Giant Faith

Introduction

A. The story of David and Goliath is one of the few Bible stories that transcends our culture. From time to time we will hear on a sports show that the match up between two teams is similar to David versus Goliath. One team is inexperienced while the other is overpowering. Even in business this same analogy has been used to take about corporate takeovers. This story is one which our children learn early on. It holds a certain fascination for all of us to hear of a teenager who with one rock and a sling shot is able to kill a man who is three times his size. It is a story which promotes thinking of loftier goals and visions of doing great things for God at an early age. Such images are worthy of consideration for children. But what about adults?

B. Is the story of David and Goliath just a children’s story or is there something for adults to hold on to? What is the point of the story? When we approach the story of David and Goliath we often think about faith, determination, and guts. But is that the point of the story? Is this story about pull yourself up by your bootstraps and act in faith when there is adversity? Is this story supposed to be a story about dealing with the “Goliaths” in our lives? Those big problems that rob us of sleep, and drain us emotionally, is that the purpose of this story?

C. The actions of individuals in stories of the Bible are important. But the actions have little value unless we understand what is behind those actions. What makes David go out to a battlefield to fight a giant? What causes David to become so incensed that he is willing to put his life on the line? The answer to those questions will give us the purpose of this story. The point of this story is not how to deal with the “Goliaths” of life. Look at verse 10, 25, 26, 36, and 45. The word “defy” appears. Six times in five verses this word is repeated. What has been defied? God and his people. This is the point of the story. God is defied and something must be done. This is what produces such a strong reaction in David. Can one stand by when God is defied, mocked, or derided? Do we care when God’s reputation is at stake? How we answer these questions determines what we believe about God?

The Story

A. Chapter 17 is not chronologically in order. At the end of chapter 16, David is already in Saul’s service playing the harp and singing. At the end of chapter 17, Saul doesn’t know David. Why did the author insert the story here? There are two reasons. First, since God sees the heart we are given insight into the heart of David. It is in this chapter that David speaks for the first time in the Bible and what he says is powerful.

B. Second, this story is here in order to illustrate that physical appearance is not important. While we are impressed with what we see on the outside, God is unimpressed by that. Have you ever stood next to a person who was extremely tall? Playing basketball in high school, my job was to guard our center during practice times. Eddie was 6’8” tall. He went to Lipscomb on a basketball scholarship. Having your face at elbow level on a tall man is not any fun. Tall people are imposing. They make us feel small and insignificant.

C. The Bible goes into great detail to describe Goliath. He is an impressive figure. In verses 4—7 we read a vivid description of Goliath. Three cubits and a span is the literal translation. In our language that would be almost 9’6” tall. His armor weighed 125 pounds. The iron point on the shaft of his spear weighed 15—16 pounds. This was a huge man. Obviously extremely strong. Historians tell us that the average Israelite was well under six feet. Goliath was a giant. And when he came out to the battle field and bellowed his threats and challenged anyone to a military contest, his impressive size melted the hearts of Israel. They hid from him. They walked away from the battle field. They crawled under rocks.

i. We are impressed with this description. But God is not impressed. This story is here to make the comparison between 16:7 and what we read in chapter 17. The physical is not challenging to God at all.

ii. But the soldiers fear the physical of Goliath. They are afraid of the physical and have little concern for the heart.

D. David comes into camp. Sent by his father to bring provisions and to discover how his brothers are, David arrives just in time to hear Goliath’s threats and challenge to fight. David wants to know why no one has accepted the challenge. We see in verse 28 why God rejected Eliab. Eliab in his anger insults David. “Why have you come down here? Who did you con to take care of your little herd of sheep? I know how evil you are. You came down here to stir up trouble.” David continues trying to find out what is going on. His questions get the attention of Saul’s men. In front of Saul, David volunteers to accept Goliath’s challenge. Saul hesitates. David is a small inexperienced soldier. David puts Goliath in the same category as the lion and the bear. Attack my sheep and you will face the consequences. The shepherd’s heart is again seen.

E. Saul tries to give David some quick lessons about battles. David refuses and goes out to the battle field. In basketball there is a thing called “trash talking.” It is a way to criticize your opponents inabilities in order to gain a psychological advantage. What we find in verses 45—47 is that David can dish out the trash talk. “I’m going to cut off your head. Your body will become bird feed. All who gather here will know that weapons mean nothing. What counts is God.” David takes his sling. Winds it up and casts one stone into the middle of Goliath’s forehead. Knocked unconscious, Goliath falls face down in the dirt. David quickly takes Goliath’s sword and cuts off his head. The battle is won. The stone that David used would have been 2—3 inches in diameter and with a sling shot could reach speeds of 100—150 mph. David was accurate with his shot and God gave the victory.

So What?

A. We are given three views of God in this story. We have Goliath’s view; Saul’s view, and David’s view. Goliath’s view of God was that there wasn’t a God. Goliath viewed himself as invincible. There wasn’t anything greater than himself. No single man could handle him. Saul’s view was that God was dead. As leader of the army he cowered with the rest of them. There was no attempt to answer the challenge because there was no belief in God. David’s view was that God could deal with any challenge and use any vessel. Which view is right? Which view is accurate?

B. We reject Goliath’s view. We believe that God exists. But we find ourselves too often with Saul. We get distracted by what we see and fail to know the truth. For Saul Goliath posed a military dilemma. From a military standpoint, he didn’t have anyone who could do battle with Goliath. Militarily he was weak. But you see Saul believed the lie that this battle depended on him. It wasn’t until David arrived that he put things into proper view. This was not a military problem this was a theological issue. Either God does or does not work in situations. Saul didn’t think God was concerned about this issue. David saw Goliath and wondered how in the world could anyone tolerate an unbeliever from saying God didn’t exist.

C. Goliath believed God didn’t exist; Saul thought God was dead. David is the only one who believes in a living God. We can either believe that God works in all situations or he doesn’t work in any. It isn’t a hit or miss proposition. God either works or it depends on us. Which is the truth? Several years ago a cartoon appeared in Christianity Today. It was a single picture of David and Goliath on the battle field. We see a scrawny David with sling shot dangling to the ground turning up the volume of his feeble voice while Goliath with his “Mother” tattoo on his massive arm stoops down to hear him. And David says, “I said, ‘We forgive you.’”

D. This was a time when forgiveness was not what was needed. What was needed was someone to take a stand for God. Not because he needs us to do that, but because we need a clear line drawn in the sand that says when you step over this line and dishonor my God; when you act as if God isn’t working; when you think that God’s reputation is not important to me, then I will take a stand for him. We have to know what we believe and where we stand. Either God works in situations are he doesn’t. Either God is living or he is dead. ILL. Dwight at Camp. Is God working in our current situation with the absence of elders? He has given us an opportunity to change the way we see things. If God is not working in this situation, then your God isn’t powerful enough or he is dead. What truth do you really believe and what truth are you willing to stand on? Right here and right now, I take my stand. I may not understand how God is going to work. I may not understand why, but I know that my God works in every situation and one day when I see him it will be clear. But I will not cower from the battle field. To walk away from the battle is to admit that our God is dead or powerless. I am unwilling for my God’s reputation to be slandered or mocked. My God works in every situation and in every situation that I allow him, he will work through me to bring to completion his will and purposes.

E. This story is not about David except as it demonstrates how a weak vessel can be used to honor God. This story is about believing in a God who is living and active. This story is about taking a stand when our God is defied and mocked. Will you take a stand? A “living” God gives a whole new view of things. Invitation.

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.