David and the Dwarf, Part 1

On inside removing Goliath. Having all the things that would normally impress more than that intimidate an individual, David began to see like God always sees and he was not impressed. He was not intimidated because no matter how big the giant might be in anyone's life.

God is greater than that giant it's likely one of the most familiar story and yet it's often the most misconstrued today on Insight for living will have the benefit of reading the precise details right from the source. In first Samuel chapter 17. During the next half-hour. Chuck Swindoll continues our biographical series on the life of David, a man of passion and destiny will be looking at the celebrated battle between the obscure Shepherd warrior named David and his oversized adversary, the Philistine named Goliath. Chuck titled today's message David and for several 17. It reduces us to giant of a man, his shadow would come to loom large over the nation of Israel, the Goliath, the Philistine was 9'9" tall. It was really young David who stood tallest on the battlefield that day. Let me read for you portions of David's victory story from the 17th chapter of first Samuel, so that you can have a better understanding of how you too can face and conquer the Giants in your life will begin reading at verse one. Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle and they were gathered at Sokol which belongs to Judah, and they Between Sokol and Isaac and FSW sold in the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of a law and drew up in battle ready to encounter the Philistines, the Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood of the mountain, on the other side with the valley between them. Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath from Gath whose height was six cubits and a span verse eight he stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, what you come out to draw up in battle array. Am I not the Philistine, and you servants of Saul choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.

If he is able to fight with me and kill me. Then we will become your servants but if I prevail against him and kill him.

Then you shall become our servants and serve us again.

The Philistines said I defied the ranks of Israel this day.

Give me a man that we may fight together when sold and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine they were dismayed and greatly afraid that David was the son of you for the fight of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse and he had eight sons Jesse was old in the days of Saul advanced in years among men verse 31, when the words which David spoke were heard.

They told Saul and he sent for him. David said to Saul, let no man's heart failed on account of him, your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. Then Saul said to David, you were not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but you while he has been a warrior from his youth, but David said to Saul, your servant was tending his father's sheep when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock. I went out after him and attacked him and rescued it from his mouth and when he rose up against me. I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them since he spotted 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, he will deliver me from the hand of this listing. Saul said to David, go, and may the Lord be with you. Verse 40. David took his stick in his hand and chose for himself. Five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he head even in his pouch and his sling was in his hand and he approached the Philistine, then the Philistine came on an approach David with the shield bearer in front of him for the Philistine looked and saw David. He disdained him, for he was but a youth and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.

The Philistine said to David, and my dog that you come to me with sticks.

The Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine also said to David come to me and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field. Then David said of the Philistine, you come to me with a sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted this day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands and I will strike you down and remove your head from you and I will give the dead bodies of the Army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands. Then it happened, when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it instruct the Philistine on his forward, and the stones sank into his forward so that he fell on his face to the ground. Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with the sling and a stone and he struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in David's hand. Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and grew it out of its sheath and kill him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that there champion was dead. The flesh now verse 54.

Then David took the Philistines ahead and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapon in his side for live is designed to help you dig deeper into today's topic go to insight God. Now let's continue Chuck Swindoll's message titled David and the door in a pastor that I held up in New England, a number of years ago there was a local high school that began a new course entitled the Bible as literature. The individual who desire to teach that course thought that it might be good to know how much the kids in the senior class who would take that elective knew about the Bible.

It was an incredible revelation, he found after giving a quiz to the top percentage academic percentage of the class that their biblical ignorance was appalling.

He found that most of the students believe that the Gospels were written by Matthew Martin Luther and John a number of people believe that Adam was created from an Apple.

These are serious answers that they gave. They believe that Sodom and Gomorrah were lovers. They thought that Ahab was Jezebel's donkey and the one the one answer that blew my mind when I heard it was the answer given to the question what was Golgotha. The answer came. Golgotha was the name of the giant that slew the apostle David three or four mistakes alone in the last answer. I have a feeling that you know a great deal more about your Bible than those high schoolers. At least I hope you do because were going to be looking at perhaps the most familiar of all the battles of the Old Testament this evening not caught between two armies really, but a battle that was fought between two people who represented two forces and it is the familiar battle between David and Goliath, but before we look at chapter 17 of first Samuel to see that story I want you to look at chapter 16 verse seven.

I know that you look at the verse before but I want to see it again because it is sort of the life verse four David, I don't think it would be a bad idea for some of us to take it as a life verse for ourselves first Samuel 16 seven but the Lord said to Samuel do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For God sees not as man sees for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart literally verse seven reads for man looks at the face, but the Lord looks at the heart we being men and women are subject to that very problem of being impressed with, or not impressed with individuals because we judge from their face. We look at the externals and we come to a conclusion and it is usually erroneous, if ever, that verse applied.

It applies in the story of David and Goliath. Goliath. Having all the things that would normally impress more than that intimidate an individual, David began to see like God always sees and he was not impressed. He was not intimidated because no matter how big the giant might be in anyone's life. God is greater than that giant that I think is what the story is going to tell us tonight.

The story in chapter 17 revolves around people and events and some great truths that I don't want us to miss. We learned this morning that those three things are found in the Bible.

There are two main characters and another third character that plays sort of a minor role in this drama there is a major event that is fought at the Valley of Vila, or if you've traveled in Palestinian the Valley of the terebinth and the third thing that we should see is that in this passage.

There are some timeless principles for of them. I want to share as we wrap up our thoughts together. First of all, let's take a look at the scene as it was in chapter 17.

First, the battleground itself. The Philistines gathered their armies for battle, and there were gathered at Sunoco which belongs to Judah, and they camped at this location and Saul verse two.

He's the third character. By the way, the minor role played by Saul, and Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the Valley of Vila and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines to get the picture in your mind. The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood in the mountain, on the other side with the valley between the probably it would help us to understand that this valley was more like a canyon than a little Valley. When we think of a Valley would probably think of an area that's rather small, but this was a fast canyon. Travelers tell us that the ancient site was probably about a mile wide and it opened up toward the mouth of the canyon even further. There is a ravine at the bottom of the slopes.

That was about 10 to 12, perhaps even 15 to 20 feet wide. This little ravine where David found the pebbles for the sling but there was this great slope to one side of half a mile, perhaps in them. On the other side.

There was another vast slope of another half mile stretching a full mile across. It was no small area and bivouacked on one slope was the army of Israel and on the other slope. The army of the Philistines. Goliath came forth. According to verse four, down through verse 10, including verse 16 and his size was so impressive that the writer pauses to tell us about that giant there was there was a champion. Verse four were reading came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath from Gath whose height was six cubits and a span that we don't we don't understand what that passage means because we don't we don't measure things by a cubit or a span we measure them by feet and inches and realizing our inability to understand that distance I brought along a little help this evening to show you how tall Goliath was Goliath was 9'9" tall. There is in all his glory.

Just thought you'd like to see what it looks like to be 9 feet 90 could jump center for abominable state. Let's face it was an enormous man. By the way, I have little interesting experience bringing this to the church this morning as some of you know I drive a little bug Volkswagen and I couldn't get this inside and so I was a little bit of a hurry this morning and had forgotten to plan ahead, and about 720 I hopped in the car and I leaned this against the side of the car and I reached out after closing the door out through the window and I held it outside the car like this. So I got and put it in gear and I was driving down and before long the wind began to start to shake it around… That's come up on it so I got and I was doing this and I will around the corner sling of this thing around and there was an officer on the corner motioned to me and said not mean right on it meant over know I have written on this little board. Do not remove this is Goliath and I wanted to set this board down here and I did not the custodian to run off with it. And so when the officer walked up he said to me, what are you doing I'm taking this to church in the world.

Is it I'm on my way to church and he said is that the church that you go to down there and I said yes sir. That's the church. He said go on so if he is here tonight.

I want to thank him letting me come onto church and to bring this with. I wanted you to see what ought to all that sacrifice to get this little piece here. That's how tall well what is it say six cubits and a span.

That's what it looks like and if you add to that the height of his arms when he would be able tell you to lift them up over his head.

You see, what an imposing creature he was. Let's read on. Something about this giant we read that he had a bronze helmet on his head. He was clothed with scale armor we would call it a coat of mail. I understand that the Philistines guard themselves for battle, like the ancient Assyrians. They carried they wore a heavy undergarment like Candace and it was it was interlaced with ringlets, a bronze in other words, it was a coat of mail that went from the shoulders to the knee almost to cover the body to protect it from the blow of a club and notice it weighed verse five, 5000 shekels a bronze. If you look at that closely, you'll discover that it weighed between 175 and 200 pounds, but armor alone. The coat of mail so it has on this helmet piece is a 9 feet nine, he hasn't. He has on a helmet on his head.

He has a coat of mail that weighs perhaps almost 200 pounds much read on. He had bronze Greaves which means leggings to protect the Sheehan and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders.

This was an extra piece of armor or are an extra weapon slung behind the neck with it with the strap, no doubt to hold it and the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam and the head of the spear weighed 600 shekels of iron. That's about 20 to 25 pounds just the head of the spear that he carried.

Here is this massive giant web helmet with coat of mail leggings the sclera behind him in the spirit his hand and notice also that it says he had a shield carrier walked before him. The word used for shield is the Hebrew word for the largest shield that man used in battle. It was the size of a full-grown man to protect him from the arrows of the of the enemy. So he had running in front of him. This fellow that carried his sealed the most submissive man in the world was the guy that carried that sealed for Goliath. I'm convinced he ran in front of Goliath carrying the shield to protect Goliath for some reason I suppose Goliath needed protection from a shield and he was there to carry that out. Notice something that the that the giant did. He stood verse eight and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, why do you come out to drop in battle array.

Am I not the full listing and use servants of Saul choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. He was suggesting what was commonly done in the Eastern world and that is a representative that I will represent the Philistine host let your man represent the Israelis you send a representative. I will represent my my my my army and whoever wins, so the Army wins and whoever loses the whole army will lose.

He was suggesting that they fight one-on-one, rather than one army against another reason why you bivouacked up there. There is no reason for you to be there, just send a fighter and I'll take him on. I'm the champion I am the greatest suppose he would say we live today. Verse nine. If he is able to fight with me and kill me that we will become your servants but if I prevail against him and kill him.

You shall become our servants and serve us one more verse again.

The Philistine said I defied the ranks of Israel. This day, give me a man that we may fight together, not you think that happened only once, no. Look at verse 16 verse 16 says it went on 40 days the Philistine came forward morning and evening, for 40 days and took his in the theatrical world.

This is known as a cliffhanger were right in the middle of the familiar showdown between David and Goliath and alert you to keep listening because details about the outcome of this battle may surprise you. You're listening to the Bible teaching of Chuck Swindoll and this is insight for living will hear a closing comment from our Bible teacher in just a moment.

So please stay with us and then if you like to learn more about this ministry. Be sure to visit us online@insideworld.org. But first, perhaps today will afford a couple of extra minutes to browse our variety of free resources available to you inside for living has taken extra measures to make Chuck's teaching available to you not only through this daily program, but for instance on our mobile app as well by using the inside for living mobile app you can readily listen to this teaching series at your own pace. There's even a Bible reading guide and Chuck's daily devotionals there to look for the mobile app for your favorite app store or go directly to insight.org/at that insight for living we been surprised, just as you have by the complicated international tensions that escalated this year, it only bolstered our resolve to stay the course and remain committed to the mandate. Jesus gave us long ago. Here's Chuck.

I discovered a strange statement in Scripture that summarizes the Christian life. Listen to these words from Hebrews 11 verse eight. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home, he went without knowing where he was going. There is a Christian, listening to my voice. Who hasn't walked that path, leaving the familiar for the unknown obeying yet not really understanding going yet not knowing if you would ask me where God was taking Cynthia and me as we began this ministry I could never have told you I didn't even have a clue. We didn't have a brilliant strategy or some master plan. It all started so insignificantly small. In fact, our mailing list could fit into a shoebox right under our bed. Today, however, insight for living reaches into places I will never step foot all around the world and inside for living were still going yet not knowing every single day.

We take another step of faith and we never walk alone. You see, that's where you fit in.

When you come alongside us today with a generous donation as we follow Jesus final command go and make disciples of all the nations teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you this month, more than most your gift really matters are financial year closes in a few weeks. We still have a long way to go to meet our budget go so your generous donation before 30 June will make all the difference.

God refers to his children as strangers and pilgrims. How true were people on the move, unencumbered, ready to roll wherever and whenever God together. Let's step forward in faith going yet not know. Thanks, Chuck is your prepared to join with us in making disciples of all nations.

We invite you to give generously for this cause you can respond. You can give online@insight.org/donate that's insight.org/and thank you for your generous support insight for living about David's battle with Goliath on insight for living in the preceding message David and the door was copyrighted in 1977, 1988 19 97 and 2009 and the sound recording was copyrighted 2009 by Charles R.

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