You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
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! You will find this famous Bible story in 1 Samuel 17.
1 Samuel 17. If you turn there, I'm going to summarize parts of this story and read other
parts as we go through this morning. But I want us to think carefully about this story,
especially when stories are familiar. We need to make sure that we're understanding what God's
telling us, not just what we like to think. We need to understand the bigger story it's a part of
so that we don't end up with a message this morning that is, be like David and you'll slay the giants
in your life. Have you heard that message before? Yep, that's a common message out there. But it's
a really confusing message to say, be like David when David commits murder and adultery. It doesn't
work so well. Neither do we want one you've probably heard, the five smooth stones that we
all need to defeat our enemies. Some of you have heard that one. There are lots of different lists
of what those five stones are. It's really rough actually when they're not identified in the Bible.
And David uses actually how many? Oh, only one of the five. So then the other four you just don't
get to use anyway. So what's the story actually all about? Well, remember that the issue recently
in the Bible story as we've been walking through it here in the Old Testament has been about the king.
First, the lack of a king for God's people, right? They didn't have a king and so they were turning
from God and doing whatever they wanted to do. And then last week, Bill Nash showed us so beautifully
this idea of Saul, the king that they asked for, the king like the nations. And Saul was actually
rejected by God as king in favor of a shepherd boy with a heart for God. God's people need a king,
a hero, one to stand for them. In fact, that's exactly where the story of David and Goliath,
opens, isn't it, at the beginning of 1 Samuel 17. The two countries are lined up like the boys and the
girls that we had up here. There's Philistia on one mountain and all their army, and then there's
Israel and all its army on the other mountain, a valley in between. Neither one of them foolish
enough to wage an uphill battle, right? To go up the hill against the other army, but Philistia
has a secret weapon. They have a champion. Goliath represents them. He strides out to the front,
all nine feet, nine inches of him, no stool needed. His armor alone, the weight of a young man.
And he defies the armies of Israel to send a champion out to fight him, winner take all,
one on one. This morning, we need to think of ourselves in the front lines of God's people,
seeing Goliath come forth and challenge us. Imagine that you're one of those soldiers. That's who we
are in this story, okay? You're trembling with fear. You're despairing about the future for you and your
family. You are staring certain death or slavery for the rest of your life right in the face.
Each morning, you wake up and the music in the camp is the same song.
It was, I need a hero just in Hebrew, okay? It was the same tune. That's not from the Bible.
But they desperately need a hero. Where is Israel's hero? Their champion, their king. Where is Saul?
He's a head taller than the rest of them. He's a mighty warrior. He's handsome. He's the king like
the nations. And he is cowering somewhere in his royal tent. No wonder the rest of us are afraid.
Listen to Goliath, verse 8. 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.
And when Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly
afraid. Even Goliath named Saul, right? He knows the one who should be coming out there to fight him.
But Saul is dismayed and greatly afraid. We find out later that all Saul can hear and see is that giant
yelling day after day, this imposing warrior. So he sees David and he thinks David is too small and
too young. The only thing Saul thinks could possibly help is more armor, right? Here, take my armor.
Saul's not going to go himself, but he'll try to loan David his weapons. That'll help you. That's what
you need. There's no vision of his God at all, is there? The rest of the Israelites think, well,
if Saul is scared, I've got no chance. So even though Saul offers them a wife and riches and a tax-free life,
no one will risk it. Verse 24, all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much
afraid. They saw the man. They saw the man, the one mocking them and their God. They saw the big man.
And that enemy seemed too much to overcome. That's all they could see. There's actually one other person
in this story who sees the fight the same way that Saul and all the Israelites do. That's Goliath.
It's just me against you, David. Unbelievable. Paraphrasing Goliath's words, he says,
you little pipsqueak. My gods are going to crush you and your so-called God who's as weak as your toy
slingshot you're carrying. This won't even be a fight. Just look at me and look at you.
Notice that almost everyone in this story sees only what their eyes can see.
And what's the result? Yahweh's people, full of fear, self-protective, shaking in their boots.
This is the end. This is the end. I need a hero.
Isn't that what we as God's people are often saying? When all we see is what our eyes can see.
There's just no hope for my spouse, my kid, my co-worker, my friend. I've analyzed the way they're
acting. I've seen it enough times. I've tried my best to help them change. There are just no other
options. I give up. You know what that is? Practical atheism creeping into our hearts.
Practical atheism showing up in our lives oftentimes. No notion of a living God active
at work in my difficult situations. I quit hoping. I even quit praying.
Pastor, I just can't stop talking that way. I never can quit looking at these images.
I can't stop drinking earlier and earlier in the day just to get through the day.
The temptation is too strong. I can't overcome it. I'm just going to quit trying.
Those are practical atheism. I think the biggest form of practical atheism in our culture
is giving up on the possibility that life with God might be true life.
I just refuse to try anymore finding the good life apart from all the stuff I have.
I love it. I won't be seen apart from it. No way could the good life involve my giving up control,
my self-rule. That's what life is. I want to do what I want to do. That must be life.
I mean, yeah, I'm at church. God might be a piece of my life, but the non-negotiable is this
other relationship and enjoying it or ending it when I want, how I want, regardless of what God has to say
about it. That's life.
Practical atheism. I say I believe in God.
But in my life, I'm a leader of God's people, just protecting my own wealth, my own comfort,
my own reputation at the risk of God's glory and others' safety.
Or I'm a member of God's people, but I'm cowering in fear at the enemies before me
with no real thought to the impact of an actual God at work in my world.
I'll sing about him, but I'm not going to expect him to show up on Monday.
Have you felt that way when Goliath, the enemy of God, yells really loudly at you, looks really big
in front of you? I'm outmatched. I have no real hero. I can't compete with him.
It struck me this week how often I live that way.
It struck me the one thing that sets David apart from that approach to life,
from being just like everybody else in this story, is that he sees God involved, doesn't he?
David's playing chess while they're playing checkers, we would say.
They're doing algebra, but he's doing calculus.
Seeing God's presence with him changes the math of the battle, doesn't it?
It's like walking up the steps.
It's also interesting to me that David is the only one not up at the battle lines all the time.
I don't know if you feel like that's where you are.
All you can see is this war going on around you.
Is it possible that we need to take a step back, a step up,
away from the smoke of the battle,
to see God clearly,
and to see God first?
I want to urge you, without slowing down,
without stepping back to account for God in your life,
your fear may continue to grow.
Your hope may wane.
Your despair may take over
because all you can see is what your eyes can see.
But when David sees God in the equation,
we see a completely new vision,
a marked contrast between fearful Saul
and the newly anointed leader of God's people.
This story shows what the heart of a true champion of God's people looks like.
We were told to look for this in the previous chapter
when David's anointed as the next king of Israel.
And God makes it clear that man looks at the outward appearance
and picks Saul as leader,
but God looks where?
At the heart.
David shows us here a zeal for God's honor,
that we were all created to have this burning within us,
this zeal, this passion.
We see it especially when David talks to Goliath.
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.
This day Yahweh will deliver you into my hand.
Verse 47, all the earth may know there's a God in Israel,
all this assembly may know that Yahweh saves,
not with sword and spear,
for the battle is Yahweh's and he will give you into my hand.
Do you hear what David wants to defend?
Is it his own reputation?
All right, Goliath, I'm not as weak as you think.
Let me tell you what I've done.
No, it's God's reputation.
It's not even his personal security.
It's the safety of God's people.
David wants everyone in Israel,
in fact, he wants everyone in the nations
to know how great Yahweh is.
And that's what drives David, isn't it?
And it drives him to love God's people.
He's willing to stand in their place.
No one else is.
He's willing to represent them,
even in danger,
even when it seems certain he's gonna lose his life.
He wants to remove the reproach
against God's people,
he says, verse 26.
He tells Saul,
he'll be their servant
so no one else's heart need to fail.
He'll fight the giant
on behalf of the fearful,
the helpless,
the desperate,
who cannot fight for themselves
day after day after day
and they're not getting anywhere
and no one will stand up
except David will.
Zeal for God's honor,
love for God's people,
and confidence in God's power, right?
David sees God active.
There's just no doubt about it.
He sees him being active in this situation
as he has in many others in his life
previously as a shepherd.
Listen to how he explains to Saul
where his confidence is coming from.
His confidence is not in himself,
is it?
Verse 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.
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.
You see where David's pointing?
It wasn't his strength
with the lion and the bear,
it was the Lord.
And even Saul understands it.
What does he say?
Go and Yahweh be with you.
Not go,
you sound like a great fighter.
No, you sound like a shepherd
and I'm worried.
But it sounds like you see
somebody I don't see.
There's a God
who will fight for you.
God has fought for me before,
David says.
He'll do it again.
Even that reminder
doesn't spur on Saul's zeal.
Saul's staying in the tent, right?
Doesn't build his trust,
doesn't get him to action
on behalf of God's people.
It's gonna be this shepherd boy
with the slingshot.
No armor.
He's gonna walk out
from the sidelines
against the mighty
Philistine warrior.
He may not look
like a champion,
but he has the heart
of a champion
that is zealous
for his God.
This is something
we see in this big story,
okay?
As we've been mapping out
God restoring
and rescuing us,
how does God
restore relationship
with his people
through a king
with a heart like this?
Stay tuned.
Here's the famous part
of this story.
Goliath actually helps David
make clear
that this is indeed
a battle of champions,
but even more,
it's a contest between gods.
That's part of why
they often did this champion thing
in these days.
They saw wars
between nations
as actually battles
between the nation's gods,
and so if one-on-one
could decide
which god was stronger,
why have everybody else die?
Right?
Verse 43.
Goliath says to David,
am I a dog
that you come to me
with sticks?
And the Philistine
cursed David
by his gods.
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.
I will utterly
humiliate you
so that you will be
exposed as weak
and worthless
and my gods
will mock
your powerless deity
!
As we capture
your entire army,
everybody will know
who the real God is.
David responds,
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.
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
and that all this assembly,
including the really
fearful ones,
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.
Don't you love
David's passion?
I mean,
you might think
it's misguided,
right?
I mean,
come on man,
you're about to be smoked.
You're in the battle line
watching
and maybe his faith
gives you some hope
but maybe you hear him
and you're like,
oh man,
this is not going
to end well for us.
Stop trash talking
before they kill us.
But David's famous statement,
the battle is the Lord's,
makes all the difference,
doesn't it?
Because Yahweh
fights for David,
one smooth stone
and a slingshot
takes down
the great giant
and this battle
of heroes
ends as
quickly as it began.
David,
of course,
is an imperfect
foreshadowing
of the great hero,
King Jesus,
who reflects
perfectly
the heart
and the victory
of a champion.
Jesus'
zeal
for God's honor,
right?
His faithful
pursuit
of his father's will,
it's without equal.
He loves
God's desperate
people
like you and me.
in fact,
so much
that he sacrifices
his life
in their place
and in doing so,
even in what appeared
to be great weakness,
he achieved
eternal victory
over our greatest
enemies,
sin,
Satan,
death.
Triumphing over them,
Colossians tells us how,
by his cross.
He then rises
from the grave.
As he conquers death,
he becomes the permanent king
on David's throne
that God
covenants here
with David
to provide
for him
and his people.
Y'all,
we stand
desperately
in need
of a hero.
I hope
that you can
see that
and say that
this morning.
And then
once we see that,
there are really
two options
for us.
We can either
try to
be the hero,
feels kind of good,
or we can rejoice
that we have
a hero.
hero.
Friends,
in our story,
the role of
King David,
hero,
conquering the giant
is played
by Jesus.
Please don't
get confused.
There are really
good things
for us to learn
about our
zeal for God,
our love
for his people,
our confidence
in his power.
Absolutely.
May our hearts
reflect those
priorities
more and more.
But they
don't always.
We're not
the righteous
king.
So ultimately,
we don't need
to be the hero.
We need to
have the hero
with all of those
perfectly,
right?
And then,
and then,
once we get
that straight,
once we know
who the hero is,
we can consider
our role
in the story.
Then,
with the battle
won,
with victory
achieved for us,
with the hero
crowned king
forever,
and our
trusting in him,
our lives
should be
transformed.
They have to be.
We can move
from protective
of self
to zealous
for God,
from focused
on self
to loving
other people,
from fearful
and cowardly
to confident
and expectant.
Why?
Because God
is present
and active
and powerful
in us
and through us
and for us.
look what happens
in this story
when God's people
realize
all of a sudden,
I have a hero.
What happens?
Look at verse 52.
The men of Israel
and Judah
rose with a shout.
They hadn't
shouted in weeks.
Over and over,
Goliath has been
standing there
and they have been
withdrawing
quietly.
Look at the change.
They rise
with a shout.
Picture them
rushing the field,
dumping Gatorade
on David,
crowd surfing
him on their shoulders.
I mean,
it's not exactly
like that.
But that's what's
going on in their hearts.
I hope your heart
thrills
at King Jesus'
victory for you
like that.
They want everyone
to know how great
their champion is,
how he has delivered
them in their great distress,
how he's the one
they'll follow.
They're running forward
behind him.
Is that how you feel
about Jesus?
Does everyone
know that?
Keep reading.
Verse 53,
the people of Israel
came back from
chasing the Philistines
and they plundered
their camp.
That's what it looks
like to live
in the victory
of the hero.
Remember,
we're the ones
standing on the
battle line
waiting to see
how this contest
of heroes
is going to play out.
Look at us
fearful soldiers
now turn around
and run forward.
Just as Israel
won when
David conquered,
so we,
united to
Jesus by faith,
have victory
when Jesus
conquers.
Jesus conquers.
Remember what we
said earlier?
Our king defeats
all his
and our
enemies.
The battle
is the Lord's.
Praise the Lord.
The battle is his.
The victory,
glory, though,
is ours.
Just as it was
for all the girls,
remember?
Right up here.
They all won
when one of them
won.
So now we plunder
the camp
of the enemy.
Be really clear.
Our enemy
is Satan.
Our struggle
not against
flesh
and blood.
Not swords
loud clashing
that we fight
with,
but deeds
of love
and mercy
in King
Jesus'
wake.
Don't be
confused
on that.
But because
Jesus has
conquered,
because his
spirit lives
within us,
we really
can live
in his
victory,
running forward
joyfully
to plunder
the enemy
camp.
This is where
it gets exciting,
y'all.
We get to
be all
together
to storm
the gates
of hell
because King
Jesus has
knocked them
down.
Don't you
want to be
a part of
something like
that?
Boy,
these gates
aren't going
to be too
tough.
What if we
were all
together
zealous
for that?
For the
victory of
King
Jesus to
be displayed
in Huntsville?
The effects
of sin
and Satan
to be
driven back
in our
own hearts
and in
our world?
Our
King
promises
that the
gates
of hell
will not
stand
against
his
church,
so how
can we
stand
on the
sidelines
fearfully
wondering,
it might
cost too
much?
I don't
know if
it will
be worth
the
effort.
I want
to spend
just a couple
more minutes
here as we
wrap up,
because I
think it's
difficult to
connect these
dots.
Our role
plundering the
enemy's camp,
that's a little
odd.
Will, I don't
even plunder
anything.
I want to give
you some
examples.
Don't do them
all, there's too
many examples.
And these are
just ideas,
not biblical
directives that
you must do
and must do
this way.
I'm asking,
what could it
look like
for us to
live with
zeal for
God's
honor in
plundering the
enemy camp
with King
Jesus?
What could
that look
like?
These are
ideas to
get you
excited and
creative,
because you'll
have better
ideas than I
do.
You can
plunder
Satan's
camp
physically.
See, because
Jesus has
come to set
us free from
Satan's
bondage,
because Satan
is actually a
defeated foe
on the run
from the
true king.
You can
show up
physically
for people
who are
trafficked
for their
bodies,
or trapped
in generational
poverty,
and deeds
of love
and mercy
and generosity
and justice.
Snatch them
out and
remind them
who they are
and who God
made them to
be, and you
can be a
part of that.
You can
plunder Satan's
camp emotionally
if you
prefer.
This is work
in your own
heart, which
may seem
harder.
The Bible
says Satan
tries to
keep us in
bondage to
the fear of
death, the
anxiety about
the future, and
it can be
crippling.
Many of us
know that.
But King
Jesus says,
I've risen
from the
grave.
I have
conquered
death.
I have been
crowned, in
fact, king
over all.
I'm in
control of
all of it
so you
can trust
me.
So that
battle for
you plundering
the camp
means you
start listening
to his
words.
When I
am afraid,
I will
trust in
you.
In God
I trust, I
will not
be afraid.
What can
man do
to me?
You listen
to those
rather than
Satan's
lies that
tell you
you can
trust only
yourself.
You'll
only be
okay when
you're
strong enough.
No.
the God
of angel
armies is
always by
my side.
And moment
by moment
in community
by God's
spirit, I
find freedom
and confidence
and joy.
You can
plunder
Satan's camp
spiritually
because Jesus
has come and
he's paid the
penalty for
sins, defeating
sin once for
all.
you can
share that
good news
with your
neighbor with
real hope.
You can
commit to
praying for
that friend
who seems
resistant to
the light of
the gospel
and just
beyond hope
that you're
ready to
give up on.
You can
pray that
King Jesus
who's alive
and active
brings them
from darkness
to light.
You can
plunder
Satan's
camp
intellectually.
Satan
is the
father of
what?
Lies.
But Jesus
specializes in
the truth.
So you
may be in
classrooms or
online or
in relationships
where you
can use your
gifts to
articulate the
freedom that's
found in
surrender rather
than self.
It's
countercultural
but it's
really biblical.
You can
display the
beauty of
God's design
for sexuality.
You can
argue
graciously and
powerfully for
the value of
life in a
culture of
death.
You can
plunder
Satan's
camp
intellectually.
You can
plunder
Satan's
camp
financially.
It doesn't
even matter
how much
money you
have.
Because Jesus
has stormed
through hell
you can use
your money to
blow another
hole in the
gates of
hell.
Isn't that
fun?
It's more
fun than a lot
of things you
can do with
money.
Maybe you
say I
realize I
can trust
Jesus enough
to take care
of me that
this month
in addition to
giving to
my church
I'm going to
give something
to a mission
partner and
push Satan
back and
watch God
work.
You can
plunder Satan's
camp
relationally.
He would
love to
isolate those
that Jesus
has brought
together.
So go spend
time with
someone lonely.
Forgive
someone whose
sin Jesus
forgives
like yours.
Reconcile with
a spouse,
a friend,
a family
member because
Jesus is
alive.
Not because it
feels easy
but because
Jesus is alive
and Satan
can't defend
his territory
while running
away from
the power of
his spirit
that is alive
and active
in you.
What's God
putting on
your heart?
We pray about
it this
afternoon.
God, how
can I be a
part of
this?
You live
in the
victory
of King
Jesus.
You have
a hero.
He achieved
his victory
by stepping
up as
your hero
and fighting
your greatest
enemies
and dying
in your
place.
Savor
that sacrifice,
the one
who made
it as you
come to
this table.
It was on
that night
when Jesus
was betrayed
to his
death in
your place
that he
sat with
his disciples
and he
took bread
and he
broke it
and he
gave it
to them
as I
ministering
in his
name give
this bread
to you.
He said
take and
eat.
This is
my body
given for
you.
Do this
in remembrance
of me.
In the
same way
he took
the cup
after supper
saying
this cup
is the
new covenant
in my
blood
shed for
many
for the
forgiveness
of sins
drink from
it all
of you.
For as
often as
you eat
this bread
and drink
this cup
you proclaim
the Lord's
death
until he
comes.
Today
without even
opening your
mouth
you proclaim
Jesus'
death.
You are
shouting
the name
of your
hero.
You are
declaring
that you
need a
hero
and that
you have
a hero.
You come
and eat
at his
table.
That's what
you do
to declare
the Lord's
death.
If that's
the hope
of your
heart
baptized
Christian
come
and eat.
If you
would not
want to
make that
statement
if that
is not
your hope
then
don't come
declare
Jesus
as your
only hope
by eating
and drinking
these elements.
But would
you this
morning
whether you
come and
observe
or whether
you stay
where you
are
consider
your need
for a
hero
consider
Jesus'
sacrifice
would you
even this
morning
accept
his offer
to be
your king
to be
your hero
and give
you true
life
everlasting
life
with him.
Let's pray
and then
we'll come
to this
table
together.
Jesus
what a
great
gift
that you
give us
this morning
a reminder
that our
king
who reigns
over all
stoops
to live
with us
not just
when we're
in this
room
for a few
minutes
on a Sunday
morning
but that
you live
with us
every moment
of every
day.
You gave
your life
so that
that could
be true
and so
would you
grow our
faith
through
common
elements
in a
powerful
way
in each
of our
hearts.
We ask
it in
your name.
Amen.
For more
information
visit us
online
at
southwood.org
network
Thank you.