January 1, 2023 - The Battle is the Lord's
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With all of the differences that exist between us / between people...
…from different upbringings...
different family structures
different lifestyles
different schooling types
different financial situations
different interests
different environments
different...
different...
different...
One thing we (AT LEAST) all share in common - is this...
Trials
We ALL - have walked thru the - Valley of Trials
And if you haven’t been there yet - You will!
SOME of US - are walking through this valley - right now
OTHERS - have just come up out of it.
But we all share it...
We all experience the Valley of Trial.
And what we’ve ALL come to realize - is that the Valley of Trial - is a war zone!!
It’s a place - of war
A place - to fight
WHICH MEANS - it’s a fight that we ALL will face…many times in our lives.
TODAY - we’ll look at one of the most popular (if not THE MOST popular) fight in the Bible...
David & Goliath
And if you’ve walked the path of Christianity LONG ENOUGH - and have dug even a little bit into this...
You’ve probably heard that when it comes to the story of David and Goliath...
you NEED to know that YOU’RE NOT DAVID!
Now I’ve heard this - MANY TIMES...
And while I agree with it - While I understand that TOO OFTEN - we interject ourselves into the HERO roles in the Bible...
And that DAVID REALLY IS - a TYPE of Christ - who comes and DESTROYS our ENEMIES...
[I BELIEVE] - that we ALSO - MUST - look at David as - ourselves.
We must ALSO - view David - NOT JUST AS A TYPE of Christ - but ALSO as a TYPE of ME, and you...
Why?
Because in reality - David is more like me - than he is - Christ.
David was a man…plain and simple.
THEREFORE - WE - can learn something from him…FOR OURSELVES…!
We’re going to cover the entirety of chapter 17 today (58 verses) - and so we’ll look at the OVERALL story...
and then we’ll swing back and DIG IN where we need to.
So - big picture story....
3 And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.
4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
So Goliath was a GIANT of a man...
Based on being 6 cubits and a span tall....
He was somewhere between 9’6” - and - 11’2”
8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”
10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.”
So Goliath comes down and SHOUTS to Israel - he wants someone to FIGHT!
And all of Israel is - TERRIFIED!
11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
And so David was given orders by his father Jesse - to go and give some supplies to his brothers - who were on the battle lines.
So David comes - and he HEARS Goliath calling for a man to fight!
David goes before Saul and tells him his plan to fight Goliath...
32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
And so David goes to fight Goliath...
What happens?
48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.
OK - this is the big picture story...
I’m letting the cat out of the bag EARLY… David wins...
But I think we know that...
SO - what can we learn from this?
There’s a PRINCIPLE that we’re gonna see THROUGHOUT this chapter…and we’re going to KEEP coming back to it...
over and over again...
SLIDE:
The Standards of the World Don’t Measure Up to God
Let’s circle back and see this is MANY ways...
Early on in this chapter - we see that QUITE A BIT of time is spent - describing Goliath and his armor...
4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.
6 And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.
7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.
Now - we read these words and the words themselves - TRY to give us a VISUAL of what the words speak of...
Well - The Israelites actually SAW this with their own eyes...
And what were they LOOKING at??
They were looking at - The Standard!
It was once said of Michael Jordan...
“You are simply the STANDARD by which Basketball excellence is measured!”
Well - Like Michael Jordan - when men looked at GOLIATH...
No doubt - they SHRUNK in fear...
They were looking at - THE STANDARD!
This MOUNTAIN of a man - wearing - seemingly FORT KNOX as his armor...
Carrying a TREE for a spear
WOW…That’s on Goliath’s side...
What about the OTHER side?
40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.
And so what we see here is a BATTLE of RESOURCES!
And the world would look at Goliath and HIS resources and would DECLARE -
GOLIATH WILL SUCCEED!
See - I think we all know...
SLIDE:
The world believes that the finest resources give you the best chance to succeed.
That the best materials - wins
That the best equipment - wins
That the best facilities - wins
That the best education - wins
That the most money - wins
MEANING...
If you DON’T HAVE the best materials - you should just give up
If you DON’T HAVE the best equipment - just give up
If you DON’T HAVE the best facilities - just GIVE UP
if you DON’T HAVE the best education - just GIVE UP
If you DON’T HAVE the most money - just GIVE UP!
You ever see ROCKY IV?
You had the Russian training in a TOP FLIGHT facility...
State of the art - equipment
WHILE -
Rocky was training in a - BARN!
Who won?
NOW - of course Rocky IV was just a movie...
But you don’t think there aren’t 1000’s of REAL LIFE stories JUST like that?
We in this country have all of the FINEST facilities...
Some people can TRAIN in the nicest places...
But do you guys remember Omar Vizquel?
Do you know how he got so good at fielding ground balls?
He got good playing in the ROCKY SANDLOTS in Venezuela...
How often do we hear that it’s the HIGH SCHOOL dropout that started that HUGE company?
That it’s the POOR kid that ended up MAKING it?
Even so - the World believes in it’s OWN STANDARDS!
Goliath was - THE STANDARD
He had the most FORMIDABLE armor…!
DAVID - had a SLING and some stones
How did THAT turn out?
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.
Maybe you don’t have -
the best upbringing
God STILL wants to USE you for great things
the best example of a loving father in your life
God still wants to USE you for great things
the best education
God STILL wants to USE you for His purposes...
the most expansive bible knowledge…but you KNOW the gospel!
God still wants to USE you for great things
the most money
God still wants to USE you for great things!
We must KNOW and BELIEVE - in looking at David and Goliath...
…that...
SLIDE:
The Standards of the World Don’t Measure Up to God
God supplies the RESOURCES needed for the job
He provided food in the garden
He provided manna in the wilderness
He made the tree He was crucified on - to SAVE sinners
He has given you what you need - but maybe He’s waiting for you now to go get it.
But what else do we see in the text...
26 And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
27 And the people answered him in the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”
28 Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”
29 And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?”
30 And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.
31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him.
32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
What do we see here?
We see 2 men - hearing David talk about FIGHTING Goliath...
And these 2 men - point out that David is just TOO YOUNG to do anything!
What these 2 men didn’t take into account is this....
SLIDE:
The Standards of the World Don’t Measure Up to God
I think we all know that the world...
SLIDE:
The world believes that the oldest among us are the wisest and the strongest.
In general I think we just assume this to be true
IN general we usually assign the menial tasks to the youngsters...
And leave the more complicated tasks to the “adults”.
Now I know that my kids (11, 9, and 5) - are still learning about life....
But guess what - SO AM I
And A LOT of times - i’ll end up learning so much from my kids - about HOW to handle situations.
in that THEY actually provide me with an EXAMPLE of how to respond!
I’ll never forget -
* One day I was with trey when he was a lot younger - and an ambulance drove by us...
I was like - oh wow - Ok, let’s get back to what we were doing...
BUT TREY - was like - can we stop and pray for whoever is in the ambulance?
And I thought - on the one hand - wow - what wisdom from my 6 year old...
AND i thought - WOW - i totally missed it!
And Trey took me to task
HE (trey) was the wisest one in that room at that moment!
And it points to the reality...
The standards of the world don’t measure up to God!
The battle is the Lords
But the world doesn’t SEE it...
42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
*We do our best here at AFBC to make sure the kids know that this is THEIR church just as much as it is the adults.
Rachel does an amazing job at continuing to KEEP the kids INVOLVED in the planning of events...
The execution of events...
All of it.
*Night to Shine (example of this)
Jesus Himself actually had something to say about this too...
17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Wow - Faith like a child...
Well what does that look like?
*You ever have a child up on a stage or elevated platform...
And you just hold out your hands to them?
What do they do?
LISTEN - if they’re YOUNG ENOUGH - they just keep walking - RIGHT OFF that platform and into your arms.
IF they’re YOUNG enough.
I’ve done that - and have realized - I could just be standing there - and if I didn’t LIFT my arms to catch this kid - they’d splat on the ground!
THAT’S FAITH!
THAT’S MY DAD - so I’m goin to HIM!
A LOT of times - it’s the KIDS who are OBLIVIOUS to the perceived DANGER...
And a LOT of times - that frustrates US ADULTS… WHO KNOW BETTER!
Kids in general can just - frustrate adults… but it’s nothing new...
13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,
14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
A LOT of times - adults look at kids and think - We KNOW better!
I think God is saying - you DON’T KNOW better!
The Standards of the World DON’T Measure Up to God!
If you’re YOUNG in age - God says - SO WHAT!
If you’re YOUNG in the faith - God says - SO WHAT!
I will USE YOU in MIGHTY ways!!
So the question is ALWAYS -
Am I AVAILABLE to be used by God?
NOT
Am I qualified to be used by God?
Age is not a STANDARD that God puts stock in.
From Noah - to Abraham - to David...
God uses men and women of ALL ages…to accomplish His purposes!
Are we available to God?
But what else?
This next point ties into this last one...
Back to our text
32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
What I want us to see in this text - is closely tied with AGE being a standard that the world looks to...
Saul here - in v33 no doubt POINTS to David’s age...
BUT - he does so in order to CONTRAST something else - with Goliath
He says - you are but a youth - and Goliath has been - - a man of war - FROM his youth...
Saul here - is really pointing at something else… that comes with YOUNG AGE...
The world believes that experience gives you the best chance to succeed.
33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
Saul here is pointing to - David’s LACK of experience!
His point is - You’re just a KID - and Goliath is NOT - and he has been KILLING PEOPLE since he was your age...
You’re JUST A KID...
and HE’S a PROFESSIONAL KILLER!
You have NO SHOT DAVID!
You don’t have experience in this!
*A reporter once asked Mike Tyson about an upcoming fight that he had...
And he replied - Listen - “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth!”
This is kinda what Saul is saying - Saul was saying - Listen David - everyone has a plan until they get SPEARED!
EXPERIENCE is a HUGE standard in this world!
**if you’ve ever had experience HIRING people - you would know how important EXPERIENCE is...
Anyone notice how I started that prior sentence?
“if you’ve EVER HAD EXPERIENCE hiring people - you would know how important....it is
Take a look at any professional resume today - and you’ll see what?
A professional summary
AND THEN...
EXPERIENCE
Doctors can’t DOCTOR - unless they first gain - EXPERIENCE DOCTORING...
DENTISTS can’t DENTIST - unless they first gain EXPERIENCE - Dentisting
Pilots can’t PILOT - unless they first gain EXPERIENCE - piloting
In certain - FIELDS - people can’t PRACTICE ALONE - unless they first gain EXPERIENCE practicing in a LEARNING environment!
WHY? - Experience!
We want DOCTORS who have - EXPERIENCE
We want PILOTS who have - EXPERIENCE
it’s a STANDARD of this world!
And we can HEAR THAT STANDARD - in Saul’s response to David!
“you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war FROM his youth”
Saul is saying - you DON’T meet the standard!
And even Goliath saw it the same way!
42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
See - Goliath - FILTERED David through the STANDARD of Experience...
And Goliath concluded - What a JOKE!!
CLEARLY this little BOY has no experience dealing with someone LIKE ME!!
And listen - he was probably right…YET OH SO WRONG!
SAME with Saul!
33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
Listen to David’s reply...
34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,
35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.
36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
What does David do here?
He actually takes Saul to his OWN resume and says -
You’re right Saul...
I haven’t fought a GIANT MAN...
But I HAVE fought lions and bears…and have WON!
You’re right Saul - I don’t have EXPERIENCE fighting Giants USING the World’s STANDARDS...
But i DO have experience...
And listen to WHOM David gives credit for his EXPERIENCE!
37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
David OWED his VICTORIOUS experience - to - GOD
And he SPOKE to that!
WHICH MEANS -
YES - He DID NOT have experience fighting GIANTS using the STANDARDS of the world...
But he DID have experience TRUSTING God for his VICTORIES!!
It’s called - FAITH!
And SAUL - who is now somewhat CONVINCED of David’s experience - that he tries to ARM David with the STANDARD of the world!
38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail,
39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off.
Here we have = the STANDARD ARMOR of the world!
The finest of ARMOR - finest of equipment...
YET - David says - I wasn’t TRAINED on these…!
I can’t USE THIS!!
40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.
David ends up using - the EQUIPMENT - fit for him.
By the World’s STANDARD - David was OUTMATCHED!
But by God’s STANDARD - Goliath had no chance!
At one point in time...
The apostle Paul had no experience PREACHING the gospel
Moses had no experience leading people
David had no experience ruling over a people
But we MUST remember - EVEN TODAY....especially today...
The Standards of the World Don’t Measure Up to God
SUMMARY
So whether it’s...
The finest MATERIAL/Equipment/technology
The Standards of the world don’t measure up to God
An old - SEEMINGLY wise man or woman looking down at a younger person
The Standards of the world don’t measure up to God
OR if it’s a 50 page RESUME FULL of PRIME/ RELEVANT experience...
The Standards of the world don’t measure up to God
And we close with this!...
Listen to Goliath - as he stands before David (FILTERING HIM thru the standards of the world)
42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”
See what happens when we TRUST in the STANDARDS of the world?
Goliath here - ends up PROPHESYING his own eulogy!
And David lets him know...
45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with 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 defied.
46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
And SO it WAS!
May we embrace the reality - that...
The Standards of the World do NOT measure up to God!
May we not TRUST SO MUCH in the world’s standards that it prevents us from being USED by God!
Let’s pray