Well, certainly
Introduction
this is a passage that everyone is familiar with. And as I said, the actual battle itself, toward the end of chapter 17, is quite brief. But you'll see how the author develops the backstory. He tells us the backdrop.
He gives us the particular occasion so that we can see what God the Lord is doing. It's unfortunate that sometimes persons that profess the name of our Lord Jesus Christ come to the Valley of Elah and they see in the text their own Goliaths. They see their poor self-image. They see the bully down the street.
They see their emotional distress. They see the difficulties and the trials that they have. And they take fresh courage from the Valley of Elah. You may do that by way of a sideline application.
But the battle at the Valley of Elah is not about you. It is about the glory of God Most High. It is about the glory of Yahweh of Israel, and David, his servant, pursues that relentlessly. And so the author gives us that pursuit.
He demonstrates it for us and He highlights it to us. In fact, the main part of chapter 17 is verses 45 to 47. We will see that, God willing, next Sunday morning when we gather here again. It is a declaration of the sovereignty, of the almightiness, of the excellence, of the solitary glory and majesty of the God of heaven and earth.
So it is not about your Goliaths. It is about God's enemy and how his servant removes him from the face of the earth. Well, as we consider verses 1 to 37, we will not deal with every detail. You will be able to get home today and eat your lunch.
But there are three considerations that we ought to make as we move through the passage. In the first place, the threat posed by the Philistines. in verses 1 to 11. Secondly, the plan orchestrated by God in verses 12 to 22. And then in the third place,
Determination Manifested by David
the determination manifested by David. Note with me in the first place
Threat Posed by the Philistines
the threat posed by the Philistines in verses 1 to 3 in chapter 17. It highlights for us the geographical setting. This is important information. This gives us an indicator as to what is going on in this particular chapter.
Notice in verse 1 of chapter 17, now the Philistines, who were the perennial enemies of the Israelites, if you've read the Bible up to this point, you'll notice that the Philistines didn't just drop out of heaven onto earth. They have been a constant thorn in the flesh of Israel. In the time of the judges and in the first Samuel, we see these Philistines continue to rear their ugly heads and Israel having to put them down by the power of God Most High. But notice in chapter 17, the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle and were gathered at Soca, which belongs to Judah.
You see, this is an encroachment upon friendly territory. The enemies of Israel, namely the Philistines, are now in a place which belongs to Judah. This battle is crucial for the life and the health and the safety of Israelite society. The commentator Samora says, set against this geographical background, the goal of this strategically important battle was certainly to secure the Valley of Elah, the natural point of entry from the Philistine homeland into the hill country of the Saulide kingdom.
The battle was thus crucial. This is very important stuff that is facing Israel, this threat of the Philistines. Unfortunately, Israel is cowering and quivering and hiding. Praise God that he has his servant David.
Praise God that the son of Jesse is available. Praise God that there is one who will stand up to deal with this taunting giant from Gath.
Goliath's Appearance and Taunt
Notice the appearance of Goliath in verses 4 to 10. A champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath." Now, he was 9 feet 9 inches. Kids, that means he was one big fella. He was a big boy, give or take a couple of inches depending on the cubit and all of that, but we're talking about a 9 foot 9 inch man.
More than likely, though it doesn't give his weight, if he was a small-ish framed man, I know that seems odd, a small-ish framed man, but there are men that are slender and men that are medium build and men that are bigger build. He'd probably be around the 500 pound range if he was slender. Somehow I don't think that Goliath was slender. He's probably up around six or 700 pounds.
And notice his weapons. He's wearing 126 pounds of armor. This is one big bad dude, and this is what the author wants us to appreciate. He is carrying a spear.
Now, this is a big spear in and of itself, but the tip that does business on the end of its enemies is about 15 to 16 pounds. This is a formidable enemy. The author over and over again wants us to appreciate this. So that when victory comes, we will praise and celebrate not David the son of Jesse, but the God of heaven and earth who took the stone from the sling and guided it into this big-headed monstrosity from death and brought him down that day to show in the earth that there is a God in Israel.
Notice as well, with reference to this particular man, chapter 16 in verse 7. This is something that comes up often, I think, in the rest of 1 Samuel. 1 Samuel 16.7, at the choice of David. Notice in verse 7, the Lord said to Samuel, do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
He's describing the outward appearance of this particular man. The armies of Israel see this particular man, but they must have forgot this principle because they're quivering and they're cowering and they're hiding and they're shaking and they're quaking. Not so when it comes to David. And then notice his words in verses 8 to 10.
What does he do? He basically blasphemes the God of heaven and earth. Again, in the interest of time, we won't go through every jot and tittle. But what is he doing?
Hey, guys, do you want to come out and shoot marbles? Hey, guys, do you want to play Nintendo? No, he says, send out your best, Israel, because I'm going to mop up the ground with him. And if it is the case that he happens to beat us, then we'll become the servants of you.
But if it is the case, as Goliath was most confident it would be, that we beat you, then you will be our servants. Now this was a taunt. This was not a genuine promise of the covenant, a covenantal transaction. Because what happens, David does kill Goliath and the Philistines do not willingly subjugate themselves to Israel.
It is a taunt. It is trash talking. It is essentially saying, bring what you've got. Let's see what you can produce.
Let's see you take on this man from Gath. He is taunting. He is reproaching. He is violating the God of heaven and earth.
And before we leave the threat posed by the Philistines,
Israel's Fear and Failure
we must appreciate the response of Israel. Verse 11, when Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. That's pathetic. It's terrible.
This is the way the church oftentimes responds, doesn't she? There's a particular threat posed by the enemies of God. And what does the Israel of God do today? We shake, we quake, we cower, we cry, we snivel, we have therapy sessions, we have group hugs, we never ever for the life of us reflect upon the fact that Christ Jesus himself promised to build this church.
And the gates of Hades itself would not prevail against it. Lord Jesus, hold your enemies in contempt. Israel is quaking and quivering and cowering. This is so often the church.
Oh, have you heard of the spread of Islam? Yes, but I've also heard of the reality that Christ must reign till all of his enemies are made his footstool. Have you seen the atrocities in those Planned Parenthood videos? Yes, they're sickening and horrific, but I'm reminded of the reality that Christ must reign till all of his enemies are made his footstool.
Planned Parenthood and anyone that would butcher a child in its mother's womb. Christ will lower that holy foot on the necks of each and every one of his enemies. There is no reason, there is no cause, there is no provocation in the world why the church should be quivering and cowering and shaking and quaking. This is simply unacceptable and the author wants us to see this.
Now notice in the second place.
Plan Orchestrated by God
The plan orchestrated by God, verses 12 to 22. This is an interesting aside, isn't it? We find out this is a crucial battle in the Valley of Elah. We find it's over a crucial piece of property that belongs to Judah.
We find that Gath, or rather the Philistines, have promoted this man or produced this man from Gath that is the formidable enemy. Now, we interrupt this broadcast to take you to another part of God's world to show you the life of David the servant, or the shepherd boy. It's interesting, isn't it? I mean, why doesn't the author just go right from this to the battle lines and let us watch Goliath fall on his big fat head?
Because he wants us to appreciate God. He wants us to marvel at God. He wants us to stand in wonderment of God. He wants us to revel in our God.
Now this section, verses 12 to 22, have given some people a cause for concern, because it's like it's introducing David for the first time. But if you've read chapter 16, David's already made an appearance. David is the harpist, the sweet psalmist of Israel, that comes and plays while Saul is in his frenzy. When Saul has this distressing spirit from Yahweh, he goes a little bit nuts.
And so what one of the servants says is, I think a harpist would do you well. And I happen to know a harpist. His name is David. See the providence of God and the sovereignty of God bringing David and Saul together?
And so when we come to this section, we're scratching our noodles saying, wait a minute. Didn't we already meet David? And at the end of chapter 17, it's almost as if Saul doesn't know who David is. If you've ever thought that in your Bible reading, you're not alone.
The great translation of the Hebrew Old Testament leaves out a big chunk of chapter 17. probably for this very reason. We already know David, and at the end it sounds as if Saul doesn't know David. But we need to appreciate a couple of things about the flow of the passage. In the first place, not only was David a worker for Saul's court in chapter 16, but in verse 15 of chapter 17, it says that he would go from the court back to Bethlehem.
He would go back to his father's house. In the second place, we need to appreciate the reality that the end of chapter 17, Saul is not asking who David is. Saul is asking whose son is David's. Because Saul has made a promise that the victor, his father's house, will receive tax-exempt status.
The end of chapter 17 does not present us a confusion as if Saul is for the first time meeting David. No, he knows who he is, but he's promised his daughter to the victor, and he's promised tax exemption. How's that for a great incentive, men? You get the daughter of the king and tax exemption in Israel.
That would be a beautiful prize, wouldn't it? Be glorious. Saul knows who David is. Do you know what I think our author is doing?
It's kind of like a boxing match. You know, when the two contenders go to battle. I'm not condoning boxing. Don't go out, kids, and punch each other.
I'm not saying that. But there is something similar to that. What do we have? We have a contest.
We have a duel, if you will. In this corner, we have, hailing from Gath, 9'9", about 6-700 pounds, wielding the javelin with the 15-16 pound iron head, Goliath from Gath. In this corner, we have David. Now, we all know David as a national hero.
But by the time we get here in chapter 17, if it's our first time reading, we're a bit perplexed as to the reality that David would be the contender. He's not the oldest son. He's not from a prestigious house. He comes from obscurity.
As we later learn from Goliath's words, he's nothing really to look at. He's ruddy. One man suggests that David had red hair. This is the nature of Goliath's taunt.
Now if you have red hair, I'm not putting anyone down. I'm just saying what this ruddiness looks like. It's almost as if this Goliath was taunting David because of his physical appearance. Why David?
We interrupt this story to show you who's in the other corner. And we want to tell you how he got to that other corner, because once we tell you that, we think you'll marvel and stand amazed at the glory and majesty of God. Notice, he is indeed the son of Jesse, his brothers. We have Eliab, we have Abinadab, and we have Shema.
David was the youngest. Verse 15 explains what David is doing. David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. And the Philistine grew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.
He doesn't let us forget this. The blathering giant continues to do his thing. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. The author doesn't want us to forget him.
We're going to show you what David's about. We're going to show you where he hails from. And we're going to show you his particular background and training and all that sort of thing. But never forget this is a real life battle over crucial property belonging to Judah.
And one of the biggest threats that men have ever seen is standing there with a big javelin in his hand, speaking out taunts to both God and to the armies of the living God. He doesn't want us to forget that either. Now
Providence in Ordinary Obedience
notice the beauty of the providence of God. Verses 17 to 19. It's a simple mission, isn't it? This is one of the things I think we ought to appreciate as we sort of work our way through this passage.
Sometimes people say, you know, I can't really do anything for God because I do, you know, a menial business or a menial job or, you know, I'm no one of notoriety. I don't have any prestige. You don't need any. What could be more mundane than a father telling his son to take wheels of Gouda to his brothers and to find out how they're doing and to bring back word to their father?
You talk about mundane. You talk about something that isn't exciting. You talk about something that isn't thrilling. David, I want you to go and check on your brothers.
And I want you to take these loaves and these cheeses so that they can be refreshed for the battle that is to come. 1 Samuel is truly an amazing book in the way that reveals to us God's providence. How was Saul identified as the first king of Israel? Through lost donkeys. I don't know that if I was God I would use lost donkeys to find my king, but God does.
Isn't it amazing that God sends this distressing spirit from Yahweh to Saul, Saul goes into this frenzy, and there happens to be a servant there that happens to suggest that Saul get someone that plays music so that it will soothe his beastly mode? And, oh, by the way, I happen to know this man called David, and he's really good on the heart. You see, I'm stressing this whole idea of happen, because we, as Christians, as believers, as those who sing and testify with the Psalter that our God is in the heavens, He does whatever He pleases, we don't think there's happenstance. We believe in the sovereignty of God.
He governs all His creatures and all their actions. And He does that for His holy ends to bring glory to His name and to bring peace, safety, and security to His people. God works behind the scenes to bring persons together to accomplish His will. So you may be a cheese deliverer, a loaf deliverer.
You may be engaged in the mundane, but God may use you. Because in the midst of your delivery route, or in the midst of your interaction, or in the midst of your dealings with others, you might speak the word of the gospel to someone, and who knows what the Lord God may do. I love what Spurgeon used to pray before he would go pass out tracts. He would pray something to the effect, God, bless each of these tracts.
Make them like David's one stone to bring down the unbelief of man. Isn't that beautiful? One tract placed in the hands of a man. God can use that to bring him to salvation.
That's what happened to Oscar Blois. We just prayed for him on Sunday night. He's been a pastor, a long time pastor in Jamaica. You know how he came to the Lord?
Some girl handed him a gospel track at a bus stop many, many, many, many, many, many years ago and God saved him and used him. You see, this idea that, well, I can't do anything unless I'm in full-time gospel ministry is simply not accurate. It's been a bane to the church. I think that's the correct use of the word.
The opposite of the boon is a bane, right? A bad thing. Well, you've really got to grow up, junior, to be a missionary or a pastor so you can make an impact on the kingdom of God. It's hogwash.
You're faithful in your calling where you are, and God the Lord who takes a shepherd boy from Bethlehem and guides the stone into this giant's head is able to do amazing things. See, it's all about God. It's not about us. Doesn't Paul underscore this point?
That God takes gospel treasure. What does he do with gospel treasure? He puts it in cracked pots. He puts it in earthenware vessels.
So that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of men. God's ordained gospel ministry for this very reason, that when sinners actually get converted, they don't owe their life, soul, and everything to the man who brought the message, but to the God who used that cracked pot to get the message out. The providence of God is amazing in this particular section. And notice, verse 20,
David's Faithful Obedience
David does what he's told. There's a type of person out there that wants to be used by God, and I like that. There's a type of person out there that wants to be in service to God. I love that.
I appreciate that. But they seem to be waiting incessantly for something extraordinary to do. I want to be in service." Well, then go be faithful at your job today. Oh, no, I've got to go to China and be faithful at a job there.
You know what? If you're not fit for faithfulness in a job in your own neighborhood, you're probably not fit for it in a neighborhood in China. David did what he was told. You see, obedience and providence work hand in hand.
How does God guide? How does God direct? How does God move? How does He get us to the destination that He has purposed?
It is through us doing what we were just reminded from 1 John. Obey God's law. I'm waiting to be used. Go out and be useful.
I'm waiting to serve. Go out and serve. I've got to read 15 books. No, you just need to go be faithful.
David got up, he took his loaves, he took his cheeses, I like to think of wheels of Gouda, and he put them in his bag and off he marched to the Valley of Elah so that he could find out how his brothers were and bring refreshment to them. He arrives at the camp, he executes his mission, a seemingly ordinary event under God's providence, is the occasion for victory. Now notice in 23 to 58, well we won't go all the way to 58, but 23 to 37, the determination manifested by David. Don't forget, Goliath is still blathering on, verses 23 and 24.
Don't forget that 9 foot 9 inch man that's holding the big spear. Don't forget him. We've interrupted this particular segment to show you David and how he got here, but we want to remind you once again, don't forget that man standing there that is issuing taunts to the armies of the God of Israel. So 23, 24, we hear more blathering from Goliath.
Now notice David's response, first with him and the men of Israel. Verses 25 to 27. The men are musing among themselves. I do not believe David heard them say this and then asked the very same thing.
They're muttering amongst themselves. Have you heard what the king is going to do? Whoever beats this giant gets the king's daughter and he gets tax exemption. Again, these are great boons, great benefits, great helps to life in Israel, isn't it?
Wouldn't that be wonderful? You're probably thinking, it depends on what his daughter looked like. Don't say that. In this society, this was a good thing.
Now notice, David asks a question in verse 26.
David's First Words in Scripture
David spoke to the man who stood by him saying, 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? Now there's a couple of interesting observations here. In the first place, this is the first time David speaks in the Bible.
Now certainly David spoke, just hadn't been recorded up to this particular point. Chapter 16, he's called to play the harp before Saul. No record of what David said. Throughout this section, Jesse tells him, take the loaves, take the cheeses, go visit your brother.
No response recorded whatsoever. This is the first time in the biblical narrative that David opens his mouth, at least that is recorded for us. And notice the words, evidence the concern of his heart. Notice that the words evidence the concern of his heart.
He asks in the first place, what shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine? And then in the second place he says, for who is this uncircumcised? I don't think I can make it sound derisive enough. I don't think I can make it sound more incredulous.
Saul and the armies are cowering. Saul and the armies are fearful. Saul and the armies are quaking in their boots. And David is incredulous.
David is shocked. David is blown away. David says, for who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? What is evident in David's heart?
Theology. Theology drives his practice. Who God is, how God is known, what God does affects the servant of God. Who is this man?
Why are we standing here? Why are we listening to this nine-foot, nine-inch man? Why are we quaking because of the size of his javelin? Why are we shuddering because of the amount of his armor?
Why are we doing this? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? Listen to Ralph Davis. He says, David has never spoken before in our story.
Now the silence is broken. David brings a whole new worldview. To this point, the narrative has been godless, much like our own stewing over some insoluble dilemma. But now David injects the godly question into the episode.
Doesn't having a living God make a difference in all this? Do you ever reflect on this? I don't want to psychologize, and I don't want to say, you're a giant sitting in the corner, you have bad self-esteem, or your mother didn't hug you enough, or there's a bully on the playground. I don't want to psychologize that, but do we think like David?
Is our concern theological in nature? When we see the horrors of Planned Parenthood, and we consider the horrors in Canada of the very same sin and crime God, these are your image bearers. God, this is ultimately about you. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood will be shed.
Why? For in the image of God he made man. This attack on the womb is an attack on God. We are to think theologically.
We are to think theocentrically. We are to take every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ. This is what David does. David says, doesn't having a living God make a difference in all this?
This fellow has mocked the ranks of the living God. If God is so identified with Israel, do you think He is indifferent towards such slurs on His reputation? Do you expect the living God to allow an uncircumcised Philistine to trample his name in military and theological mud? Israel thought the Philistine invulnerable.
For David, he was only uncircumcised. A living God gives a whole new view of things. I can't underscore that enough. Except to say you should read David's commentaries on the former prophets.
You will be richly blessed. Verse 27, they answer. Now
Opposition from Eliab and Saul
notice Eliab and David. Essentially what we have here is the older brother picking on the younger brother. David comes, perhaps he's handing the wheel of Gouda, and Eliab says, what are you doing here? I know your pride, I know your insolence, and David essentially says, what's the matter now?
One supposes this happened back at Jesse's house from time to time. What's going on? Don't I have a right to be here? Is it not okay for me to see what is happening in this particular instance?
The NIV renders verse 29 this way. Now, what have I done, said David? Can't I even speak? Do you notice a theme developing?
Well, you haven't yet. When we drop down to Saul and then we see it in Goliath, you'll notice a theme. Goliath's not the only enemy of David on this day. Goliath is the enemy.
Goliath is the primary target. If it was only the enemies of God that we had to contend with, that would be one thing. But where do we get yammering and whining and sniveling and crying more often than not? It's in the church.
We raise up opposition to this whole idea of homosexual marriage, and we have Christians saying, but you shouldn't do that. You shouldn't say that. You don't want them to think you're unloving. You don't want them to think that you're insubordinate to the governing authorities.
I mean, you preach that, after all. We must obey God rather than men. It's unfortunate that the people of God, or the professing people of God, oftentimes get in the way of those who are trying to take care of business. Eliab is a threat, not to his physical life, but you have no business being here.
We drop down to the portion with Saul. What does Saul say? You have no business being here. You don't have experience.
You're not properly equipped. You can't do this. One hears them saying to the apostles in the early church, you're only 12 men. You haven't been to school.
You've just hung around with the Savior. You don't have the oratory. You don't have the gift. You don't have the finesse.
You don't have the polish. You don't have the wherewithal. Oh, but we have a holy Christ enthroned at the right hand of his Father. And that Holy Christ has sent us to go therefore and to make disciples of all the nations, to baptize them, to teach them, and to teach them to observe all that He has commanded.
And He has promised His presence with us. You can have twelve men who do not have extraordinary gifts, but serve an extraordinary Lord that will go and turn the world upside down. Eliab says, go home! Saul will say, go home.
Goliath will say, go home. And what does God say? Just pick up the stone, put it in your sling, and drop that man. That's it.
David obeys. David isn't one who judges by the externals. David has learned 16-7. God is not a man.
God does not look on the outward and say, oh, I can use him because he's nine feet tall. I can use him because he has a big javelin. I can use him because he's got this training. No, I use who I purpose to use is what Yahweh says to us.
Now notice, we're coming to a conclusion. Don't fret. I just read a little quote by John Newton. Overlong sermons cause people to stop thinking about the sermon and to think about the pudding that's burning at home.
Now, I'd like to think that's not the case, but I'm convinced of what we learned this morning as we studied the confession. But notice
David Before Saul
the appearance before Saul, verses 31 to 37. He meets with Saul. Saul fetches him. The willingness of David.
Notice in verse 32. Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. Don't you love it?
Elijah says, go home. David is not deterred. David is not going away. David sees an enemy that needs to be killed.
David sees a threat to the church and David wants to take care of business. He wants to render the death blow. Let not your heart fail, Saul. The end of this day will see victory in Israel.
Now, notice Saul's response. Verse 33, you are not able to go against this Philistine, to fight with him, for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. Now, I love this, the response of David in verses 34 to 37. In the first place, he does have experience.
Saul says, you have no experience for this particular task. And David says, well, I do have experience. It's just not with giants from Gath, but ferocious mammals that want to destroy my sheep. You see, God has his ways of preparing men, doesn't he?
And look at how David describes this. David said to Saul, your servant used to keep his father's sheep and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it and delivered the lamb from its mouth and when it arose against me I caught it by its beard and struck and killed it. Now I think there's several interesting things about this statement. I suspect that if I was a shepherd and I saw a bear or a lion with one of my lambs in its mouth on its way out, I'd probably write off the lamb.
I would probably figure that the bear won. David ran after it. David chased the bear and lion down. And David says, when the bear or lion had the lamb in its mouth, wouldn't this be the high point of the bear or lion's ferocity?
I mean, when a dog is running for a piece of meat that falls off the table, if you can intercept it, that's a good thing. Once it seizes upon that meat, it becomes exponentially more difficult to extract that food from the mouth of the dog. And my dog's this big. You got a bear or a lion that's got the blood of the lamb dripping down its throat.
It's eating. It's feasting. He's not gonna let that go. David says, I ripped open its mouth and I took the lamb out.
David ain't to be messed with. David's one of those manly men. As I was thinking about this passage this morning, who in this place wants to be in a liab? Who in this place wants to be a Saul?
Who in this place wants to be part of the armies of Israel? We want to be David. David's cool. David's strong.
David's the real deal. Notice what David goes on to say. Verse 36, your servant has killed both lion and bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. Moreover, David said, this is beautiful, David doesn't say, oh, I lift weights, and I eat protein, and I'm strong, and I'm able, and I've studied bears, and I've studied lions, and I know how to open their throats.
David's a theologian in the first place. David says, moreover, the Lord, Yahweh, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, he will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. I have no fear. I am not concerned.
I don't care how tall he is. The past faithfulness of Yahweh provides the present foundation for faith. Brethren, is that the way you live? We get to a particular crisis and we fall apart.
What about his past faithfulness? What about the fact that you killed a lion or a bear? You've entered into the ranks with David and Samson. You don't think he's going to give you victory over this big man from death?
You see the principle? We operate as practical atheists. We come to the crisis. and we fall apart. Not so, David.
I just know that I chased these animals and I ripped their faces open and I took my lambs back and I know that Yahweh, who delivered me from those beasts, will deliver me from that beast." It's beautiful stuff. Truly glorious, wondrous, amazing. The source of his strength was not in his grit The source of his strength was not in his determination. I realize I called the point that.
But this is a God-wrought determination. This is a by grace through faith determination. This is God having prepared his servant to live in a manner that is consistent with who God is. Well, in conclusion, just a couple of lessons and then we'll go. in the first place, and I'm sure I've made this sufficiently clear throughout,
Application: Fear and Faith
the fear of Israel and the faith of David. Verses 11 and 24 indicate for us the fear of Israel. Verses 26, 32, 36 to 37, 45 to 47 indicates for us the faith of David. Now, I was thinking about this in the last week as well.
I reckon there's a fine line between encouragement and nagging. There's a fine line between encouragement and nagging. I oftentimes try to encourage people to use the means of grace. Because you see, when we look at this passage, and it wells up in us to be a David, I will submit to you that you will not go battle Goliath in the Valley of Elah until you imitate the sweet psalmist of Israel who said, I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
I seek to encourage, some of you may take it as nagging, if we want the faith of a David, we have to feed the faith like David. It's interesting. The body responds amazingly to exercise, doesn't it? You lift heavy things and you put them back down.
And you repeat that over and over again, and then you go home and you feed your face with protein. What eventually happens? You develop muscles. You see these young men, they want to get big muscles, that's good, man.
Lift heavy things, put them down again, do it many, many times, and then eat. The soul responds like that too! You see, pastors know that. Just like the trainer knows that if you pick heavy things up and put heavy things down and repeat that over and over and then feed your face with protein, you will build muscle.
The trainer knows that, so the trainer encourages. The trainee might take it as nagging. Pastors know that the soul operates in the same manner. You feed it with scripture, you feed it with prayer, you feed it with church attendance, and guess what?
You grow. You will never march onto the valley of Elah. You will never take a sling and drop Goliath until you get your act together. It's just that simple.
Again, here's where I'm probably in the nagging mode. Oh, he's gonna say this again. You may think, oh, Butler just wants the church filled. No.
Butler wants you to be healthy and happy in Jesus. If that doesn't happen here, and you can't stand behind the ministry fully, then find a church where it can happen. I will dissuade you if it's heretical, but if it's evangelical, and the gospel is preached, and you can find flourishing for your soul, then by all means, flourish! There has to come a point in our Christian life where we realize this very basic and simple fact.
We've got the religion we want. We've got the religion we want. I want to go into battle and fight with Goliath. But you don't get out of bed and show up at church.
You've got the religion you want. Get up. Show up. Be faithful in the little things.
And you will be faithful in the big things. Brethren, it's not rocket science. One of the things I've been encouraged about with reference to the internship is that Mike has bought, not bought, but he has pursued or he's understood what we try to do as Reformed Baptists. He came from a broader evangelical community where the Lord's Day was not taught.
The Lord's Day is not an attempt to ruin your day. The Lord's Day is an attempt to sanctify his day. There's churches out there. that kowtow to persons that can't get out of bed early, so they'll start an evening service. How about this for a zany, wacky idea?
Get out of bed early. And most church services don't start till 10 or 11. We have the religion that we want. By and large.
Oh, pastor, I want to kill this particular sin. Then stop looking at porn. Oh, but it's so hard. I need therapy.
I need treatment. No, you need to stop looking at that computer. Oh, I need... No, you need to just stop.
What happened to that? Have we become a generation of such Nancy boys that we need to be coddled from cradle to grave? Or do we take some personal responsibility and do we say, God has delivered me in the past and he will deliver me now? Think about this today.
Go home today after you eat your pudding or whatever it is you eat. You pray to God. You get alone in secret. You ask yourself the question, do I have the religion I want?
If not, then make some changes. Pull your Bible out or off the shelf. Show up for the Lord's Supper. The householder feeds you and you neglect the meal.
You reject it. You don't come. This isn't Butler wanting to pack the house. Whether the house is packed or not, we're still going to do what we've always done.
Because this house hasn't ever been packed, but it's been a whole lot less packed than it is now, and we still did what we were supposed to do, whether you're here or not. It's about your soul. It's about health. It's about growth and the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Consider the fact that you'll make time to do things you want to do. Be a person that can't sit for an hour and a half to hear a sermon. Not that it's going to be an hour and a half, but to hear a whole service. Can do three in a hockey match.
Can do three in any sort of worldly entertainment. Can sit incessantly on the internet. But we're going to grumble because the pastor went over by a minute and my pudding's burning. It feels like the days of Joel the prophet.
Sound the alarm in Zion. There's some problems, man. We've got the religion, I suspect, that we want. We want to be holy.
We want to be godly. If we want to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, we're going to pick heavy things up, we're going to put them down, we're going to repeat, and we're going to feed our faces with protein. We're going to take the Bible seriously. We're going to read it.
We're going to be where it's preached. Because we know, like the Puritan said, it's as if preaching breaks open the husk of the corn so that we get those kernels out. Whereas the Second Helvetic Confession of Faith testifies that the preaching of the Word of God is the Word of God. I'm not talking Benny Hinn or Joel Osteen, but a man who is faithfully expounding the Word of the Living God that is, in that confession, testified unto as the Word of God.
Don't dare to be a David in the Valley of Elah. If you're not going to read the Bible, you're a kid. Don't say, oh, I want to do great things for God and not do what you're supposed to be doing consistently and faithfully and routinely. In the second place, I hope we've developed it, but
Marvel at God's Providence
we ought to marvel at God's providence. Delivering cheeses and seeking information was the task. The smashing of Goliath's head was the goal. God gets to the goal in ways we would have never conceived.
Our God is thrilling. Don't you love the biblical narrative? You ought to develop a love for the reading of the Bible. It is beautifully written.
It is beautifully told. The narratives all have a purpose for being where they're at. we ought to stand amazed at the goodness and the graciousness of our God. In the third place, we only got two more, pudding's not burned, the source of David's strength. I must quote Davis again here.
Again, Dale Ralph Davis, he says, with reference to David's testimony, when he says, moreover, Yahweh, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, he will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. Dale Ralph Davis says, There is the interpretation of David's experience. He does not ascribe his escapes to luck or skill or audacity. Yahweh delivered me.
Looking back in faith enables him to look forward in faith. He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. What Yahweh has done in the wilderness of Judah, he will do in the Valley of Elah. This is instructive for the people of God.
Faith is sustained in the present and for the present as it remembers Yahweh's provision in the past. Another good argument for the supper. Why should I come to the Lord's Supper? Because the recollection, the remembrance of that past event at Calvary provides the stuff for our present pursuit of Christ.
It's beautiful. The householder feeds us bread and wine to refresh our weary souls. Not to get us, not to hurt us, not to ruin our day, You've got the wrong approach to the means of grace, brethren. He says the rich history of God's past goodness nurtures faith in its current dilemma.
You must keep verse 37. He will deliver me before you. If you don't, you will misconstrue verses 34 to 36. David will be delivered, not because he has true grit, but because he knows the true God.
Circumstances may vary, but Yahweh is the same, whether among the sheep or in front of the Philistines." It's beautiful. And our final observation is to
David and His Greater Son
note the similarities between David and his greater son. David comes from obscurity, doesn't he? He's a Bethlehemite. He is an Ephraimite.
He is from the son of Jesse. There's no notoriety there. When we get to Goliath's statement concerning David, we learn there is no physical appearance to him. Nothing we should be awestruck over.
Nothing we would compose music about. We notice as well what David does is he achieves total victory. And he does it through the power of God, not according to the conventional means of man. Saul says, take my armor, take my shield, take my stuff.
David tries it on, it doesn't fit. I got the picture of, you know, a father whose son puts on his suit. The father might have a few more years and a few more pounds on him. And the suit's sort of hanging off the son.
And the son says, Dad, I can't go to that place tonight because I'll look foolish. Well, David says, I can't wear that armor. I haven't tried it. I haven't proven it.
I haven't tested it. He gains victory, total victory, through an unconventional means. Now look at David's greater son, born from obscurity. It's a Nazarene.
Can anything good come from Galilee? This was what was reported about him. He has no physical appearance or comeliness that we should desire him. Isaiah 53 too, isn't that what the prophet says?
There's nothing about him that makes us, you know, seek after him. He's not walking around with a halo over his head. He's not walking around like, you know, buff man with glistening abs and the whole spiel. There's nothing in him that makes us seek after him physically.
But what does Christ do? He achieves total victory. And he does it according to the power of God, and not the conventional means. Because you see, Jews seek after signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom, but Paul says, we preach Christ crucified.
We preach a dead, crucified, but risen Savior. And all those who, by the grace of God, believe in Him, they will be saved. Isn't that beautiful? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, leave your sin, come to the one alone in whom there is righteousness.
That's what we learn from this passage. If David I was able to achieve total victory through this unconventional means, David II, the greater than David, is able to achieve total victory through an unconventional means. Who would have thought that it would be through the blood of his cross that he would make peace? It just seems so oxymoronic, doesn't it?
Colossians 1.20, having made peace through the blood of his cross. That's God's means. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If you're a sinner here this morning, you may not like to be called that.
They call me sinners there. We're all sinners. Every single one of us all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Somebody calls me sinner, I am not able to dispute with them.
Cannot debate with them whatsoever. There's a difference between a redeemed sinner and one who's not redeemed. If you are not in Christ, believe and be saved. Well, let us pray.
Closing Prayer
Father, we thank you for the Word of God, and we thank you for this backdrop to the battle that will occur at the Valley of Elah. We thank you for David's greater son. We thank you for total victory through an unconventional means, the means that you had purposed before the world began. We praise you, Father, Son, and Spirit, for so great a salvation.
God, for those who are believers, help us to pursue those things which are pleasing in your sight. and help us, Lord God, to learn from a man like David, to use those means that you have provided, to say with David, I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Go with us now, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.