The Battle is the Lord's

Believers are to Recognize that a spiritual battle is taking place ()

Explanation: David has been sent by his father to give a care package to his brothers and their officers. Jesse also wants to know how the boys are getting along during the war. When David arrives the army is in the field so he joins them in order to fulfill his father’s request. Upon arriving, David hears Goliath’s boastful challenge and immediately becomes indignant. David does not see a big scary warrior; he sees a pagan infidel who is insulting and bringing shame on the Name of God Himself (v. 26). David is incensed and cannot believe what he is hearing!

David gets a quick rebuke from his older brother Eliab for making comments and asking questions (v. 28). Eliab questions his motives and tells him to go back home and quit bothering the “professionals.” David, however, is not silenced by Eliab’s rebuke because he is able to discern this is a spiritual issue, not a physical one. (vv. 29-30)

Example: Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms. Luther recognized that the Gospel was at stake, and he acted upon the importance of the spiritual nature of the conflict.

Argument: We are in the midst of continuing spiritual warfare in the 21st century. Each generation of believers has a battle in which to engage. Satan and the forces of evil are in continual opposition to the truth of the Gospel, and the attacks come in waves. The notion that we can simply rest upon the gains of Christ is false - we are to be ready at all times to answer the summons. Jude told his audience "to contend for the faith” () and Peter told believers to “always be prepared to make a defense” for the faith ().

The warfare is real and ongoing. The question for us is: do we recognize we are in the midst of spiritual warfare? Paul reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the … spiritual forces of evil” ().

Application: Recognize the physical is not the primary. Yes, we are faced with immoral laws and policies, but these are symptoms of spiritual wickedness. While believers should definitely be good citizens who vote, the vastly more powerful weapon of prayer is available. We first need to recognize our need before action will be taken

Believers are to trust God for deliverance ()

Explanation: When word got back to Saul about David’s interest in fighting the giant, Saul sent for him. In the conversation between the two, along with Saul’s previous actions, a sharp contrast is made.

As King, Saul should be the one who leads in displaying trust in God to deliver His people. Instead, Saul is placing his trust in material things. He is looking for deliverance by offering rewards. The King is willing to give money, his own daughter, and provide tax exemption to the man who will fight the giant. [Goliath’s challenge has been going on for 40 days - some commentators believe that Saul’s reward package grew over time. He started by offering cash money - no takers; he threw in his daughter - still no takers; then he offered tax exempt status for the whole family - still no takers]

This contrast also displays the difference the Holy Spirit makes in a person’s life. When the Spirit came upon Saul, he mobilized the men of Israel and defeated the Ammonites (). The Spirit has left Saul and we find him cowering and fear with the others ().

David, who is empowered by the Holy Spirit, is bold and courageous. He is not looking at the physical disadvantage between him and Goliath; he is focused on God’s power to deliver () especially v. 37, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine”

Argument: God hasn’t changed. His abilities have not decreased. As God informed Jeremiah, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?” (). God is able, He is Jehovah Jireh, the Great I AM (). A proper and biblical understanding of the Lord is necessary for us to fulfill our obligation to the One who called us. He has commanded that we “walk by faith, not by sight” ().

When we focus solely on the material world, we miss out on much of what God has called us to do. If David had only looked at Goliath in the physical sense, he would not have faced him. When we look at things in the physical (we don’t have the money, we don’t have the people, we don’t have the land, or whatever else) we will not move forward with the spiritual.

Application: We CAN trust God with the hard things. We CAN walk forward in faith even when the resources are not visible. All we need to know is God’s Will and then follow it.

Believers are to live for the Glory of God ()

Explanation: David acted upon his convictions. He went out and faced Goliath. When David walked out from the ranks, Goliath was enraged. He felt insulted by this “small fry” who was sent out. He cursed David and threatened to dismember him. David did not just attack Goliath on the spot. First, David made sure Goliath knew what was about to happen and why. David proclaimed the Majesty and greatness of God and told Goliath that this God he had defied was going to allow David to kill him. David dismissed the physical weapons of war and proclaimed that the Battle was the Lord’s and that David’s coming victory was really for the purpose of Magnifying and Glorifying God’s Great Name in all the earth (vv. 46-47)

Illustrate: George Mueller was a man of prayer who made sure all of the Glory went to the LORD.

Argument: Our purpose as believers in this world is not just to do well in the physical. While jobs are necessary for life, our primary focus should not be just to get good jobs so we can have good things for our kids and then be able to retire early and travel. If that remains our primary focus, we will have missed out on our calling as believers.

God has placed us here in this time and in this place that we might be used to make a positive impact for His kingdom. Whatever specific actions or directions we take, our guiding principle should include a concern for God’s glory to be increased.