THE VERY RELATABLE LIFE OF KING DAVID
NOICE SPEECH
1 Samuel 17:45-47
#kingdavid
INTRODUCTION… Video of Fictional Pre-Battle Speeches (custom video) (4:56)
It is one of the most cinematic forms of storytelling in war and action movies… the ‘pre-battle speech.’ It could be that morale is down and all of the dejected troops look up to their great leader to deliver some sage words of wisdom and inspire them onto the pathway to glory. It could be that the soldiers are on the verge of winning freedom or making history and the leader wants to fuel their resolve.
We, the audience, know that the hero is more than likely going to win the battle and the good guys are going to win. When we see the hero stand in front of their troops and deliver a rousing speech, it gets our blood pumping and we root for them to win. That is fiction. In real life, there’s no speech powerful enough to miraculously change troops’ minds or make them fight harder or bring about some magic on the battlefield. Maybe. Real life speeches can be quite powerful and moving and motivating. There is power in public speaking and rhetoric and leadership charisma.
The passage that we are going to focus on today is such a rousing blood-pumping speech. It is not a fictional speech, but an actual exchange between the hero of the story and the enemy of the story. It is a speech said loud and proud that others would overhear and be encouraged.
CONTEXT OF THE SPEECH (VERSES 1-44)
The speech happens in 1 Samuel 17. If we were watching these chapters in David’s life as a video, we might notice the time stamp a little off. Some of the details in the chapter, to me, put the events of chapter 17 in the middle of chapter 16 somewhere between verses 13 and 14. It is a fleshing out of David which might have a note on screen, ‘a little bit of time before this.’ 1 Samuel 17 is a whole complete event in David’s life and I can imagine not wanting to chop up chapter 16 to make it fit.
Anyway, 1 Samuel 17 opens with Israel at war. They are at war with the Philistines. The Philistines were non-God believing people that lived on the coast in fortified cities and would come inland and harass Israel. The passage describes the armies lining up for battle and exchanging curses and taunts as part of the pre-fighting and bloodshed. During one of the days of insults, the best warrior of the Philistines, named Goliath, presented himself and issued a challenge. The challenge was that he would fight a warrior from Israel and the winner would win the whole battle and the victor would be decided.
The Bible describes Goliath, the Philistine champion, in terms that we think are fiction.
READ 1 SAMUEL 17:4-7 (ESV)
And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.
There are several things to note about Goliath based on the passage. The measurements and such are different, so I did some conversions for us. Goliath was 9 feet tall. The bronze mail armor he wore weighed 125 pounds. The size of his spear was about 2 inches in diameter and probably about 10 feet long. The spear head weighed 16 pounds. Goliath was a giant of a man. Super tall people are possible… Sun Mingming from China born in 1983 is 7 feet 9 inches tall.
What I would also like to point out to you is that Goliath is not an anomaly. He comes from a family and an area with tall giant men. 2 Samuel 21 describes Ishbi-benob (21:16) who had a giant sword and spear. We have a different giant ‘Goliath’ mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:19. Verse 20 tells us about a giant man with “six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.” The area of Gath where Goliath was from was known for producing giant warriors good with spears. In a different passage in Deuteronomy 3:11, Og King of Bashan had a bed that was 13 feet long so he was probably about the same size as Goliath. The Goliath facing David was one of many.
Believe it or not, David was facing a giant warrior who likes to curse. We need to also see that Goliath’s curses are not just against the cowardly Israelite army, but he is mouthing off against God. Goliath is pretty good at taunting and cursing and verbally attacking the people of God. No one steps forward to fight him.
Jesse sends his son David with provisions for his brothers and the army because they had been at this lining up and cursing one another for over a month. Jesse wanted a report on his sons. He sends David and David arrives to hear Goliath spouting his curses and challenges and overall degrading the People of God. David notices no one steps up and everyone is afraid. Yes, they are all afraid of the 9-foot-tall man clad in armor! David is upset that none of the men on the field of battle are stepping up to do battle.
His brothers in turn are angry with him for walking into camp and being critical. King Saul hears about this guy in the camp who is willing to fight and wants to see him. Saul when he sees David, realizes he is just a punk kid. David tells Saul about killing a lion and a bear while being a shepherd. David says (17:37, (ESV)): “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” It does not say and I do not know why, but King Saul sends him on his way to fight Goliath.
It is about now that the exciting music starts playing in the background and maybe even time slows down a little as David steps onto the field of battle in front of Goliath. Goliath is completely offended that he’s been waiting for over a month and the person that steps out to fight him is a little runt kid.
It is at this point that David has his pre-battle speech. He is talking to Goliath. He is also talking to the army of Israel who are at his back cowering in fear and inaction. I think his goal is to threaten Goliath and to jazz up the men behind him with talk about God who is with him.
What does he say?
READ 1 SAMUEL 17:45-47 (ESV)
“You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with 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 defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hand.”
Because it is a noice speech, I want to read it again from the Message translation so we get his words into our minds.
READ 1 SAMUEL 17:45-47 (MSG)
“You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day GOD is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that GOD doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to GOD—He’s handing you to us on a platter!”
TRANSITION
David’s speech on the battlefield has two truths for us. These two truths are important for us in our lives. The first truth is that David felt empowered by the Name of the Lord of Hosts. The second truth is that the Lord delivers and saves. These two truths are important as we make our way through life. David is facing a situation of literally giant proportions and these are the beliefs that are guiding his mind and heart. They need to guide ours as well.
TRUTH OF THE SPEECH: THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS
One of the first things David says in his speech is that he comes before Goliath to fight “in the Name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the Armies of Israel.”
ILLUSTRATION… pedagonet.com/blog/2006/10/god-and-forrest-gump.html
It is an old old joke with a horrible punch line, but I am going to use it anyway because I like it and even after I have heard it 100 times and probably told it 100 times I still think it is funny.
Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However, the gates are closed and Forrest approaches the Gatekeeper. St. Peter says, "Well, Forrest, it's certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we've been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven."
Forrest responds, "It shore is good to be here , St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever tolt me about any entrance exam. Shor hope the test ain't too hard; life was a big enough test as it was."
St. Peter goes on, "Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions:
First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second: How many seconds are there in a year?
Third: What is God's first name?"
Forrest leaves to think the questions over.
He returns the next day and sees St. Peter who waves him up and says, "Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers." Forrest says, "Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begin with the letter "T"? Shucks, that one's easy. That'd be Today and Tomorrow." The Saint's eyes open wide and he exclaims, "Forrest, that's not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I didn't specify, so I'll give you credit for that answer. How about the next one?" asks St. Peter. "How many seconds in a year?" "Now that one's harder," says Forrest, "but I thunk and thunk about that and I guess the only answer can be twelve."
Confounded, St. Peter says, "Twelve? Twelve!? Forrest, how could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?" Forrest says "Shucks, there's gotta be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd. . ." "Hold it, " interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you're going with this, and I see your point, though that wasn't quite what I had in mind, .but I'll have to give you credit for that one, too.
Let's go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's name"?
"Sure" Forrest replied, "Its Andy." “Andy?!" exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St. Peter. "Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?"
"Shucks, that was the easiest one of all," Forrest replied. "I learnt it from the song. . . . "Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I am his own . . ." St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates and said: "Run Forrest, run."
‘Andy’ is of course not the first name of God, but that is a funny joke nevertheless.
David says he comes before Goliath and is standing there facing death “in the Name of the Lord of Hosts.” What does David mean by that?
I think David means that he is standing there representing God Who is eternal and all powerful. God is outside of time and is not bound to time like you and I are. We grow old. We endure every second of every day. God simply exists and always has and always will… He is the only Eternal Being. Another way of putting this is that the God we love and serve is omnipresent and is always with us no matter where we find ourselves. David knew that and believed it.
I think David means that he is standing there representing God Who is completely independent. God has a purpose and a will that is not dependent on anything or anyone else. God’s will does not shift from one thing to another for it is constant. God’s will be not fickle. God’s will is not dependent on our obedience or disobedience and is accomplished to matter what. God’s will is something that can guide us in our lives as the perfect path of life because it is always holy, always good, and always best. David believed that God led him to that place at that time and His will would be done.
Scripture talks to us about the power of God’s Name.
READ Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)
The Name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.
READ Isaiah 42:8 (ESV)
I am the LORD; that is My Name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols.
READ Philippians 2:10-11 (ESV)
So that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
SUMMARY
What you and I need to understand about David is that David believed that when he stood in the middle of God’s will that he had nothing to fear. He trusted in God completely. He trusted in the Name of God. He trusted that when He was in the will of God the whole backing of God’s presence and power and will was behind him and under him and around him. That is how he could face Goliath.
Praying and invoking the Name of God is no small thing. When we pray in Jesus’ Name there is power. When we speak the Name of God it is significant. When we trust in the Name of God it is a soul strengthening emotionally powerful act. One of the first things David says in his speech is that he comes before Goliath to fight “in the Name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the Armies of Israel.”
TRUTH OF THE SPEECH: THE LORD DELIVERS AND SAVES
As David faces off against Goliath, he speaks and attributes some very important action words to God. In verse 46, God delivers. In verse 47, God saves.
I imagine David standing there and not too far away is the largest man he has ever seen. This is not only the largest man he has ever seen, but he is a well-trained warrior. This is not only the largest well-trained warrior he has ever seen, but this opponent is energized by the many days of cowering Israelites. Goliath knows he will win. Goliath knows Israel will continue to be enslaved and raided and pillaged.
David, on the other hand, knows he will win. David’s plan is to slay Goliath and cut off his head. Then his plan is for the army of Israel to rush forward and kill all the Philistines as they are in dismay over Goliath’s death. He believes the battle belongs to the Lord. He believes that God delivers and God saves.
Why does he believe that?
He believes that because…
* God wove His will through Joseph’s life and saved his family from famine.
* God sent Moses to Egypt to deliver all the tribes of Israel from slavery.
* God delivered His people from oppression over and over in the Book of Judges
* God delivered his great grandmother from ruin and brought her to marry his great grandfather.
* God delivered him from the claws of the lion.
* God saved him from the teeth of the bear.
You see, God has a history of saving and delivering. It is what He does. He is salvation. He is a deliverer. David believes this about God because he knows it from history, he knows it from his family history, and he knows it from his own life.
Scripture talks to us about the saving and delivering nature of God.
READ Psalm 18:2 (ESV)
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
READ Isaiah 45:22 (ESV)
Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
READ Acts 4:12 (ESV)
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
READ Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
SUMMARY
What you and I need to understand about David is that David believed that when he faced down literal or figurative giants, that God absolutely had his back. He trusted in God completely. He trusted God as a deliverer and savior because God hath proven Himself over and over again in that task. The victory he had already experienced with the lion and bear are huge. That is how he could face Goliath.
Faith in God means believing in Him even when we do not know the outcome. If you 100% know the outcome of something, it isn’t faith. We are called to faith in God and He is worthy of our faith and proved Himself. As David faces off against Goliath, he speaks and attributes some very important action words to God. In verse 46, God delivers. In verse 47, God saves.
TRANSITION
What does this all mean for us?
APPLICATION: TRUST
It all comes down to trust. T R U S T
In my mind and perhaps in yours, the character of someone, their motivations, and their track record all factor into whether or not I can trust them. The same applies to God. Based on His character… based on His motivations… based on His track record throughout recorded human history… the Lord God Almighty, the I AM, the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, omnitemporal, and omnibenevolent God is worthy of our trust.
* Trust God when you are sitting in the doctor’s office and pray that His will is done
* Believe God leads when your child or grandchild enters a new stage of life and trust in His will
* Be confident when you are looking for a new job and pray to follow His will to the new job
* Have hope when you have prayed in Jesus’ Name over a hard conversation that it will go His way
* Trust in Jesus’ blood when you repent and ask for grace and forgiveness of sins
* Believe God when He says He delivers us from sinful labels we put on ourselves
* Be confident when you know something is God’s will that it will go exactly the way He wants
* Have hope that the Almighty God has our back when we are in His will
READ Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.
David’s son Solomon wrote those words. If David had written them, he might have said:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make the giants fall.
READ Isaiah 26:4 (ESV)
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
The prophet Isaiah wrote those words. If David had written them, he might have said:
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is a rock in my sling.
Over 53 times in the Psalms David writes about ‘trust.’
READ Psalm 9:10 (ESV)
And those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
David did say that.
CHALLENGE: Trust in Him.
PRAYER
INVITATION
I read Galatians 5:1 (ESV) earlier. It says: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. As we sing this last song, you are invited to accept the freedom Jesu Christ gives. Jesus Christ gives us freedom from sin and guilt. Jesus gives us freedom to have a relationship with God the Father. Jesus gives us freedom from fear because we are saved and delivered in all the ways that matter in this life.
