We Aren't David

We talked a couple weeks ago about things that are ok to watch. If we drew a hard line in the sand on what’s acceptable and what isn’t, there would be stuff in the Bible we couldn’t read!

I’m reading through Genesis with Parker, we came to chapter 19 the other night…

But this is a classic Bible story that I think we misunderstand a lot of times.

I misunderstood it more than I was aware of I realized today.

Jesus defeated our greatest enemy.

So here’s the scene in 1 Samuel 17…

They’re in a war…

There’s a huge guy on the other side…

David comes up…

He volunteers to fight, even though he’s comically undersized…

Saul tries to give him his armor in verse 38…

1 Samuel 17:41–52 HCSB

The Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!” David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel’s armies—you have defied Him. Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.” When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Even though David had no sword, he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword, pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they ran. The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

David’s interest was not personal gain.

Look at verse 26

His concern was that Goliath was defying God.

David knew it was not his battle to win.

verse 46

I’m not a trash talker when it comes to college and professional sports generally because I know I’m not the one competing. I have no control over who wins really, so I’m not going to run my mouth and have to listen to it if my team loses. If I am running my mouth, then I feel pretty sure that my team is going to lose. While I may be involved in some small way, I know it’s not up to me to win the game. David knew it wasn’t up to him to win this battle, it was up the the Lord. And He knew the Lord wouldn’t lose.

So this story is about our sovereign God being more powerful than the most powerful person the Philistines had to offer. Showing that the idols they worshipped were no gods at all and they couldn’t stand before Him.

Deuteronomy 3:21–22 HCSB

“I commanded Joshua at that time: Your own eyes have seen everything the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms you are about to enter. Don’t be afraid of them, for the Lord your God fights for you.

The Israelites failed to have faith in this promise from God. David did not.

I struggled with this this as I studied. I knew the message of the story was not, “have faith in God and He’ll defeat your giant for you”. But it was difficult not to see that.

Then I was studying with a commentary and read something that knocked me back.

We are not David, Jesus is. We are the Israelites.

Have you ever taken a buzz feed quiz to find out which character on a tv show or movie you are and not like the results?

David defeated an enemy that no one else could on behalf of his people, while his people trembled because they lacked faith.

Jesus defeated the enemy that no one else could (the devil) on behalf of his people, while we shrank from the battle.

David was the savior of the Israelites that day, pointing us forward to when Jesus would save his people from their sins!

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 HCSB

Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

The war is won, we can now boldly head into battle.

See what the Israelites do after David defeated Goliath.

Our enemy is defeated, our Victor is with us, we can face lesser foes with no ultimate power.

Our forgiveness and eternity is secure with Christ. The war is won. All we face on this earth, even our very lives, is just a battle!

1 Corinthians 15:58 HCSB

Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Charge

The struggles we feel in life ultimately come from sin. Freedom from sin only comes from faith in Jesus.

That doesn’t mean we never sin anymore or that struggles disappear in this life, but those things will happen in eternity.

Christians, are you living in the understanding that Jesus has defeated the enemy we could not defeat so that we can live? Are you living in victory?

Celebrate that He has won for us, face down the remaining enemies in the boldness provided by Jesus!

pray

game

Lamma Drama

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