Rejoicing In The Presence of The Enemy

Because we stand behind our mighty champion, we must:

Realize That We Aren’t The Champions In The Story

We aren’t the main character

Our Enemy is Great (4-7)

1, 2 Samuel (2) David Rescues Israel from a Philistine Giant (17:1–58)

Goliath’s most remarkable feature was his height; he was (lit.) “six cubits and a span” (= nine feet, nine inches) tall. Whether this measure refers to Goliath in or out of uniform is immaterial; his physical stature was awesome and psychologically overpowering, especially to the typically small Israelites.

1, 2 Samuel (2) David Rescues Israel from a Philistine Giant (17:1–58)

Goliath was sheathed in metal. His head was covered with “a bronze helmet” (v. 5). In ancient Egyptian artwork Philistine soldiers are depicted wearing a feathered headdress, not a helmet; Goliath’s headgear therefore was apparently atypical, designed for the special needs of representative combat. Protecting his trunk was “a coat of scale armor weighing five thousand shekels” (= 126 pounds).

1, 2 Samuel (2) David Rescues Israel from a Philistine Giant (17:1–58)

As if all this were not enough, Goliath also had a “shield bearer” who “went ahead of him.”

1, 2 Samuel (2) David Rescues Israel from a Philistine Giant (17:1–58)

Goliath’s physical stature, armor, weaponry, and shield bearer must have made him appear invincible

He is internal

We are Goliath

He is external

Our Strength is Helpless (8-10)

How Goliath was their representative, but Saul the king of Israel wouldn’t stand to fight.

Even the greatest of us in all of our strength are not enough to achieve victory. It must be won by the anointed one who comes in the name of the Lord. (45)

But Our Champion is Mighty and Righteous

David rejects Saul’s armor (38)

David travels out and attacks Goliath with a stone.

Leviticus 24:16 NKJV

16 And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death.

Recognize The Victory and Be Ready To Move Forward

In v8-10 when Goliath challenges them to a man to man fight to the death, he makes the bet that whatever nation loses would have to submit to slavery however, once Goliath is killed by David the Philistines turn and run in v51 and are immediately pursued and attacked by the people of God.

In the NT we find Christ, who has waged war on the god of this world and has dealt the death blow to the head of Satan as we are told of in Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

And even though their “god” has been defeated, the enemies of this world still rebel against the God of Creation. Psalm 2

Psalm 2 NKJV

1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” 7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

But Christ is still working today. This is His world and He is in control and this last week we witnessed the Lord our God show mercy to our nation as He led the Supreme Court to over turn Roe V Wade.

Proverbs 21:1 NKJV

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Conclusion

So, what am I getting at?

Well, as we look around us there are enemies that may drive us into hiding, but we shouldn’t be discouraged. Our Lord has already conquered not only us, but the enemy and He has sent us forward with the power of His Gospel to all the Earth.

In the story of David and Goliath, the people of God are found hiding behind rocks, but the victory of their champion caused them to jump into battle

1 Samuel 17:51–52 NKJV

51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

And so, as we consider the great victory of Christ in conquering death, Hell and the grave and as we consider Christ conquering around us today, we should rejoice and find our hearts stirred to go forward in this fight for His glory.

With Roe V. Wade being overturned, we find the fight to ban abortion in our front yards now. We are the generation that has seen the Lord our God kill Roe V Wade and I pray we will be the generation that will see abortion killed in our state. So what can we do? How can we march forward in light of our Champions victory?

Be reassured that you fight for a victorious Lord.

Pray for the leaders of our state.

Proverbs says they are like waters in God’s hand.

Write to our leaders and remind them that they are called by God to govern righteously, let them know you expect them to fight to ban abortion and that you are praying for them.

Romans 13

Continue to look for opportunities to minister to those in need.

The book of James calls us to be people committed to helping those in need. So we should look to give the message of the hope of the gospel to the discouraged, to help them in need and to be present with them. In short, we should both show them the love of Christ and preach to them the powerful gospel of Christ.