David’s Dangerous Faith and Zeal (2)
1 Samuel 17
David approaches Goliath with no armor, completely vulnerable and exposed.
Goliath looks at him and see he’s only a boy, a handsome boy. David has a staff, and so Goliath says, You think I’m a dog you’re going to beat with a stick! Come here and I’ll destroy you, and I’ll leave your body out here for the animals to devour, without a proper burial.
“And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”
David is not at all intimidated.
The centerpiece in this story is David’s speech before he slays Goliath
God will hand you over, and I’ll strike you down. I’ll give you and your whole army to the birds and animals. And the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. For the battle is the Lord’s.
The Greater Weapon
David has a different weapon, not sword or spear, but God Almighty. This was a big lesson for the Israelites.
When facing the mighty Egyptian army on one side and the Red Sea on the other side, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and the Egyptian army drown in it.
When facing the Amalekites with Moses lifting up his hands and Aaron and Hur holding up those hands, the Israelites defeated the Amalekites.
When facing the might walls of Jericho, the Israelites shouted and the walls came down.
When facing battle after battle, the Israelites learned that they have the greater weapon.
'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty (Zech 4:6)
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD (Pr 21:31)
As David concludes his remarks, “The battle is the Lord’s.”
Last week we talked about testimonies, what are our lion and bear stories?
The most “impressive” testimony was when I was in seminary and had no money, no money for my next semester’s tuition. Then, on the way to a retreat, I got into a small accident. I later got a check that was almost exactly the amount of the repairs and my next semester’s tuition. And then, someone sponsored me through seminary and I didn’t have to pay.
It was affirmation to me that God had indeed called me to ministry; Mt 6:33, I seek Him first, and He’ll provide.
My needs will be provided for, not by my saving abilities, not by my investment strategies or income potential. My needs will be provided for as I trust in the Lord and put Him first.
In the NT, more than armies and battles, Christ has conquered sin and death.
It is the resurrection that displays the ultimate power of God over our ultimate enemy.
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:54-57)
Which is why Paul can say, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philip 1:21)
The greatest miracle was that the tomb was empty, and that now, in Christ, we also have an empty tomb.
John 15:5 takes it another step. Not only is God the greater weapon, but we, in ourselves, are ultimately powerless. We can do nothing apart from Christ.
Chart: us/God (not far apart); us/God (far apart)
It is the gospel posture: I am weak, but He is strong.
How weak do we think we are?
How strong do we think God is?
God is so big that he can take [game show]
A little shepherd boy and slay a giant warrior
A hundred year old man and make him the father of nations
An orphan Jewish girl and use her to save her people from death/Haman
A small boy’s lunch and feed 5000/a multitude
An impetuous fisherman and build His church on him as the rock/make him an apostle/author of Scripture
A persecutor of the church and make him an apostle/missionary/church planter/author of Scripture
We read story after story about how Big God is. Those stories were meant to strengthen our faith that our Big God is more than able to meet our needs, solve our problems, conquer our enemies, heal our diseases, and forgive our sins.
David had a big, strong God in his life
a God who is more than able to slay an uncircumcised Philistine,
a God who would defend His own honor,
a God who would protect him, as He had in the past.
A member of Renewal and [what might God do through you?]
What might God do if you really believed you had a big, strong God in your life?
Faith produces courage.
some friend, co-worker, neighbor might come to know Christ
some aspect of medicine, education, law, technology, politics might be improved to redeem our world and serve people
some church might be planted or revived
some marriages might be saved, some children might be raised as followers of Christ
some hurting people might be comforted, some wayward people might be restored, some spiritual apathetic might be discipled and revived
What might a big God want to do through a person like you?
’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought
it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile,
"What am I bid, good folks," he cried
"Who’ll start the bidding for me?"
"1 dollar, a dollar"; then, "Two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three --" But no,
From the room, far back, a gray haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As the caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
And going, and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a masters hand." . . .
by Myra Brooks Welch
We are weak, but He is strong.
What could a Big God do through a weak person like you?
A Different Vision
Do not consider his appearance, for the Lord looks at the heart.
Related to this picture that God is big and we are small is a difference in perspective. The greater reality, what matters most, is the stuff we don’t see. It is the unseen that is more important than the seen.
This goes back to 1 Sam 16, when God told Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
This story is an illustration of this.
Throughout the story, we see the outward appearance
4-7 a physical description of the intimidating appearance of Goliath
12-19 a description of David’s insignificance: youngest, errand boy
11, 25 When the Israelites saw Goliath and heard his challenge, they all melted in fear
33 When Saul sees David, he sees only a boy
42 When Goliath sees David, he also sees only a boy
Everyone just saw the outward appearance, the physical description, the externals. But God saw, and knowing the story, we also see, that David was the most powerful man on that battlefield.
People only see the outward appearance of a giant Goliath and a little boy David. But that’s not how David saw the situation. That’s not how we’re supposed to see the situation. David didn’t see an invincible giant towering over a little shepherd boy. David saw an uncircumcised Philistine mocking the God of the Universe! We’re supposed to see who has God on his side.
We look at intelligence, attractiveness, height/weight, athleticism, personality, success.
But maybe we’re looking at the wrong things.
We need special glasses to help us see not the material but the immaterial, not the seen but the unseen, so that we don’t just look at what man looks at but what God looks at [special glasses].
Faith, that’s what God looks at.
God runs the show
We see the stock market, oil prices, economic turmoil, presidential campaigns & debates.
I saw sermons to prepare, church meetings, Janette’s pregnancy and the kids.
But what would we see with these “special glasses”?
Joe & Grace’s daughter Chloe had a hole in her heart and had open-heart surgery in earlier this month. Unfortunately, further medical complications arose, and their little 3-year-old girl underwent a 2nd open heart surgery last Tuesday, and praise God, the surgery went smoothly.
Tomorrow Chloe goes in again for open heart surgery . . . What is God’s “good purpose” in the goof-ups, in the messiness of life, in the things that don’t make sense or go “our way”? There’s no simple answer, other than to trust that He is still loving and sovereign and working ALL things for our good, for those whom He loves who have been called according to His purpose. And, that “good” is ultimately to make us more like Christ. It’s hard to believe during times like this that God has something “good” planned. What good could come out of this? I don’t know nor understand, but I don’t have to understand nor does God expect me to understand. For how can I understand the ways of the Creator of the universe that holds all things in the palm of His hand, that knows the number of hairs on our heads, the numbers of grains of sand on the beaches? We are not called to understand, but we are called to trust and obey. And that’s what we must do at this time. Either it’s God OR it’s despair. All I know is that God has been faithful over the years and has done great and miraculous things in our family [recounts past healings] . . . Even when we don’t see immediate healing, God is the only source of healing, whether it’s through medicine, surgery, or whatever way He chooses to do so OR not do so. That’s not for us to dictate, but only to trust that He has the best for us as our loving Father. Would a loving Father give us a stone when we ask for bread? He loves us so much more than we know. He who has given His one and only Son to save us, will He not graciously give us all things? I know He has the best for us, EVEN as we go through this storm and lay Chloe upon the altar (of the operating table) for open heart surgery ONCE again. Yes, I trust that Chloe is in good hands for she is in God’s hands. Lord, I surrender her to you. I can’t wait to see how you will use Chloe one day to bring glory to Your name in even greater ways. You are weaving in her an amazing story of healing and grace, to hone her heart for Your glory.
God seeks His own honor
This is not a story about how we can have courage against our big and daunting problems. This is not about a celebration of the underdog who with strength and courage overcomes his challenges and prevails. This is not a celebration of the human spirit. This is a story about God’s glory, and a man who fought for God’s glory.
This chapter is about the dishonor/honor of God
This day I defy the ranks of Israel (v. 10)
He comes out to defy Israel (v. 25)
What will be done for the man who . . . removes this disgrace from Israel? (v. 26a)
Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God (v. 26b)
. . . he has defied the armies of the living God (v. 36)
I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied (v. 45)
This was not just a battle between David & Goliath, or the Israelites & the Philistines.
This was a battle between the God of Israel and the gods of Philistine.
Remember, Goliath cursed David by his gods (v. 43).
That’s what this battle is about: God defending His honor.
David then says, I’m going to slaughter you and your army, “and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”
This is for God’s reputation among all the nations. Israel has a God who fights for her, and her God is mighty!
All those gathered here, today, Philistines and Israelites, will know that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s.
God wants to be exalted among the nations, exalted among his people.
God is zealous for His own glory.
God runs the show, and this show is about God’s glory.
David seeks God’s honor
David is zealous for the glory of God. That is what he’s fighting for.
Our love for God and His glory is our first and greater purpose.
Our great passion from which all other passions must come is our passion for God.
It is for the glory of God that we want others to come to know Him and also worship Him.
It is for the glory of God that we want missionaries to go to the nations, that people from all tribe and tongue will also worship the Lamb.
It is for the glory of God that we want our children to see Him and follow Him, that God be honored in the next generation.
It is for the glory of God that we want praise to be alive and heartfelt, for He is worthy!
It is for the glory of God that we want to serve the poor and hurting in our city, that God’s mercy and redemptive work be revealed; that people see that God is the great Savior, Healer, Comforter, Deliverer, Provider, etc.
At Renewal, we want people to have a passion for
counseling, but more that they have a passion for showing people Christ and His gospel through that counseling
women, but more that they have a passion for helping women see Christ and displaying something of Christ through women
QV (tutoring), but more that they have a passion for seeing Christ revealed and honored amongst these kids
God must be at the center.
God is Great and seeks His glory.
We too are to exalt Him, to fight for His honor.
As we do, we have the greatest Weapon of all. Not even death can defeat us.
We want to have the right vision, one that values the unseen more than the seen.