted and rejected. Such a state of mind is one the most useful strategies of the devil—a strategy which he uses to defeat believers by the multitudes. God has called the believer, so he must arise and begin to diligently follow Christ once again. Every believer who is walking about defeated—no matter how great his fall—should arise right now and turn back to Christ. This is our call, our duty.
After quoting a list of sins of the sinner Paul says, "And such were some of you: but you are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11).
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2).
Paul the apostle, who was a converted murderer, is a dynamic example of this victorious attitude, the very attitude needed so desperately by all believers.
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14; cp. Job 17:9; Psalm 84:7; Proverbs 4:18; Hebrews 12:4).
God often times sees of different than we see ourselves.
3. God has glorified the believer. This, too, is past tense: the glorification of the believer is an accomplished fact, a fact that has already taken place in God's mind and plan. God already sees and counts the believer as glorified in His presence for eternity (see Deeper Study #1—Romans 2:7; Deeper Study #2—Romans 2:7; Deeper Study #3—Romans 2:7; Deeper Study #1—Romans 3:23; Deeper Study #1—John 17:22 for what the believer's glorification involves).
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17).
"[That ye may know] what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:18).
"Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Philippians 3:21).
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:4).
"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:10).
"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed" (1 Peter 5:1).
"And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 22:5).
"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:24).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Romans.
Glorified
- Original: d??a´??
- Transliteration: Doxazo
- Phonetic: dox-ad'-zo
- Definition:
1. to think, suppose, be of opinion
2. to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate
3. to honour, do honour to, hold in honour
4. to make glorious, adorn with lustre, clothe with splendour
a. to impart glory to something, render it excellent
b. to make renowned, render illustrious
1. to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged
Conclusion
We must have confidence in God that He is greater.
