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Biblical
references in Gahanna-Jefferson Church of Christ's nondenominational sermon
outlines are linked directly to text of the King James version of the Bible.
Bible quotes you hear in the streaming audio may be from the New King James
version of the Bible.
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And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will
go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to
go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a
man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was keeping his
father's sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of
the flock, I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his
mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him,
and slew him. Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: and this
uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the
armies of the living God. And David said, Jehovah that delivered me out of the
paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the
hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Jehovah shall be with
thee.
Introduction.
It was not that long ago when it was important for someone to be described as
honest, trustworthy and dependable. But today we have trouble trusting a
handshake. Today we have piles of lawsuits and litigations. A lot of small fine
print to define our relationships. It seems we’ve reached a point where we
cannot trust anyone. Integrity seems to be a thing of the past. But God clearly
lets us know that without trust and integrity there can be no honest searching
for God. We’re going to look at a story this morning that is going to help us
understand how important integrity is for our lives and in our service to God.
Body.
I. A Man After God’s Own Heart
A. Turn in your Bibles to the book of First Samuel
Chapter 17.
1. While you are turning there let me give you some of the background
information about this very familiar story.
a. God has rejected Saul from being king because of his lack of faith.
b. Saul proved to be a failure as the first king of Israel.
c. So in chapter 16 God sends Samuel to anoint the next king.
2. God chooses this king, not on outward appearance, but on his heart.
a. David is chosen, the youngest child of a man named Jesse.
b. Scholars guess that David is probably 15 years-old when he is anointed.
B. Prior to our story David has entered the service of Saul as a musician who
would sooth his troubled spirit and as an armor bearer.
1. An armor bearers job was to carry a shield to protect his charge and to
dispatch those who were wounded.
2. An armor bearer was responsible for protecting, for being on the front line.
3. He would be the equivalent of a lineman on the football field.
4. David is not a scrawny little boy, but a young man that is destined for
greatness.
a. A young man who took his devotion to God seriously.
b. A young man who understood the importance of integrity.
II. Facing Giants
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was
Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Saul,
stricken in years among men. And the three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after
Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were
Eliab the first-born, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And
David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul. Now David went to
and fro from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem.
1. We are told in verse 12 that Jesse is an old man with eight sons.
a. His three oldest boys have joined Saul in a battle to fight the Philistines.
b. The Philistines were sea people who lived on the coast.
c. They are a constant threat to God’s people with their war like culture.
2. David is Jesse’s youngest and does not stay with the army full time.
a. He travels back and forth to tend his father’s sheep.
b. The fact that David is at the battle at all indicates that he is either in
his late teens of early twenties when this story happens.
And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty
days. And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of
this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to
thy brethren; and bring these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand,
and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. Now Saul, and they, and
all the men of Israel, were in the vale of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and
took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the place of the
wagons, as the host which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle.
And Israel and the Philistines put the battle in array, army against army. And
David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran to the
army, and came and saluted his brethren.
1. We learn in verse 16 that the army has been deployed for over a month.
a. So Jesse sends David to the battlefield with gifts for the captains and news
of his brothers.
b. David travels to the valley of Elah.
c. This valley is 11 miles SW of Jerusalem and therefore an easy day’s journey
for David.
2. He leaves early the next morning and arrives in camp just as the Israelite
army is leaving for the battlefield.
a. It was the custom of the ancients to gather for battle and then wait until
one group attacked the other.
b. They would get up each morning and go down into the valley and have a pep
rally to try to psyche themselves up and intimidate the other side.
c. It is during this time that David arrives and joins his brothers.
And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine
of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spake
according to the same words: and David heard them. And all the men of Israel,
when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. And the men of
Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he
come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him
with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house
free in Israel. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall
be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach
from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the
armies of the living God? And the people answered him after this manner, saying,
So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. And Eliab his eldest brother
heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David,
and he said, Why art thou come down? and with whom hast thou left those few
sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for
thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have
I now done? Is there not a cause? And he turned away from him toward another,
and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the
former manner. And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed
them before Saul; and he sent for him.
1. Both armies are in the valley and they are yelling at each other and a man
named Goliath came forward.
a. Goliath was no ordinary man.
b. He is reported to be over 9 foot tall and wears a coat of chain mail weighing
200 pounds.
c. We are also told that he is the champion from the city of Gath.
2. I imagine that what happened next was almost humorous.
a. When Goliath came forward the army of Israel retreats back up the hill filled
with fear.
b. Goliath was offering to end the stalemate by fighting champion style.
c. Champion style is when a man from each army would fight on the battlefield in
the place of the whole army fighting.
d. This was common in this day because it avoided mass bloodshed.
e. The majority of the army would have been made up of farmers who had no
professional training in combat.
f. Neither would they have had swords and armor but rather would have come to
the battle in normal clothes and clubs as weapons.
g. It is no wonder that these men were afraid of a professional soldier who was
armed and protected with armor.
3. David is taken aback by this.
a. He learns that the king has set up a reward for the man who is willing to be
Israel’s champion and face Goliath.
b. This champion will receive the king’s daughter in marriage and become
son-in-law to the king.
c. His family will also become tax exempt.
d. David wants to know Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed
to defy the armies of the living God?
e. In David’s mind this stalemate doesn’t make any sense.
f. David realized that the God he worshipped was alive and at work in his world.
g. The gods of the Philistines were made of stone and wood and could offer no
protection.
h. Why wasn’t somebody willing to trust the living God of Israel and face this
man, was David’s question to the men.
4. Eliab, David’s oldest brother, over hears him talking to the men and becomes
angry with him.
a. He accuses David of coming to the battle just to see bloodshed and he should
go home and tend his few sheep.
b. Eventually, Saul learns about how David is stirring up the camp so he sends
for him.
And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will
go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to
go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a
man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was keeping his
father's sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of
the flock, I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his
mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him,
and slew him. Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: and this
uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the
armies of the living God. And David said, Jehovah that delivered me out of the
paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the
hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Jehovah shall be with
thee. And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put a helmet of brass upon
his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon
his apparel, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto
Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off
him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of
the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his wallet;
and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
1. David tells Saul that he has nothing to worry about because he’ll go and
fight.
a. Saul says that it’s ridiculous for David to do so because he is just a young
man and Goliath has been trained to fight since his youth.
b. You’ve got to love what David says next.
c. “You don’t have to worry about that King Saul, I’m a shepherd.”
d. Don’t you imagine that Saul almost fell out of his seat.
e. “Oh yeah, Saul says, a shepherd, I know how ferocious those sheep can be.”
2. No-Sheep are dumb, defenseless animals that won’t ever fight back when they
are attacked.
a. Being a shepherd is perfect training for this situation with Goliath.
b. Because sheep are so defenseless they need a strong and courageous shepherd
who is willing to protect them.
3. David tells Saul that being a shepherd will help him.
a. In fact, he rescues the sheep from these animals and kills them.
b. David doesn’t take the easy way out.
c. It would have been far easier to let the lion and bear have their dinner and
simply report the event.
d. No doubt, his father would not have wanted him to risk his life to save one
lamb.
e. David, however, refused to settle for the easy way out.
4. By consistently choosing to meet all hazards head on, David conditioned his
integrity as well.
a. Courage was drilled into David’s heart by repeated confrontation with hostile
elements and his integrity was shaped by long years of hard choices.
b. Sheep could not turn in battle reports of David’s performance.
c. When danger threatened, he might have just as easily fled.
d. His father would have been none the wiser.
e. But David’s integrity made him stay and fight.
5. That’s where we miss the point.
a. When we come to times in our life when we must face giants.
b. Those impossible odds that we are not going to survive the disease.
c. Those trying times when your marriage is on the line.
d. Those critical times of decision when we must choose to do what is right or
face the employer that holds our career in his hands.
6. Our problem is not that giants come into our life, we expect them, we even
prepare for them.
a. Our problem is when it comes time to face the giant, that we took the easy
way out when we met the bear and the lion earlier in our life.
b. We haven’t trained ourselves with consistent integrity that builds courage.
c. It’s hard to fold your marriage together when you took the easy way out when
you faced the bear of commitment and the lion and faithfulness.
d. It’s hard to stand up for what is right when you took the easy way out when
you faced the bear of truthfulness and the lion of reliability.
e. You see, if you want to have the courage of David to face the giants of your
life you need first to have the integrity to face the bears and lions.
7. Our culture is built around the principle of take the easy way out.
a. And it has slowly crept into our religions life as well.
b. Take the easy way – just enough prayer and Bible study to ease my conscience,
but stay away from anything that might challenge me and cause me to grow.
c. Take the easy way – give a token donation to the Lord, but avoid any amount
that might impinge on my personal spending habits.
d. Take the easy way – neglect your God –given abilities and allow other to do
your part.
e. Take the easy way – don’t ever do or say anything that is controversial to
those around you, just keep your head down and your mouth shut.
f. Take the easy way – don’t stand up for what is right just go along with the
crowd so people don’t think your different.
g. Is it any wonder that when we come to times of facing giants that we act like
the Israelites who ran back up the hill filled with fear.
8. You see the easy way takes care of me.
a. But David’s way is to face one’s responsibilities, and take proper action,
trusting not in yourself, but the God who handled the lion and the bear to
handle Goliath as well.
b. Because David was faithful he knew that God would be faithful as well.
c. What God has done in the past, God can do again.
d. By trusting God too take care of him when he faced the lion and the bear he
knew God would take care of him when he faced the giant.
e. Is it any wonder we doubt whether God will take care of us when we face
giants because we never faced the lion and the bear that came before.
9. Integrity is that wholeness, that genuineness, which can best be measured by
what one does in a clinch when no one else will know.
a. It is in this clinch that the genuineness of our hearts is tested.
b. And when we have failed that test time and time again.
c. When we have failed to face our lions and bears.
d. We have missed out on building our integrity and courage.
e. In the absolute solitude of the sheep pasture, when no one saw and no one
would know.
f. David repeatedly risked his life for a few stubborn sheep, who could give him
no personal reward.
g. But David’s own heart was supervising him.
And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the
shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he
disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair
countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to
me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine
said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the birds of the
heavens, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou
comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to
thee in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou
hast defied. This day will Jehovah deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite
thee, and take thy head from off thee; and I will give the dead bodies of the
host of the Philistines this day unto the birds of the heavens, and to the wild
beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
and that all this assembly may know that Jehovah saveth not with sword and
spear: for the battle is Jehovah's, and he will give you into our hand. And it
came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David,
that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David
put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the
Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell
upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling
and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword
in the hand of David. Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took
his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his
head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they
fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the
Philistines, until thou comest to Gai, and to the gates of Ekron. And the
wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and
unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the
Philistines, and they plundered their camp. And David took the head of the
Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.
1. David goes out to meet Goliath with his shepherd’s sling.
a. David then gives us a great speech of encouragement.
b. Verse 45: Then said David to the Philistine, “Thou comest to me with a sword,
and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to thee in the name of Jehovah
of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will
Jehovah deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite thee, and take thy head from
off thee; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this
day unto the birds of the heavens, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all
the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may
know that Jehovah saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is Jehovah's,
and he will give you into our hand.”
c. With that David runs forward and kills Goliath.
2. The key to facing the lion and the bear and the giant are all the same.
a. A trust in a God who is living and at work in the world.
b. A trust in a God who does not need weapons to rescue His people.
c. A trust in a God who realizes that it is His battle and not ours.
d. A simple trust that can make all the difference.
Conclusion.
Let me encourage you to be people who trust God and therefore become people who
are known for there honor, courage and integrity. People who consistently face
the lions and bears of life so that when the giants come it will not be a
problem. The same God who rescued you from the lion and bear, will handle the
giant as well.
Andrew Perkins,
03/28/2004 |
