STUDY THEME; THE GOD FACTOR. 1-11-04
“GOD EMPOWERS.” 1 SAMUEL 17: 4-50.
1 SAMUEL 17: 8-11. 32-33,37, 45-47,50
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO 1 SAMUEL 17.
Our lesson last Sunday from 1 Samuel 16 answered our question, “How can I know God can use me?” In the life of David we saw how when God chooses a person for a purpose he also equips that person to carry out the purpose for which he was called.
Saul was called but he failed to nurture his inner character; he lacked the outward compliance God required; and he was rejected.
Our lesson for today is “How can I experience God’s power in difficult times? Every person is confronted by crisis situations. We senior adults have or will have to adjust to the radical changes of retirement.
Persons often tend to underestimate their ability to deal with problems, or worse they try to ignore the problems out of existence. Such delaying tactics seldom work, however, and times come when persons must confront their problems.
Today’s lesson should help us identify current situations in which we need a courageous faith in God. We may also evaluate how much courage we have now and seek ways to find new courage through our relationship with God.
Since the story of David and Goliath is so well known let’s hurry to the meat of the lesson to answer our question of the day, “How can we experience God’s power in difficult times?”
The story of David and Goliath is an event of true history, but it is also proverbial of the triumph of right over wrong in the face of tremendous odds.
Thus it becomes more than a heroic episode in ancient Israelite history. It speaks to God’s people today who are constantly faced with crises. When Christians encounter crisis, they can do one of two things. They can be defeated as they reckon only with their ability to cope. Or through faith in God they can meet crisis head-on and overcome it.
In keeping with an oft-stated principle, we must not see God through our problems. Instead we must view our problems through God. Heb. 11 tells us how through the ages certain of God’s people have conquered through faith. Though our problems may or may not be of the same magnitude as theirs, the principle still applies. It is by faith that we can be victorious.
The central truth of this study is that faith in God, deepened by daily experiences with Him, equips us to meet great crises.
PLEASE READ 1 SAMUEL 17: 8-11.
As our story begins Saul was set to defend the valley of Elah, one of the main passes through the Philistine plains into the highlands of Judah. His army took position on a steep hillside on one side of the valley. The Philistines had a similar position on the other side. Neither army was willing to leave its vantage point by descending into the valley. In a sense they faced a military stalemate. This situation produced a crisis for Israel.
After a full week of bowl games I have learned that even the most dedicated football fanatic finds it impossible to know who will be the hero until the game begins for real. David was that kind of surprise champion. The youngest son in a family from a remote village, he emerged as the champion of Israel. When the game seemed lost, he brought victory. We can imagine how popular was David’s success story around the campfires of the Israelites. David’s heroics retain their excitement and popularity three thousand years later.
The accounts do present a slight problem for us. In the latter part of the sixteenth chapter, David joined Saul’s court, providing music to soothe the king’s troubled heart. In Ch. 17: 55-56 Saul does not appear to know David. Some Biblical students think that Saul’s mental condition was such he did not remember his first encounter with David.
The relationship between the Hebrews and the Philistines was not unlike that between Palestinians and Israel today. Deep and abiding mutual distrust produced an almost continuous state of war. Each nation sought to annihilate the other.
In this particular battle things were not gong well for the Hebrews. In those days it was not a matter of which side had the best scientists or most productive industrial complex. Two long lines of human bodies moved toward each other, only to be spent and thrown away like empty shells.
Finally, the Philistines proposed a strategy to gain victory quickly. The Philistine champion challenged the Israelites to send forth their best man for personal combat, winner take all.
The Israelites had no one who could physically measure up to Goliath. Remember how impressed Samuel was with the stature of Eliab in Ch 16: 6-7. Eliab apparently resembled a dwarf beside Goliath. The Philistine’s taunts shamed the Israelites, but no one among them, including the mighty Saul, stepped forward to accept the challenge. Goliath’s challenge to Israel also mocked Israel’s God
Saul tried to buy courage by offering anyone who would fight Goliath great wealth, his daughter in marriage, and perpetual tax exemption. So deep was the fear of this Philistine that even the promise of great reward could not lure a volunteer to the front.
Then young David entered the scene. One senses an attractive naivete and impulsiveness about the young shepherd boy. David judged the situation to be a simple matter of God against Dagon, good versus evil.
Ignoring the rebuke of his elder brother (sibling rivalry was not discovered by our children), David volunteered to meet Goliath in mortal combat. David’s very presence seemed accidental. Had the challenge been issued a little earlier, he would not have been there to hear it. David’s being the right person in the right place at the right time can only be explained as providential, according to Gods plan for Israel and for God’s newly anointed leader.
Saul could not take pride in this unlikely champion, but he had no one else. The king outfitted the boy in the best soldier’s armor available, that of the king himself. Young David in oversized armor must have presented a hilarious sight. He quickly realized he could not be the adult warrior they wanted him to be. The victory could not be won with someone else’s tools.
A slingshot and stone were all David needed to knock out the mighty Philistine. Of course, his weapons were not the real difference. His power lay in knowing God was on His side and would guide the stone to the vulnerable spot in the giant’s armor. One adolescent plus God was enough for the job that hundreds of men feared. The army cheered David, but it was God who triumphed. He had set David on the course God had planned for him.
In Vs. 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel. Vs. 4 –7 describe this colossus in full battle array. The description of Goliath is awesome. According ot our measurement, he was about 9 and one half feet tall. Atop his head and covering his ears Goliath wore a helmet made of bronze. His armor weighted about l50 pounds. His spear was the size of a weaver’s beam. It’s iron spearhead weighing 20 pounds. “Greaves of brass” were like shin guards to protect his legs. The “target” was either a javelin carried between his shoulders, or, more likely, a metal plate to protect his back.
No wonder such a walking armored spectacle left Saul and his army dismayed and afraid. Goliath drummed the same challenge at Israel each morning and evening for 40 days. He probably heaped accompanying abuse upon Israel and her God. In size, only Saul himself could compare with this giant, but a king would never stoop to fight such a duel. Besides, size of body does not equate with the size of one’s conviction.
PLEASE READ 1 SAMUEL 17: 32-33, 37.
After the 40 days of Goliath’s insulting challenges, David appeared on the scene. His three brothers, mentioned in 1 Sam. 16:6-9 were in Saul’s army. Their father Jesse sent David to take them extra food and to learn now they fared. The journey was about 10 miles. David arrived early in the morning. Since Saul did not recognize him, apparently some time had elapsed since David played the lyre in his court. His attire would be different. Furthermore, at his age David would grow rapidly.
David’s conversations with the troops gave evidence he was willing to accept Goliath’s challenge. His reference to “this uncircumcised Philistine,” was spoken in contempt. His oldest brother, Eliab, sought to dissuade him, but to no avail. Hearing about David, Saul sent for him.
Here we see quite a different person from the lad who once had soothed the king’s spirit by playing on his lyre. Now Saul’s spirit is troubled in a different way.
We know from 1 Sam. 16:14-23 that Saul was given to fits of depression. Gloom may well have settled over him as he heard the taunts from Goliath and did not see a Hebrew arise to accept his challenge. Here was a failure of leadership by example and inspiration.
David’s words were designed to set Saul’s heart at rest. Did we not know the rest of the story, we might attribute to the audacity of youth his words, “Thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” God often raises-up his champion in the most unlikely places
This was true of Jesus’ apostles as well as the persecuting rabbi, Saul of Tarsus. A carousing baseball player—Billy Sunday---became the outstanding evangelist of his age. A shoe salesman who could not even speak good grammar---Dwight L. Moody---inflamed America and Europe with his evangelistic fervor. From the mountains of North Carolina, God plucked A.T., Robertson, one of the greatest of N.T. scholars, and George W. Truett, one of the outstanding pulpiteers of the Christian era. If you knew “the rest of the story,” you would know that God still goes to out-of-the-way places to find many who serve him mightily in the ministry and otherwise. God can use anyone wholly dedicated to His will! He can use each of us.
Here in Vs. 32 is clearly a case of a youth leading adults. David’s faith spurred him to action even in the face of tremendous risk. Adults often deceive themselves for the sake of convenience. David’s example shows some battles must be fought. “Let no one lose heart,” the boy told his king.
In Vs. 33 David’s offer to duel the mighty pagan warrior astounded and probably embarrassed Saul. Help was at hand, but Saul did not see it. He, too, looked on the outward appearance, not into the heart of David. He saw but a young man of strong but normal physique. How could he hope to cope with this giant?
The giant is called by name only in Vs. 4, 8, and 23. Throughout most of the account the writer used “this (or the”) Philistine,” a derisive ethnic identification. How could anyone in Israel, much less he king, fear this pagan braggart who did not even belong to the people of God, and who certainly did not worship God? David showed no fear of this enemy of God and by his courageous stand sought to calm the anxiety of his elders.
David’s past experience was limited to tending meek, helpless sheep. Goliath had been a warrior since he was a young man. This seasoned, victorious veteran of many such encounters knew all the tricks of his trade---dirty and otherwise. It would be like leading a lamb to the slaughter to permit David to accept his challenge. What was even worse, it meant throwing Saul’s entire army and nation to the wolves. Saul refused to rest the fate of his people on such untried shoulders.
You cannot do it! Was the meaning of Saul’s reply to David’s bold offer to fight. How often do we share Bible stories with our children to teach them about faith and then turn right around and discourage their exercise of it?
Because it has not been done before or because it is difficult or dangerous does not mean God cannot do it. The Poet Emerson captured David’s strength and boldness in these lines of Voluntaries: “ So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near is God to man, When duty whispers low, Thou must, The youth replies, I can! David responded to God’s whisper rather than to Saul’s fearful wail.
We may well imagine that Saul was about to dismiss this rash young man. We can almost hear him say, “Young man, you should return to your sheep, and leave this war to men.” David did not give up so easily. He related to the king how as a shepherd he had saved his sheep from a lion and a bear.
Judging from their frequent mention in the O.T. (130 times), lions must have been quite common in Palestine. Their great strength made bears feared even more than lions. Normally they ate fruits and berries, but in winter-time, when these were not available, they would raid flocks and take off lambs and small goats.
With primitive weapons and physical strength, David had killed the fierce animals to rescue their intended prey. “And this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the Living God.” “The living God,” is contrasted to the dead idols of the Philistines.
David attributed his success not to his own prowess and strength but to the Lord who delivered him. Like muscles, faith grows stronger through exercising it.
Christians are strengthened to face present trials by recalling past victories God has given. For this reason we should not be discouraged as we face new crises. Indeed, if we have never before been tested, we can find courage as we observe the victories of others. When such times come, we should recall the words of the apostle Paul, in 1 Cor. 10:13. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer (permit) you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God is able to see us through such.
Finally, in Vs. 37, with a prayer that the Lord would be with David, Saul gave his permission, with one condition: David must use the best equipment. Therefore, Saul put his own armor upon David. The mistake soon became obvious. The king’s huge armor swallowed young David. He could not even walk in it.
There is a moral and spiritual lesson in this. You cannot fight your battles in another person’s armor. Other than to encourage you, another’s spiritual equipment will not help you to confront your own problems. Whatever or whoever may be your foe, you must fight your own battles in your own way and with your own resources.
So David took his shepherd’s club, an effective weapon, and his sling. The sling was a shepherd’s weapon but was also used in warfare with great accuracy. It was usually made of leather, with a pocket in the center to hold the stones. Both ends wee held in the hand whirled above the head until the release of one end hurled the stone with tremendous force. Armed with his own weapons, David ventured forth to meet Goliath. On his way he carefully selected five stones from the bed of a brook. These he placed in his shepherd’s bag or “scrip,” something like a money bag.
PLEASE READ 1 SAMUEL 17: 45-47, 50.
Saul insisted David enter battle protected like all good soldiers, so he sought to equip David with his personal armor. David looked foolish in the oversized armor of the king. He could hardly move, let alone fight, in the heavy outfit of Saul.
David was wise enough to know he could not win the battle with another’s weapons. Christians waste a lot of valuable time and effort wishing for the gifts of others. We look pretty silly when we try to look, or act or be someone else. We should not base our expectations of persons on how the last person in a certain position accomplished the task. We must be, and let other be, what God has made us.
Goliath was insulted by the appearance of a simple shepherd to accept his challenge. “Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves or sticks?” Such would have been used to drive away a wild dog, which threatened the flock. Of course, the giant had reference to David’s club. He did not even carry a sword! Ironically, he ignored the sling. So the Philistine cursed David in the name of his pagan gods. He boasted that he would feed David’s flesh to wild beasts and birds.
David did not wilt under the enemy’s insults. He told Goliath his taunts against the army of Israel defied God. Sword, spear, and javelin would be useless against the Almighty. David made sure that both friend and foe understood he did not come in his own strength but in the Lord’s.
Whereas Goliath cursed David in the name of his gods, the chief of which was Dagon. David pronounced doom upon him and the Philistine army in the name of “the Lord (Yahweh) of hosts” or “armies.” Yahweh is the personal name of the true God of Israel.
The Lord of hosts refers to God as the Lord of all heavenly and earthly powers, Israel’s invisible Leader fighting for His people.
The use of the names of their respective deities reflects the Ancient Near Eastern concept that war between two nations was really war between their gods. When one nation triumphed over another the victor’s could claim victory for his deity. Israel finally learned the danger of this concept in the Exile.
So David confidently predicted victory for Israel. It would be complete victory. What Goliath had promised to do with David’s body would be done to the troops of the Philistine army. “That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” David hurled back insults back at the giant. How ludicrous the young adolescent’s voice must have sounded as his threats echoed through the valley. The message was clear. The Philistines and all the world would know the power of God when they saw a young, inexperienced boy armed only with a slingshot defeat a giant warrior with a great record of valor and victory. The confrontation would prove beyond doubt that God was still in control.
Furthermore, the assembled armies would know that victory comes, not through military power and prowess, but through Yahweh’s power alone: “for the battle is the Lord’s (Yahweh), and He will give you into our hands.”
At this point in Vs. 45-53 the battle was joined. When Goliath moved toward him, David wisely did not allow the giant to get near him. Instead, he took a stone from his bag, put it in his sling, and let it fly. It struck Goliath’s forehead with such force that the giant fell unconscious to the ground.
What an ignominious end for so giant a warrior! He hardly knew what hit him. After all his boasting, the duel was over before it really started. He lay unconscious on the ground, felled not by a sword, spear, or even an arrow, but by a common stone from a shepherd’s sling! Yet the real fact is he fell before the power of God. David was only Yahweh’s courageous champion. The victory belonged to the Lord.
Everybody knew God had used a small shepherd boy to triumph over evil. God still supplies what we need to achieve his purpose. God does not ask his people to be more or less than they are. He does not assign us any task for which he has not equipped us. He wants us to use what we have. We often waste the gifts we have because we are longing for those of others. Who you are, where you are, and what you have are enough if you are in the center of God’s will.
The victory did not belong to a little shepherd boy. It belonged to an all-powerful God who could win with nothing more than a small shepherd boy.
The battle-field may change from the military to the spiritual arena. Evil forces may boast and blaspheme. Timid Christians may lose the battle by default. One dedicated person plus God continues to be a majority.
You and I never expect to face the type of crisis situation that confronted David. We do not look for a giant to appear suddenly in our path. Not do we anticipate an opportunity to become a national hero. This must not cause us to ignore the important lessons David’s experience can give.
We do face crises, some of which appear gigantic. We are tempted to give in to despair and hopelessness. Crisis can freeze us into inactivity, as it did Saul’s army. Where can we find the power and motivation to act?
We may doubt our own capabilities. In crisis we often give up before we count our resources. We fail to realize that Christian humility does not mean that we can blame all problems on our lack of talents and gifts.
Crisis should call forth from us new faith and courage. Crisis should motivate us to use every gift and resource we have. Crisis will do this for the person who has been using God-given talents to solve the minor problems along life’s way. Crisis will do this for the person who has walked each step of life in faith and trust with God.
David learned his resources and sharpened his faith during the years spent protecting his father’s flock. Then he was ready to face the giant. How well are our faith and resources prepared to face crisis? God wants to help us get prepared.
Vs. 51 gives the final details of the duel. Since David had no sword, he used Goliath’s own sword to behead him. A gruesome scene, to be sure. We must judge events by the customs of the time, and not in the light of the Christian revelation. The same God acted in both periods of human history. He always works with people as they are. We must not become so involved with this matter as to miss the message beneath the surface. Through a young man of courageous faith, God had delivered his people from pagan enemies.
The scene which follows is a debacle. Seeing their champion dead, the Philistines fled in terror. Encouraged by David’s victory, the Israelites pursued them even to their own cities, a distance of about 15 miles. The Philistine route of retreat was marked by their dead.
The reference in Vs. 54 to David taking Goliath’s head to Jerusalem evidently is a summary statement of a future event. At this time Jerusalem was controlled by the Jebusites, who would have no reason for celebrating such an Israelite victory. Or it could be that he did so soon thereafter in order to impress this pagan stronghold as to the power of Israel’s God. After David became king, he conquered Jerusalem, making it his capital city. David kept Goliath’s armor in his tent. We know that his sword was preserved. Later we read in 1 Sam. 21:9 of it being in the possession of the priests of Nob.
Several lessons may be gleaned from this study: (1) The forces of evil constantly defy God and assail his people. (2) Fainthearted Christians are no match for the evil designs of the enemy. (3) One person with courageous faith can make the difference between victory and defeat in a given crisis. (4) When one such person takes the lead, others will be made bold to follow. (5) In the ordinary duties of life, God is preparing us for extraordinary deeds in His service. ( 6) Another person’s armor is no substitute for your own. (7) God uses simple things to confound the mighty. (8) Not swords of steel but the “sword of the Sprit.” (9) God uses human instruments, but the victory is the Lord’s. (10) It is “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Zech. 4;6.
NEXT SUNDAY FROM 2 SAMUEL 11 AND PSALM 139 WE HAVE OUR “SANCTITY OF LIFE LESSON FOR THIS QUARTER”. A.V. DAUGHERTY 1-11-04,