10th November 2023

10th November 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read - 1 Samuel 17:30-54


Message Alan Burke 


Now to the bit that you’ve all been waiting for David vs Goliath. David was brought to Saul he offered to go and fight Goliath. This battle was shaping up to be like Tyson Fury the world Heavyweight champion facing up against a seven year old. It’s a preposterous idea, ridiculous idea, over before it even starts and the bookies aren’t going to have anyone foolish enough to put a punt on the seven year old. Saul even rebukes David, rebuffing the suggestion for he is but a youth. He was too young and too little to even be there at the battle, he’s only there because he was bringing provisions, bringing food for those who should. 


In the midst of this we learn something of the character of David, he’s not just a young upstart but he is one of great faith, either that or he delusional, but he wasn’t delusional, he was confident that the Lord would be with him. We see that in the response of David to Saul, of the experiences he had as a shepherd, while he had never fought a man in war never mind one as big as Goliath, David had faced lions and bears. He didn’t just leave them to carry off the sheep, he pursued them and killed them. He clearly had confidence in the Lord and understood that it was the Lord who had delivered him from lions and bears and likewise in faith he believed that he would be delivered from the hand of the Philistines through God, he had confidence in the Lord his God. Goliath mocks the young David saying ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks’. Goliath was angry, likely a more terrifying sight than he had been on the battle field for the bast forty days as the red mist descended on him, cursing David by his God. 


David’s response again shows faith in the Lord, there in v45 David came against Goliath in the name of the Lord. Goliath wasn’t facing a boy who was too young and too little to fight he is facing a believer who knew that people stand or fall by the word of the Lord, he gives and takes away, he is the one who gives his people victory or caused defeat to fall upon them. What makes David stand head and shoulders above all the other men of Israel is that he had faith in the Lord to give him the victory. In all of this we see a man who was truly after God’s own heart, the reason why he had been chosen to succeed Saul as king (16:7). David before all gathered publicly declaring that salvation is not by means of sword or spear but by the Lord. 


With this said and Goliath rushing towards him David launched a stone from his sling, and God gave him the victory providently guiding the stone and David slay’d Goliath. It was not by sword or spear but victory by the Lord’s hand. Goliath is then decapitated and the Israelites are moved from fear to fight, pursuing the Philistines to Goliaths home turf. David is then once more brought closer to Saul and is in his service.


David was one who stepped out in faith, he was given the victory, it was not by might or power but by the Lord’s hand. David looked foolish to all the Philistines gathered that day, he was mocked by Goliath but the Lord had the victory, the Lord uses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise, the weak to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:27) the ultimate example of that is the Cross and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:28). David’s victory was in the Lord for the people but the greater victory has been achieved though the cross of Christ. The message in the midst of this is not about us and your trials or problems, it is not about how we can overcome the giants in our lives and in the midst of the taunts of God’s enemies it is that victory is the Lord’s. The victory is over sin, death and the grave, it is the victory that means that we are more than conquerers though Jesus Christ our Lord who loved us (Rom 8:37). And while the enemies of God looked intimidating, caused fear to control the people of God ultimately we are reminded that the Lord delivers his people who even now is putting his enemies under his feet (Ps 2, Ps 110:1, 1 Cor 15:25)


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q93 Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?
The sacraments of the New Testament are, Baptism, (Matt. 28:19) and the Lord’ s supper. (Matt. 26:26–28)
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