David and Goliath (1Samuel 7:32-58)

So David stood before king Saul. The king asked him. "What's with all the questions about the reward for killing the Philistine soldier known as Goliath?"
 David replied. "Don't worry about a thing. I will go and defeat the giant."
"Don't be ridiculous!" The king replied. "You are just a boy! He has been in the army since before you were even born!"
David persisted. ""God has been with me when bears and lions attacked my father's sheep. I clubbed the beasts and sometimes would even have to kill them with my bare hands."

David remembered how God helped him through the tough times. When we are faced with difficult situations, it helps to remember the times when God was there for us in the past. David also realized that the lions and bears were training him for something bigger. Are you going through a tough time? It may be that God is preparing you for something great.

 Finally Saul agreed to let David go and fight Goliath. He even gave David his own personal armor to wear. But Saul was very tall and the armor felt clunky and uncomfortable to David. So he took it off. He wasn't used to wearing any type of armor when he was defending his father's sheep. David grabbed his staff and a slingshot. Then he headed down to the river where he picked up five smooth stones and put them into his pouch.
 Goliath was already out in the clearing taunting the Israelite army. David came up from the bank of the river and ran toward Goliath and his armor bearer.

To everyone it looked like two against one.... and a very lopsided two against one at that, because one was a giant with a spear, armor and a shield bearer and the other was a boy.  It WAS lopsided, but not a giant against a boy, but God and a boy against two men. 

Goliath sneered at David. "Am I a dog that you come at me with a stick? Come over here and I'll feed you to the wild animals!" He shouted.
 David shouted back. "You come to me with a spear, javelin and a sword. But I come to you in the name of the Lord God Almighty. Today He will conquer you, then I will feed you to the wild animals and the whole world will know that there is one true God! This battle is not mine, but it is the Lord's because you have defiled His people." David continued running toward Goliath as he reached into his pouch and took out a stone.

When facing problems in our lives, do we look at the problem and give up or panic? Or do we have the confidence that comes with knowing that God is on our side. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

                                                              As David ran toward Goliath, Goliath moved toward David. Placing the stone in the slingshot, David hurled it toward Goliath. It hit Goliath in his head. Goliath fell with a great thump face down to the ground. He was dead. David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a stone and a sling.
 The Philistine army saw Goliath fall to the ground and ran away. The Israelite army, now full of confidence, shouted triumphantly and chased the Philistines out past the gates of Ekron.

God doesn't want us to sit back and wait for Him to fight our battles. He also does not want us to do it all by ourselves. He wants us to team up with Him.  He loves you and everything He allows into your life is for His greater purpose. Trust Him in the little things, the big things and the difficult things.



  

David Hears About Goliath and the Reward (1Samuel17a)

  So David worked for the king as well as caring for his father's sheep. He would travel back and forth
between his home and the palace. While he was home, the Israelite army had gathered to battle the Philistine army. The Philistines had set up camp just outside of Judah. So the Israelites set up on an opposite hill with a valley between the armies. David's three oldest brothers had already gone ahead to join the army to fight the Philistines. As he was getting ready to go back to king Saul, David's father gave him some grain and bread to take to his brothers and some cheese to take to their captain. He also asked David to see how they were doing and to bring back a letter from the brothers.

  When David arrived at the camp. The Israelite army was just leaving for battle. But today would be the same as the last forty days. The two armies would be on opposite sides of the valley. One of the Philistine soldiers would come out and stand between the armies and begin taunting the Israelites. This was no ordinary soldier however. His name was Goliath and he was nine feet tall! He was an  honored champion among the Philistines. He wore a bronze helmut and had a spear on his back. The head of the spear alone weighed over fifteen pounds. He also had an armor bearer in front of him with a huge shield.
  For forty days, twice a day, Goliath would strut in front of the Israelite army and shout at them. "Do you need a whole army to settle this?" He would sneer. " Choose someone to fight for you, and I will represent the Philistines. We will settle this dispute in single combat. If your man is able to kill me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! I defy the army of Israel!" Goliath taunted. "Come on! Send out someone who will fight with me!"

 King Saul and the Israelite army would shake with fear every time Goliath would come out. Many of them ran away in fright. David was going toward the battle. Some of the Israelite army were grumbling among themselves as they were headed away from the front lines. "Have you seen the size of that guy?  They asked each other. "Even with the king's huge reward, there is no way I'm fighting that guy!" David was curious about this huge reward, so he stopped one of the frightened  men and asked him about it. "Yes, the king has offered a huge reward to any man that kills the giant." The man continued. "King Saul will give that man one of his daughters in marriage and the family of the man who kills the giant will never have to pay taxes again."

  David went a little farther and asked a couple more soldiers who were standing near the front lines. "What will the man receive for killing this Philistine and putting an end to his abuse of Israel?" David asked. "And who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" Some of the soldiers answered him. "What you have heard is true. The family of the man who kills the Philistine will be exempt from taxes forever, and that man will marry one of the king's daughters."

  But David's older brother Eliah, was nearby. He saw David and heard the questions that he was asking about the reward. "What are you doing?" Eliah asked angrily. "You are supposed to be tending to those couple of sheep on the mountainside away from everyone! You don't belong here and you certainly don't need to know about the reward for killing the giant! Go home!"
  "What did I do now?" Asked David. "I was only asking a question." Eliah walked away in anger and David continued to ask questions. Soon king Saul heard that David was inquiring about the reward and he sent for him.

  Did you notice David's response to Goliath's taunting. He had the right perspective. David saw the Israelite army as God's army. He knew that God was on their side. He heard Goliath's threat as a threat against God, not just men. Don't be afraid to stand up for what is right. God is on your side. (Romans 8:31) God did not give us a spirit of fear. (2Timothy1:7) Do the right thing and God will be with you. (Deuteronomy 6:18)

David is Anointed King (1 Samuel 16)

 After Samuel called Saul on his disobedience, the two men went their separate ways. Samuel was very sad because he and Saul had a long history between them. Finally God called to Samuel. "You have mourned for Saul long enough. Now it is time to anoint a new king. I want you to take some oil and head to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse. One of his sons will be the next king of Israel."

God understands our disappointments. But there comes a time when we have to get back to what we are supposed to do. 

 Samuel answered with a tinge of fear in his voice. "What if Saul finds out? He will have me killed!"
 "Don't worry." God said. "Bring a heifer and tell everyone that you are there to make a sacrifice."
 So Samuel took a cow and headed to Bethlehem. When he arrived, the people got nervous. "What happened? Why are you here? Is there something wrong?" They questioned.
 "Relax." Samuel replied. "I am only here to make a sacrifice in the town square. Invite everyone in the town. Make sure that you invite Jesse and his sons."
 Samuel had just begun the purification sacrifice when Jesse and his sons arrived. Samuel took one look at Eliab, Jesse's oldest son and thought to himself, "This is surely the next king of Israel. He is tall and handsome." But the Lord said to Samuel, Don't judge by appearance and height for I have rejected him. People judge by appearance, but I the Lord, judge by a person's heart."

We don't have to do things to make us look good. God sees our heart. He knows our motives, which means that He knows why we do things. The good things that we do should be an overflow of our hearts, not to rack up points with God.

 Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward. Again, the Lord rejected him, even though Samuel again thought that this was the one. Then Shammah stepped forward. And again God said, "No." One by one all seven of Jesse's sons stepped forward. And one by one they were rejected.
 Finally Samuel asked Jesse. "Do you have any other sons that are not here?"
 "Yes" Said Jesse. "There is one more, my youngest, David. He is working out in the field watching the sheep."
 "Send for him at once," ordered Samuel. "We will not sit down and eat until David gets here."
 When David arrived, Samuel saw that he had red hair, pleasant eyes and he was handsome. God told Samuel that David was the one. So Samuel poured oil on David's head and anointed him. As soon as Samuel anointed David, the Holy Spirit came upon him.


 In the old testament, the Holy Spirit came upon people. The Holy Spirit would descend upon and leave people as God saw fit to accomplish His purposes. Now, after Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us if we have made Jesus the Lord of our life. And He is with us forever! It is one of God's most amazing promises!

 Meanwhile, Saul was in his throne room. The Holy Spirit had departed from him and Saul became agitated and fearful. One of Saul's servants suggested that Saul needed music to calm him down. Another servant suggested a young man that he had heard about who played the harp very well. His name was David!

God is always working behind the scenes, even when we don't see it. 

 Saul sent a message to Jesse to send his son David. Jesse sent David to the king along with some gifts. David played the harp for Saul and it helped Saul. Saul liked David very much and soon David became the armor bearer as well at the royal musician.