Flat on Your Face

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 17:1-11, 26-32, 38-51  (day seven) 

The particulars are mentioned, but it really didn’t matter. It didn’t matter that Goliath was 9 feet tall or that he wore 126 lbs. of armor or that he yelled really loudly. Those things impressed Israel, but they didn’t matter in this battle.  The only fact that mattered to the outcome of the battle was the mocking. Six times in this passage Goliath taunts or defies God.

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.  (1 Samuel 17:45)

Defiance always leads to destruction.  When you refuse to acknowledge God as the author of the universe by leaning on your own strength and understanding you will fall.  There is no other way.  You cannot sustain yourself, especially with a pride like Goliath. Whenever we think we finally have the battles of this world figured out on our own we will fall flat on our faces.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.  (Proverbs 16:18)

Not So Small

“Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?”-Eliab to David, 1 Samuel 17:28

Eliab, David’s older brother, with his ego bruised, tried to make David feel small and insignificant. There is much irony here, not least of which, David would be king over his brother in several years. He would go from shepherd, to instrumentalist, to warrior, to commander, to king.

Also, although David was smaller because of his age, and his day job less significant, his faith made him great. He found it impossible that the Israelite army had not already responded to this giant’s taunts. For David, there was no question as to what needed to be done quite simply because he believed God, and so he took action when others would not.

Let me encourage you today in three ways. First, be reminded, greatness is never determined by the external appearance of things, but by the caliber of one’s heart, i.e faith, love,  character, courage, integrity. Second, faith, no matter how small, is never idle, it takes action when others will not. Third, be careful what you say to others (or about), they could be the next king, or in our case, the son or daughter of THE KING.

Courage

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 17:1-11, 26-32, 38-51  (day five) 

When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 17:11

We all lack courage to some degree. Underneath our outer appearances are varying degrees of doubt and insecurity that turns to fear; e.g. what others think about us, sharing our faith, relationships, sickness, the future. From the beginning in Genesis, we see the effects of human insecurity and doubting of God’s Words and His promises.

David had a courageous heart- trusting God’s Word and promises. “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”  Fear kept the Israelites from trusting God’s promises and His power. Fear does the same to us.  We must ask God for courage.  If we don’t, then the giants will always seem too big and the voices (internal and external) of doubt and fear will cause us to hide and keep us from  the work of God.

Grant us wisdom grant us courage: For the facing of this Hour, For the living of these days, Lest we miss Your Kingdom’s goals, That we fail not them nor Thee, Serving You Whom we adore.

Which Weapon?

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 17:1-11, 26-32, 38-51  (day four)

David was only a youth…he had not been trained in the weapons of war. Goliath was not only a huge, muscular man, but he had trained in combat techniques since he was a youth.  An obvious mismatch!  Goliath was self-absorbed…he was trusting in his skills as a warrior.  David was God-absorbed…he was trusting only in the Lord.  Not only was David a contrast to Goliath, but also to Saul.  David had served and ministered to Saul in his private quarters in his darkest moments, but when David prevailed over the giant, Saul did not even know who he was.  Saul was focused on himself and his own authority.  David was filled with the Spirit of God.  The purity of David’s heart brought the overwhelming victory for God’s people, Israel.

What are the weapons in your hand?  Are you trusting in your own abilities…your own wisdom…your own power?  What about the focus of your heart?  Are you self-absorbed or God-absorbed?  Kingdom work requires a heart after God’s own heart!  Psalm 139:23-24.

Clarity

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 17:1-11, 26-32, 38-51 (day three) 

“What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?” 

One can make a case that this question is actually rhetorical—that David is exposing these concerns as paltry diversions and absolutely beside the point: “The enemy commences with chest-pounding triumphalism against a God-delivered and God-shepherded people, and the best you can do is drool over the wanted poster?”  Saul had proven himself unwilling or unable to provide any spiritual context for Israel’s predicament.  Spinning fantasies of rewards and glory for some imaginary hero was all that kept Saul’s scared soldiers from deserting.  David stepped into the breach, clarifying the issue: The biggest danger they faced was not the end of their self-governance, but the end of their knowledge of God.  Fear Goliath, and Goliath is all you’ll find.

God-sized Victory

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 17:1-11, 26-32, 38-51 (day two) 

“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” 17:26b

This is really another way to view what God told Samuel in chapter 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

The size of the king did not matter to God, so why should the size of the enemy? Surely there was no one more qualified to answer that question than David. The anointing of God was given because of his heart, and he knew that if you stood in opposition to the will of God you would surely fall, regardless of size. His confidence in the Lord was his shield, his sword, and his armor. How could he fail? Are you still looking at the size of the problem, or are you trusting the size of your God?

Opinions

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 17:1-11, 26-32, 38-51 (day one)

Notice the contrast?  David’s older brother says of him, “I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is”–v 28.  The Lord says of David, “He is man after my own heart.”–Acts 13:22.  Which opinion is true?

Same thing happened with Jesus.  The Father saw a “beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”–Matthew 3:17.  The leaders of the Jewish nation thought He was dangerous and demon-possessed.

“To me it is very small thing that I should be examined by you. . .but the one who examines me is the Lord.  Therefore. . . wait until the Lord comes who will bring to light what is hidden and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”–1 Corinthians 4:3-5.

To follow Christ I must be prepared to face the negative judgements of the world.  I must be satisfied with the Lord’s opinion of me, and it only.

Musical Remedy

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 16  (day seven)

Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well. 1 Samuel 16:16

As Saul’s kingship spiraled out of control the only calm he found was David strumming the harp.  Typically, a harpist would be relegated to the background, left in the halls to fill the court with idle notes, but not David.  David’s music healed.  I hope when we step into worship this morning we are expecting to be healed through the music.  Our music is not meant to be idle or merely entertaining, our music together is more. The music speaks to the glory of God and teaches our theology note by note.  Do not overlook the music as a moment for growth and healing.  A song may be just what you need.

New

1 Samuel 16 is pivotal in many ways, but perhaps the most profound is that David is a type of Christ for us. His heart and kingship is a symbol of greater fulfillment to come in Jesus. David clearly has the kind of heart that God is looking for; a heart that is devoted to knowing, loving, and obeying Him. (Acts 13:22) We are desperate for more of a heart like that, right?!

How can we know when our hearts are sick, or not in the right place? What can God do with sick hearts? Only he can make all things new.

Preparing in the Pasture

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 16  (day five) 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

It was a momentous occasion. Anointed to be king!  As the oil rushes over David’s head, the Spirit of God rushes on him.  What comes next?  Robe and crown fittings? Elite leadership training?  No.  Samuel goes back to Ramah and David returns to tending the sheep.  David must wait and trust in God’s timing.  And we know that God used the time in the pasture as preparation for David’s future.  Skills to be learned.  Attitudes to be formed.  Character to be developed.  God uses our regular everyday routines and tasks to prepare us for His planned future.  School, singleness, marriage, parenting, and work (just to name a few) are all “pastures” that the Lord will send us to and through to develop character, patience, integrity, discipline, devotion, and servanthood.  If God is developing those things in us, what could God’s future plan look like?