David & Goliath

Good morning & Welcome to New Hope!

Last week we kicked off a new series exploring the life of a biblical character named David. We looked at his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy serving his father, tending the sheep. But Samuel showed up one day to the town of Bethlehem, being sent by God, searching for the future king. He was lead to to home of Jesse who happened to have 8 sons. All were invited to the party - except David. The boys are marched in front of Samuel and he believes he knows who the chosen one is based on shear looks of the oldest boy - But God said, No. Six more are marched before Samuel and none is to be the future king. Samuel is like - “Are these all the boys you got? What did I miss?” Jesse is like - nah - theres one more. He’s the youngest boy. He’s out tending the sheep. Well, you guessed it - David was the unassuming choice chosen by God.

He was the unassuming choice

1 Samuel 16:14-23

I wonder if when David got anointed by Samuel if he did some spiritual hand-gesture so that all his brothers knew that he was giving God the praise for picking him cause he was special? I wonder if David said, hey let’s run through that again so I can get a good video for my IG account.

No it seemed that David continued to do what David did - humbly tended the sheep for his father. He served well. And since David also had this additional talent of playing the harp, he was recruited to be a harp player & an armor bearer for king Saul. And God’s word tells us, “So David went to Saul and began serving him.” It’s a pattern in David’s life - he’s a servant. He’s a man after God’s own heart. Do you think there’s a connection there?!

1 Samuel 17:1-7

And around some time the enemy of the Israelites, the Philistines, had gathered their army for battle near the valley of Elah. So Saul countered this by gathering his troops across the same valley on the opposite hill. And it’s at this point in the story that we’re introduced to one of the major characters in this drama - Goliath.

Now it’s interesting that the writer gets ver specific here in detailing this dude. With the name Goliath, what are you expecting? His name ain’t PeeWee! And the first thing we learn about him is that he’s a champion. I don’t think he’s a ping pong champion either. He’s a champion of battle. He’s a champion of fighting. He’s a champion among men. And we may not be completely convinced yet by the just the name or the title until we find out that he’s over 9 feet tall. Ok...I’m out!

The details keep coming - He’s wearing a bronze helmet, a bronze coat of armor from his shoulders to his knees, bronze leg armor covering his shins - so he’s covered from head to his feet in around 200 lbs. of bronze armor. He carried a spear or javelin on his shoulder that was so heavy that a normal man couldn’t use it. And like most warriors, he was equipped with a sword. As if all that wasn’t enough, he had his own armor bearer - another warrior who walked ahead of him carrying a shield the size of a full-grown man. I think Goliath was covered.

1 Samuel 17:8-11

Every day…morning and evening…Goliath would follow his armor bearer out of the Philistine army camp and shout towards the Israelites. He laid down the challenge that if any one many could muster up enough courage to face him in battle (& defeat him), the entire Philistine army would become their slaves. But if Goliath wins, the same would be true of Israel. He said, “I defy the armies of Israel today!” I can imagine that much more was said over the course of 40 days - the taunting, the insults, the gloating, the calls & chants from the Philistines behind Goliath.

Saul’s aide looks to his king for some direction, some encouragement, some hope…”anyone willing to face off against Goliath?” Nothing from King Saul. He was terrified at the sight of Goliath. He didn’t know what to do. Even though everyone knew that Saul was the biggest dude Israel had. Every day this happened…over & over & over.

1 Samuel 17:12-27

The scene pans back for a moment to Bethlehem, back to the home of Jesse. You see, Jesse’s 3 oldest boys had already joined Saul’s army to go against the Philistines. Jesse was concerned for his sons and so he’d want to know how his family was doing. His youngest, David, who continued tending the sheep, would help at home and go back and forth taking supplies and checking on their health.

One day Jesse tells David to take a basket of roasted grain and ten loaves of bread to his brothers. See how they’re getting along, and bring back a report to me how they’re doing. So David set out early the next morning and arrived as the Israelite army was leaving to head to the battlefield. The two armies, as they’d been doing for 40 days, stood across from one another on opposite hills. David leaves his stuff with someone and hurries out to greet his 3 brothers. As they were talking, Goliath steps out from among the ranks and David hears him shout his usual slander against the army of Israel

As they had been doing for over a month, the Israelite army ran scared. Some soldiers nearby began to talk it up with the new kid - “Have you seen the giant?” Every day - same thing. King Saul has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him.

David’s response is classic - “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” Nobody talks about my God like this! Are you serious, right now?

1 Samuel 17:28-31

But David’s oldest brother, Eliab, who was there a few months earlier to watch David get chosen over him. Right, he was the sure winner - oldest, biggest, had it all, but God said, that’s not the one. He was mad. He was jealous…and his anger got the best of him. “Why are you here anyway? What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be caring for? I know about your pride & deceit. You just want to watch the battle!”

David’s response: “What have I done now? I was only asking a question!” I can’t do anything right. It doesn’t matter what I do, there’s always something wrong with it. But instead of getting into it and trying to defend himself with his oldest brother, he moves on.

David knew who the battle was against. We’d be wise to take heed at David’s wisdom and realize this as well - our battle isn’t against our family members

1 Samuel 17:32-37

King Saul hears about David’s interest in fighting Goliath and he sends for him.

David is like - “No sweat, man. I got this.”

Saul is like - “No, seriously, man! There’s no way you can take this guy on & win. He’s been living and breathing this since he was a boy like you.”

But David doesn’t back down. He even gives Saul a few reasons why he’s confident he can beat Goliath.

I’m a shepherd....I’ve been taking care of sheep & goats. That’s a pretty good qualification!

While tending the livestock, wild animals are always on the prowl, and I have to protect them.

In fact, on at least 2 separate occasions (probably more) a lion and a bear have come in and taken a lamb from the flock. I don’t just let that one go - I chase after the one that has been taken and find it. And I have to deal with the hungry bear or lion. I go after it with a club. And I’ll do the same thing to that pagan Philistine - for he defiles the armies of the living God! “The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this punk!

Saul consents. It gets him off the hook. But he’s super spiritual and says, “And may the Lord be with you!” He doesn’t believe for one second that David can defeat this giant. Man looks at the outward appearance.

1 Samuel 17:38-51

Saul then tries to put his armor on David. Not going to work. David says, “I can’t go in these, I’m not used to them.”

You can’t do what someone else thinks you should do just because they are passionate about what they want you to do.

So armed with his shepherd’s staff and sling he makes his way down the hill towards the river-bed below. He stops at the edge for a moment and picks up five smooth stones and puts them in his bag

So armed with his shepherd’s staff and sling he makes his way down the hill towards the river-bed below. He stops at the edge for a moment and picks up five smooth stones and puts them in his bag and begins making his way towards Goliath.

A few words are exchanged...

Goliath: mostly obscenities and sneers of contempt

David: echoing words of truth that are eternal...

(NIV)

45David 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.

46This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

47All 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.”

Goliath and his armor bearer began to advance for battle / David quickly moves out to meet the great giant. He reaches into his bag and pulls out a stone. He hits Goliath right between the eyes with a crushing blow. And as quickly as the battle began…everything ended.

Louie Giglio in his book - Goliath Must Fall - comes to a very insightful point. So many of us today hear this story and tell ourselves that if we could just muster up enough courage…we could be David…we could conquer our fears...we could slay that giant.

Jesus = David; Jesus has won the battle; Jesus has defeated the enemy; Jesus is the great conquerer. We just need to very simply put our trust in Jesus. We need to follow Jesus and let him fight on our behalf.

It’s not by our talents, abilities, gifts, or efforts; But by Jesus, for He is able, trustworthy, mighty, loving, & victorious!

So this morning we conclude with an opportunity to symbolically put this into practice. I’d like to call the ushers forward to prepare for communion.

(NLT)

23The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,

23On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread

24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

24and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

25In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”

26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

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