That All The Earth May Know

6-23-24

Hoonah-Hadley

1 Samuel 17:1-49

Call to Worship Psalm 9:9-20

Daily Verse’s 1 Samuel 17:45-47

This story is a familiar one to most, famous, favorite. It’s the thing that movies are made of. We root for the underdog, the Rudy’s, the little guy, the guy that spent 13 years in the minors and finally gets the call to the big league. He gets a standing ovation when he gets his first hit. We like to see justice served, giants slayed. Matthew 23:12 “And whoever exalts themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (See also Psalm 138:6, Proverbs 3:34, 29:23 and James 4:6) This is God’s word. It’s His blood, His Son, you are His children, this is the truth. Our prayer remains the same, that He will write, speak, teach and preach the message, that the truth will be told, we know it will. No matter how we paint it these verses are one of the great lessons in life, across the board, no exceptions, God is no respecter of persons. Race, religion, geographical location, believer, non-believer, no matter, whoever exalts themselves will be humbled and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted. Take the NFL player making millions, running his mouth about how great he is, demanding more money. 2 years later he declared bankruptcy. The famous boxer proclaiming, “I am the greatest”, spend his last years with Parkinson’s disease. The rock star that said he and his buddies were more popular than Jesus, he was shot 4 times. The major blood vessels above his heart were virtually destroyed. You don’t have to be rich or famous for God’s word to prove itself, you can test Him either way and see which column you fall under, but He “will” teach us, of that we can be certain, believe it or not.

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In our story today, the giant, Goliath was the epitome of exalting oneself. His size alone would naturally lend itself to exaltation, as far as the flesh goes. We can only imagine what he weighed, but at 9 feet 9 inches he was a sight to behold. You can read the details about his armor and weapons but by all appearances, he was intimidating.  Army against army lined up in the valley of Elah with the giant Philistine coming forth and running his mouth and all the men of Israel “were dreadfully afraid”.  David, a little shepherd boy, the youngest of 8 brothers, was sent by his father to take provisions and report back on the wars status. He did as he was told and while doing so came within hearing of the loud-mouthed Philistine. So, the men of Israel said: “…the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes…” David basically replied: “Say What?” “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that should defy the armies of the living God?” The oldest brother, Eliab couldn’t help himself, he had to open his mouth. His “anger was aroused against David…” We can call it jealousy, envy or condemnation. Eliab “thought” he knew why David was there, but he was wrong. There is a great lesson here. Just know that if you are willing to stand for what’s right, for the truth, for Jesus, to enter the arena, there will always be those who “are dreadfully afraid” that stand on the sidelines and run their mouth without the facts.  David said: “Is there not a cause?” There is a battle, there is a cause and God’s favor will rest upon the soldier that enters the fray and not the fearful bystander barking out condemnation from the sidelines.  Theodore Roosevelt April 23rd, 1910 “It’s not the critic that counts…the credit belongs to the man who is…in the arena…never with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” 

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There are “People who sit on the sidelines and comment on situations where they were not present with no knowledge of the facts.” (Christ Moon ex-military, blown up working for charity clearing land mines in remote East Africa, lost 2 limbs, became one of the first amputee runners) Eliab asked David, “why have you come here?” He came to help, to serve, to bring provisions. Fact, you will be criticized and belittled by the one’s you were sent to help. The greatest servants will face the greatest scorn, slander and criticism. David’s response, vs. 30 “Then he turned from him…” Don’t get involved in senseless arguments and debates with darkness, it’s a waste of your time and energy. Stay focused on the God given task at hand, “turn” from the wayward critic, they don’t have in mind the things of God but the things of man. (Matt. 16:23) In fact that verse in Matthew Jesus says, “…you are an offense to Me.” David’s words were heard and reported to the king. The king sent for him. “Then David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’” Keep in mind this is basically a teenager having a conversation with a king and displaying the courage of a seasoned warrior, or, we could say, child like faith. Revelation 21:7-8 “Those who overcome shall inherit all things…but the coward, unbelieving…liars shall have their part in the lake of fire…” We don’t belong under the circumstances; we belong over them. We’re not under comers, we’re over comers. Romans 8:31, 37 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Saul was an under comer, David an over comer. Saul had in mind the things of man, David the things of God. Saul says to David, “You are not able…” David replies, “The Lord delivered me from the…lion and…the bear. He will deliver me…”

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Saul says ok. “Go, and the Lord be with you!” But wait, here’s my armor and sword, take them. David tries them on but they don’t fit, he can’t “walk” with them on. “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So, David took them off. For the believer that enters the arena, the world’s apparel will not do, it cannot save. Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the whiles of the devil…”  David and Goliath is the epitome of good verses evil. These verses in Ephesians 6 tell us how to dress for that battle. “…gird your waist with truth…put on the breastplate of righteousness…shod your feet with…the gospel of peace…taking the shield of faith…the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying…being watchful…” The lesson here, don’t walk as the world walks, don’t dress as the world dresses. Swim against the current. Observe the masses and do the opposite. Be in the world but no of it. 1 Sam. 17:40 “…And he drew near to the Philistine.” Don’t hide or run from your enemies, your problems, your giants, they won’t go away. Lean into them, face them head on. You don’t need to tell God about your problems, He knows, tell your problems about your God. Then David said, “you come to me with sword…spear…But I come to you in the name of the Lord…” We enter the arena every day, you can research the 5 smooth stones, but our weapon of choice, our ammo, our armor is the “name of the Lord.” Don’t leave home without it. Use it with the confidence it demands. Vs. 46 “…That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” Vs. 47 “…for the battle is the Lord’s…” There is a cause, a battle. Why do we put on God’s armor? That all the earth may know there is a God in Greenville, Hadley, Houston, Hoonah, Haiti, China, Russia. Reach into your bag, pull out the name of the Lord That All the Earth May Know there is a God.

Amen!