Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast today. Our desire is for the Word of God to be spread throughout the world so that all may know Christ. Join us now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church, located in Kernersville, North Carolina. Oh, the service. 1 Samuel 17.
This is a story as we started two weeks ago about David. We talked about how the fact that David was overlooked, misjudged, all these different things, and yet God anointed him. You remember that. And so we're going to dig in today and next Sunday. And I want to share some things about David's life through an interesting perspective.
At the end of chapter 17, we find out that David has this wonderful victory that we're going to talk about today and next week. And Saul sees this, and so he asks Abner, which is kind of his general, he said, hey, whose son is this? What is the deal? And he says, I don't know, but I'll find out. And they brought David, and when David shows up with them, he has the head of Goliath in his hand.
And as he begins, he says, I'm the son of Jesse, and all these different things. And here's what's interesting. In chapter 18, verse 1. And I don't know if we can. I know Brother John's out, he always does things.
They're out of town visiting their boys. I'm so glad they could today. But if we could get that last verse, chapter 18, verse 1, before we move on today, I don't know if we're able to on the PowerPoint. I want you to see, as you get to chapter 18, verse 1, they find out who David is. And if you have it in your Bible, what's interesting here, it talks about.
Saul talks about, here you go. It says, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, this is David talking with King Saul. David has been anointed to be the next king. And I don't even know that Saul was aware of this yet because remember, this had happened at Jesse's house with David and his older brothers that Samuel thought, surely they're going to be the next king. And God said, no, that's not it.
And David was out in the pasture tending sheep and he comes in.
So I don't even know if Saul didn't know about this because he didn't even know who the young man was. And when he comes and notices, he says, at the end of speaking unto Saul that the soul of Jonathan All of a sudden, Jonathan's mentioned here. Who's Jonathan? He's the son of King Saul. It says that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David.
And Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And what I want to talk about today and next week, and once I mention this, we're going to go right back to chapter 17. I want you to see how this all started. Why did Jonathan love David so much?
Now, think about this. Jonathan was the prince. He was King Saul's son. He would have been next in line. He would have had the throne.
Why in the world would he love somebody that's a threat to him? Why in the world would he love somebody so much that is literally going to be the king instead of him? Why would he love him so much? And what you have to remember all through the Bible is that David, all through his life in the Old Testament, In many different areas, there's a type or a picture. of Christ.
And so to understand how would a man who you think would be jealous or resentful of a man like David, why did Jonathan love David so much?
So we're going to Back up in chapter 17 and let's see where this whole love for David started.
So I want you to notice a couple things. We have the story of David being anointed at the house of Jesse, and David goes right back to tending sheep. He'd been anointed to be the next king. But nothing changed. He goes right back to tending sheep.
And while this is going on, his brothers left and they went in battle. They were soldiers for Israel and they go into a battle that's going on against the Philistines. David's back home tending sheep. The Bible says that they're at this battle that they have a conflict going on with the Philistines and something happened. The Philistines had a trump card, excuse the expression, all right?
They had a giant. They had a guy named Goliath. You're very familiar with the story. And what is happening is he's wreaking havoc. He is mocking and intimidating the entire army of Israel and King Saul.
Everything was at a standstill. Here he was challenging them, not just the army, but he was challenging the God of the army. He was challenging God himself. And about this time, Jesse back at home decides to send young David. Not to go fight a giant and not even to go fight in the army.
Here's a young man that's been anointed to be the next king. He's tending sheep and now dad says, Hey, I want you to take lunch to your brothers. What a way to treat a king. I want you to run an errand. Take some food for them.
So David heads to the battlefront, if you would. to take food to his brothers. David shows up, sees what's going on. And he realizes that King Saul Prince Jonathan and the entire army. was doing nothing.
We know the story of Dave and Goliath, and we're going to talk about it today, but I want us to focus on this stuff. Where did this all begin? Why did it happen? Why did Jonathan fall in love with David? Number one, today, quickly, I want you to see the Valley of Elah.
You see, all the way back in verse 1 in chapter 17. I want to walk you through this briefly today, but very focused today. Notice in verse 1.
Now, the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle and were gathered together at Shaka, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shaka and Azakah in Ephesdamim. I'm sure I pronounced all those incorrectly. And Saul and the men of Israel, notice this, were gathered together and pitched by the valley of Elah. And set the battle in array against the Philistines.
Now, notice very closely, you might think this is a needless detail. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side. and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side. and there was a valley in between them.
Now look at me today. We have Israel on one mountain. We have the Philistines on another mountain. And There's a valley in between.
Now Israel obviously in the Word of God is always pictured as God's chosen people. The Philistines, by the way, in the Bible, are always pictured as the antithesis, the enemy. God's people.
Well, you have to understand before this whole story starts: this is a picture of contrast. This is a picture of opposing sides that you and I still deal with today. In our life, we have the flesh on one mountain, we have our spirit on the other mountain if you've been saved by the grace of God, and there is a valley in between. Every one of us have a valley of Elah in between. We all have a battle that is going on there.
We all have giants that we fight there. It's the battle between God and Satan. It's the battle between the Philistines and Israel. To us, it's the battle between the flesh and the spirit. It's a battle between Satan's will and God's will.
And every time you and I in that valley is where we fight that battle. And I want you to know something today. We all have those valleys. We're all fighting giants. In our life, I want you to notice number two, the victor of Gath.
So this whole setting is a picture of something. I mean, it starts off that this is a picture of good and evil. And who's going to win? There must be a battle. And can I tell you, in your life, your spirit and your flesh are going to constantly battle.
And you're going to find out who's going to be victorious here.
So we know, of course, about Goliath. We see the victor of Gath. This is where Goliath was from. I want you to notice verse 4 first. We see Goliath's hype.
I want Frank to come up, and I didn't do this at first because you're gonna think, what's the goofy-looking guy doing here? But for point of reference, and our friend's gonna be with us today and next Sunday, but I told Frank, be careful as you do this. We'll see how this goes. Not to put pressure on Frank, let's see how this goes.
Okay, there we go. Look at that. Pretty good. All right, so there is. an actual biblical down-to-the-inch representation of the size and height of Goliath.
Now, I told Frank if he pulled that down and the whole thing came down, I would say, God did it again. Anyway, you know, kind of a thing.
So if I could give you a reference. Again, for those of you watching online, I'm 6'3, so you can see kind of the difference. here and that but You understand what an average height guy, which I'm, you know, I'm not tall, but. What the difference of size is.
So the Bible says, it gives the number. Once you look at the verse, he is actually 9'9 inches tall. Look at verse 5, verse 4. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
So he is nine feet. Nine inches tall, a big guy.
Now, you say, well, hey, there's a big guy, but you know, a good 30-30 or a 30-06 or something like that. Hey, we can take care of this from a day. They didn't have this back in those days. This was kind of hand-to-hand combat. And so here's Goliath in the valley, a giant in the valley between good and evil.
Just like in your life, there's a giant in the valley between what the spirit wants you to do and what the flesh wants you to do. And it can be very intimidating. His height. Number two, I want you to notice Goliath's armor.
Now, look at verse 5. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head. He was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was 5,000 shekels of brass. And he had graves of brass upon his legs and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam.
And his spear's head weighed 600 shekels of iron. And one bearing a shield went before him. What does all that mean? It means that literally just his armor weighed almost 200 pounds. And that was just the armor.
Goliath also wore a bronze helmet and bronze leggings to protect his shins. He carried a bronze javelin spear and the head, just the head of that spear weighed 25 pounds. And then according to written account, he had a whole individual that carried his shield into battle. How would you like to get that job? And so here's Goliath.
I mean, he's got armor that weighs... more than two or three average individuals. He's in this valley, very intimidating. And we see his height, we see his armor, but I want you to notice thirdly Goliath's challenge.
Now this is where I really want to start applying this to our lives. If you would, this is a picture of the challenge you and I face against giants in our life. Notice, number one, It was a confronting challenge.
Now look what he does, verse 8. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? Am not I a Philistine and ye servants to Saul? Choose you a man. Notice that singular.
Choose you a man for you. Let him come down to me. And if he be able to fight with me and to kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our servants and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day.
Notice, give me a man, a man, that we may fight together. This challenge was a confronting challenge. He wanted a one-on-one. Battle.
Now listen to me. This is a picture of what Satan wants in your life. He wants a one-on-one battle with you. Because he knows you can't handle. one-on-one with him.
That's why Satan hates it. When you really get into a church and you really get involved in a church and you really get unified with your brothers and sisters in Christ and church, and when you get active and you get invested, and man, you go all in and you start giving and you start becoming. Can I tell you something? You start bonding up with others, it becomes a lot harder for Satan to get you. But where Satan can get you the easiest is if he can just get you by yourself.
And what happens, you and I, we face struggles, we face difficulties, we withdraw from people, we quit coming to church, we lie to ourselves, nobody loves me there, nobody reached out to me there, nobody does this. I'm tired of hearing all that, and nobody this, and odds are you probably didn't reach out either. And what happens? We withdraw, we withdraw, we withdraw, and what Satan wants is a one-on-one battle with you. And I'm going to tell you right now, none of us in this building can handle a one-on-one battle with Satan.
You say, well, what do we do? We're going there. Notice, secondly, it was a continuous challenge. It wasn't just a confrontational challenge. It wasn't just confronting.
I want a man because Goliath knew he was bigger than any man. And by the way, Satan's bigger than you. He's stronger than you. He's smarter than you. He's craftier than you.
He's more prepared than you. You're no battle for him on your own. But notice this, look at verse. I love this. Look at verse 16.
And the Philistine drew near morning and evening and presented himself 40 days. Look at me. For 40 days, morning and night, this giant comes out. and he antagonizes, he challenges, he intimidates. Do you get where we're going with this?
Do you know how Satan, why he wins so many battles? Because he keeps at it. And let me tell you how Satan wears you down when you face the same thing every day. Every morning. He knows your weaknesses.
He knows where you're vulnerable. And Satan just comes at you. And comes at you. Listen to me. How many times have you sat in church, preach or preach something, whatever the case might be?
All of a sudden, God got a hold of your heart. You got motivated, buddy. You're ready. You get up to the altar. God, I need strength of this.
God, you got to give me victory over this. God, you got to help me with this battle. You feel great. God's presence is real, and I know that's what God wants. And then you get up and you go back to the seat.
And by three hours after you've left church, guess what? Satan's right back at it again. Because it's a continuous challenge. Satan's not going to ease off. Satan's not going to let down.
So, when you and I let down, that's when he's going to pounce. It was a confronting challenge. It was a continuous challenge, which Brings us to number three. This is our last main point today, but don't get excited. Number three, I want you to see the voices of intimidation.
The Valley of Elah. The Victor of Gath. Everything is applicable to our life. But I want you to notice as David begins to face the voices of intimidation. I want you to notice, number one, we see the voice of Goliath.
Now, I've already told you, you know, it was a confrontational challenge and a continuous challenge, but look if you would at verse 11. And when Saul And all Israel heard those words. Of the Philistine talking about Goliath. Notice this. They were dismayed.
and greatly afraid. Look at me. They hadn't even fought a battle yet. But they were already defeated. Because they had been intimidated by his words.
Now please, please get me today. Listen to me. It's going to be shorter than you think, but please listen to me really close. You and I often have more fear. of what people have said.
then we have faith in what God has said. Look at me now.
So many of us are more bothered and intimidated when somebody says something to us. Then we have more fear in what they've said than we have faith in what God said. Let me put it this way. Do you know often in our life, Satan really doesn't have to fight us very much? He has intimidated us before the fighting ever started.
Do you know half the time Satan didn't really have to fight? All he has to do is get somebody at church to say something to you you don't like. And we're done. We're defeated. We're gone.
We're at a church. I don't know about you, but sometimes I am more intimidated by people. My fear in them is greater than my faith in what God's word says. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. But you and I become so easily intimidated, guess what?
Here's the king. And a prince. And an entire army that were defeated before the battle ever even started. Why? Because they were dismayed, they had fear because of his words.
Words. of intimidation. Can I ask you something? What has made you fear lately? What has bothered you?
What has made you quit lately? What has gotten you out of fellowship with God lately? Could it possibly be maybe something.
Somebody has said I wanna Notice this if you would. Secondly, I want you to see the voice of a shepherd.
So we've got to follow this on down the line.
So David shows up right about now. Goliath's been at this 40 days. David comes in, he brings lunch to his brothers. The brothers, by the way, that weren't chosen to be king. David comes in to give them lunch, and all of a sudden he sees this going on.
Nobody's doing anything, God is being shamed, the army is being intimidated.
Now once you look at verse 26. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach of Israel? David says, Hey, what's. What's going to happen if somebody finally does something about this? Look at this.
For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?
Now we contrast here's a whole army intimidated by what a giant says. And then here's what David says.
Now notice what he says here. He says, This guy is defying the armies of a living God. King Saul could only see Goliath. Jonathan only saw Goliath. All the army and all the soldiers, and David's older brothers, by the way, who were bigger and stronger than he was, all they saw was Goliath.
But guess what? David's the only one here that sees a living God. Saul doesn't ever mention God. David's brothers and the soldiers never mentioned God. David shows up and he says, Hey, wait a minute.
They're defying the armies, and guess who owns us? Guess who our leader is? A living God. What's interesting? David is the only one in this story that chose to see God.
And I want you to know something today. These weren't just armies. This was the army of the living God. You are not just an individual. If you've been saved, you're a child of the king.
You're not just aimlessly walking through life. You are saved, sealed, child of God. You're not just wandering around aimlessly by chance or luck. God has a purpose and a plan specific for your life. Remember, this isn't just giants against you in your life, it's giants against you and a living God.
Guess what? You know why Satan wants you by yourself? Because he knows he can handle you. But let me tell you what he can handle: you and a living God. I want you to notice number three, the voice of David's family.
This is where it gets real interesting. Look at verse 28. And Eliab, his eldest brother, heard when he spake unto the men. What did he hear? He heard David tell the men, hey, what's going on?
Why is nobody doing about this? Then he hears David say, Hey, listen, I'll go fight to get John. Look at verse 28. And Eliab said, Notice, his eldest brother. When David spake unto the men, and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Listen to this.
His own brother. Why camest thou hither? And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart, for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done?
Is there not a cause? And he turned from him toward another and spake after the same manner.
Now listen to me. Not far from being done, but you got to listen. Don't lose me here. Eliab is the oldest brother. Guess what?
He's the first one that God looked over. I mean back at the house before David even showed up at the house nobody even thought about David he's out tending sheep Samuel shows up and the Bible says when Samuel saw Eliab he said surely this is going to be the king of Israel And God said, nope. Not him.
So Eliab Abimelech and Shamma, guess what they had to do? They had to stand there, be looked over, and finally they brought David and they had to stand in that house and watch their youngest brother get anointed to be the next king.
So then they go to battle. Nobody's doing anything. Then that little brother shows up, and now. He wants to go out against, and this just got Elih mad. And guess what?
Can I tell you something? Every once in a while, your family. Can come at you. Tri, what do you mean? I want you to notice, number one, there were hateful statements.
What did Eliab say to him? He said, Why camest thou down hither? And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wood? Do you hear this? You talk about hateful.
Listen, number one, he questions his motives. Why'd you even show up?
So already he is judging David, saying, Listen, you have a bad motive here. You're just doing this for your own glory. Here's Eliab. Plain judge. The guy who's standing there doing nothing is now judging the guy who's actually doing something.
Oh dear God, does that not sound like church sometimes? Notice this, he questions his motives, then he accuses him of shirking his responsibility. Who'd you leave the sheep with? And then he goes even worse.
Now he belittles him. He says, who did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? David, all you are is a little shepherd. Hey, what are you talking to here? You're going to go against the giant.
Hey, go tend your sheep. Hateful. Statements. And by the way, can I tell you something? When you're fighting a battle in your life, with the spirit in the flesh.
And giants begin to wear you down. Old Satan knows. what it does to you. when the people you trust and love say hateful things to you. Can I say this?
Oftentimes people feel better about themselves if they can tear you down. Here's a lie of the oldest, the biggest, the strongest. But he wasn't half the man David was. And the only way he could try to feel better about himself was to somehow. needlessly.
Not even with truth. Bring David down. And I've watched people get out of church, get really hurt because somebody said something to them that wasn't even true. I know I can't use it. and they wanted to wound you.
I want you to notice, secondly, there was hypocritical statements. Not just hateful. But notice look at look at verse 28. Notice this. This is what Eliab says to him, I know thy pride.
Wow, you talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart. For thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. You want to come try to be a big shot. This is all about you, David.
Notice first he calls him prideful. That is the epitome of hypocrisy, because nobody had more pride than Eliab. The reason he was angry was because he was jealous, which means he was full of pride. Notice that else here he accuses him of having a wicked heart. Notice what he says, I know the naughtiness of thine heart.
Can I tell you something you and I don't really know? our brother or sister's heart. May I say this? Isn't it interesting that you and I can so easily see? our guilt in someone else.
You know how often in life people will accuse you? of the very thing they're guilty of. Because it's one of the first things they notice. and the guilt hurts them so bad that they're going to attack you about it. How often do you have to do that?
what we dis disdain about others. It's actually in our life. But I want you to look at this verse. Look at verse 29. And David said, What have I now done?
Is there not a cause? And he turned from him. Toward another. There are verses in the Bible that I use more than others in counseling. And this is one verse that I have used hundreds and hundreds.
of times. Here's David. You have Goliath's words, which are hard enough, and then his own family. turns against him. And notice what David did.
He didn't get engaged in an argument. He didn't come back at Eliab. He didn't try to explain. He didn't try to fight. He didn't try to, guess what he does?
He turned from him. to another. And some of you are fighting some battles in your life against an individual. And can I tell you, here's the whole point. Please get this.
If you're not careful, you can spend your time fighting family instead of fighting giants. David could have had a whole argument and fight with his brother, but in the meantime, there's a giant still doing his business out there. And you know what? And sometimes instead of serving God, we're so busy fighting each other. And what you and I need to learn is to turn.
Toward another. to turn from him. To turn from her. to turn from that to another. You know why?
David knew, I'm not going to win this battle. And I got a greater battle to fight. May I tell you something? You're not going to win a battle against somebody that just doesn't like you.
So, you might as well not get bogged down with it. You might as well start fighting the real giants. in your life. Let me put it this way. David knew who to fight and who to leave alone.
And there's some people in your life you're not supposed to fight. You're just supposed to get away from them. Number four. I want you to see the voice of the king. Surely.
Somebody has some sense around here. Me and Goliath's run in his mouth. My own brothers are running their mouth. David's the only one that's volunteered to do anything, and everybody's on him. But notice what the king, the king says.
Look at verse 33. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go up. Against this Philistine to fight with him. For thou art but a youth. And he a man from of war from his youth.
All right, quickly. Number one, there was discouraging words. thou art not able. That's what you really want to hear before you go on battle against a giant. Your own king telling you you're not able.
You can't do this. There's no way.
Some of you over your life have been battling. discouraging words. There's been plenty of people in your life. who have been discouraging you. And you have begun to believe them.
And here David Has a man who was doing nothing tell him, You can't do this. Negative words can sound final, like a verdict. People may minimize our faith. and our ability But people's words do not need to define you. Discouraging words.
Notice, secondly, there were dismissive words. He says, Thou art not able to go above. And notice what he says, secondly, because thou art but a youth. Not only does he say you're not able, he diminishes David. You're just...
A young person. You don't You don't have even a reason or a right to be here. You're just this. All Saul Saw in him was that he was just A young person. Yeah.
You know what negative people always focus on your limitations. And they never focus on the possibilities. Discouraging words can wound you, and dismissive words can kill you. Thou art not able, thou art but a youth, but notice thoroughly there were demeaning words. And listen what he says here: he is a man of war.
So Thank you for listening today. We hope you received a blessing from our broadcast. The Kerwin Baptist Church is located at 4520 Old Hollow Road in Kernersville, North Carolina. You may also contact us by phone at 336-993-5192 or via the web. at Kerwin Baptist Church.com.
Enjoy our services live and all our media on our website and church app. Thank you for listening to the Kerwin Broadcast today. God bless you.
