David and the Sitting Duck, Part 2

No. Your perspective on the majority opinion. You may be the only person on that campus in that Corporation in that neighborhood in your family the right. David refused to act like Saul used to dress up like a live he was taunted by his brothers look down on Webb King jeered and mocked by his the majority is really obvious.

David, the odds are not in your favor is about to participate in what would become the most famous battle of human history. But David faced the situation calmly and bravely.

David understood something that most people there that day did not. There was only one giant on that battlefield and that giant was God. Welcome to wisdom for the heart. Yesterday Stephen Devi began a message called David and the sitting.working to do a little review and then conclude that message right now the king as promised free man who takes on verse 25 tells us there are three prizes riches one of that sort.

The Kings daughters hand in marriage and family estate of the father, the taxes will be free the work. Free is the Hebrew autopsy, which is more than likely all reference to the family and the family estate being free from any kind of taxation is worth dying over in their affidavit. This is because this is really the ultimate quick path to fame and glory.

In fact, this is what is brothers can say is all about anyway he can better the lottery ticket. He gets rich taxes and he marries the king's daughter is now the royal family.

This is this is great. David evidently and really all that interested because his response is a totally different perspective. In fact if you look at verse 25 and compared to verse 26 he realized the soldiers refer to Goliath as this man is that, have you seen this man. David refers to him in verse 26 as this uncircumcised Philistine only thing is an unbeliever, the soldier said the Goliath is come down to defy Israel in verse 25. David says in verse 26. He's defying the armies of the living God. See the difference. The soldiers saw a giant David sees a blasphemer.

The soldiers look at this as well.

Goliath is insulting our country.

David sees him as he insulting the living God. David is effectively asking doesn't the glory of God better. This is bother anybody doesn't follow the true living God make any difference out here for any of us see none of them were willing to fight Goliath because he didn't really want with risk risk anything for the honor of their country. David is about to risk everything because he's willing to fight the honor of his God. She problem out here ladies and gentlemen is not a military problem spiritual problem. Their eyes at this point are on Goliath. David's eyes are on about this time.

Verse 28 alive effectively dresses his little brother down and he says why anger was kindled against reason why have you come down and with whom you love those few sheep and the loaders are minor, just a shepherd who you think you are is effectively what is you are wondering. Notice he says I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle, he could actually translate that Hebrew phrase, you have come down to be seen in the battle. You just want to be in the picture you're talking tough, but use 20 seen with us.

David basically ignores alive and refuses an invitation to verbally fight his brother basically respond by saying what I done was it not a word.

In other words, all I did was ask a question but I agree, by the way, with one commentator who wrote that alive was David's Goliath before David ever got the Goliath. Goliath will express ridicule and contempt for David, but the lab does effectively the same thing here maybe for you. One of the greater challenges in living for the glory of God is the people closest to you think you've lost your marbles. One commentator said David actually contended with three blasts of an interesting thought alive who says you're just an arrogant backwoods Shepherd, King Saul, who will later say you're just a child.

Goliath will say your dad needs Hebrew language. David ignores them all and he repeats this theologically rich statement that Goliath out there in the valley of blood is is is doing nothing less than haunting the living God, David's words eventually make it up the chain of command how long it takes, it's up to the top brass.

The first scene that would be the front lines. The second seen fear this third scene. I just want to title folly with verse 31 words, a David smoker heard the repeated enforce all he sent for love this David said to Saul, let no man's heart fail because of him, your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, you're not able to go up against this Philistine to fight with him your body. You is your inexperienced he's been a man of war from his youth. Saul is measuring size with side Bill Hill measure armor with armor is thinking like a Philistine nanny effectively says look back up to the tent wall there to get my ruler Saul is 9 feet, 9 inches in your covenant, about 53 let's begin exuberance belt buckle only once to bear somebody effectively says he got you got spunk, but your way over your head. He's been fighting as long as you then alive, David. Instead of saying well I didn't know it was that tall.

The kind of experience basically says let me let me tell you what got done for me in the past becomes the foundation for what I believe God can do in the future, so he then tells them the stories that we will refer the sacred company recounts that the experiences he that he has a shepherd delivering a sheep from from the lien and bear nothing more than his rod that was an interesting weapon. Just as Rod maybe his sling and here's the point.

Verse 37 the Lord delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine and other words of God can use a shepherd to rescue a lamb from the jaws of the bear, he could just as easily use a shepherd to rescue the nation from the jaws of a giant sea to David is just a big bear I can do this by the way, did you notice the humility. Here he isn't using the guy maneuvered the bear big bear was in the linage of see that I did all this and that all the details of think of it, what shepherd is a barrel rock. David did and you think you get around David like ignorance on fishermen and visualize this those antlers on the wall.

Whatever but tell you about my exploits. Another point of it is.

David says this is what he delivered to David is effectively taking Saul to Sunday school, so the issue is helping Goliath is the issue is how big God is.

Remember him salty. Remember him. I can imagine in the tent. It was quite a number him. He he is defeated armies with the word he's pushed over walls with an invisible finger. He's he's backed up walls seawater with this breath number him. Saul does remember sort of fact with some element of conviction. He says to David in verse 37 the latter part okay go in the Lord be with you if you put it.

There is Saul's biography to fight all babies in the camera great life because the next verse.

Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He died get it. He's trying to fight Goliath like Goliath fights Goliath has a helmet of bronze. That's what look. He put the helmet of bronze on David's head Goliath has a coat of mail so he close him with a coat of mail client has a sword here, David. Here's my sword. This is an absolute folly. Saul is trying to make David like Goliath. David responds verse 39. I cannot go with these for I have not tested them. The Hebrew verb for tested means to try, try these out with the nuance of I'm not used to these all have experience with these. I spent my time practicing with swords and coats of mail: wearing bronze helmets. This is a go to work. The truth is, it should have been Saul going down there to fight Goliath is his armor to his nation's leadership fact for stimuli. Says he's he was taller than any of his people and he knows it is the biggest soldier Israel have something more going on here in the ancient days, wearing the clothing of another was to not only be imbued with their essence share in their being the unwilling kinsman redeemer gives Boaz's sandal effectively saying you you you where my sandal you you live the life I could live.

Jonathan is going to do this with David, can you give Ms. close things armor were together. This is an emotional covenant, so to speak and and and it was significant fact one Old Testament scholar brings up the point that Saul is more than likely binding David to himself so that he will then be able to take credit for David's victory to David to be Goliath. I try to video it illustrated.

I think we we would do the same thing sort of in a different way maybe be like this.

We know that guy won that race but he was driving my car. She one that baking contest, but she use my recipe. He had a hole in wine but I let them use my club that will so you're sort of accepting a little bit of the prize gate but is where my armor is my sword she's facing humiliation and he knows it tends to connect David with his own essence so that through his armor he can claim a portion of the victory. Whether or not they've discerned that I will know if he did he was just gracious because he effectively says like I gotta take the stuff off. I'm not any good at it.

I'm used to this.

We stick with what I David strips down to his normal clothing means he's absolutely unprotected except by the providence of God, which will be enough heads down toward Goliath is sitting down there in the valley of blood waiting for, but not before picking out five smooth verse 40 stones and placing them in his pouch with his sling in his hand. Why five stones. There is some conjecture based on some variant readings in first Chronicles 20 Goliath four brothers, we do know he had one.

He was a giant as well be David's get ready for all five of those boys babies a bad shot. When I told one thing we do know is that he's entirely resting upon the strength and direction and providence of God and I believe that he would be impelled forward with this kind of confidence as well that only because of the glory of God which he wants to advance because the spirit of God whose anointing.

These are the front lines.

We seen the fear we watched the folly the final scene can simply be titled faith now in this scene were David and Goliath eventually meet more verses are spent on their verbal combat than on their physical combat. Because really, that is the issue their trading.

Their system of theology Goliath is either shouting in the name of his God, and David is a few choice things to say the name of his God. Verse 41, the Philistine moved forward and came near to David with his shield bearer in front of him he could clearly see that David was ready when the Hebrew word red headed Jan handsome. But what sends him into a rage. In verse 43 is reflected in what he says.

The Philistine said to David, and my dog that you come to me with sticks. Some would suggest that Goliath can't see very well because he mentions plural sticks, plural.

Perhaps he had acromegaly.

This is a disorder we call gigantism today caused by excessive production of growth hormones in the pituitary gland. He needed to know a person effectively never stops growing strewed the tallest person in recent history. Robert Wade law suffered from acromegaly at his death he was nearly 9 feet tall and still growing acromegaly often impairs a person's site. One suggested that I read the Goliath. Is this blurry eyed lumbering giant can't see very well, and so he thinks David has sticks plural back in verse 40 if you look there were told that David took his shepherd's staff in his hand.

The word Goliath uses here in reference to sticks is actually the Hebrew word translated in the singular rod like shepherds of his day and it stuck in his belt and this is what infuriates Goliath. He can see really well and he sees coming to our now that Israel is sending over for combat Shepherd staff rot is balconies carrying a slingshot you got to be kidding.

My dog did you timely me with sticks. The implements about shepherding a beat me away with your little staff.

Goliath rages verse 44 you come to me and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air into the beasts of the field so it's obvious what he wants to do.

David responds in kind. You come to me with a sword in the spirit of Jalan I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies whom you have the file that's the issue this day the Lord will deliver you into my hand and I'll strike you down and cut off your head clear with David wants to do. Now many of the dead bodies of those of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air, the wild beasts of the earth. I get this that all the earth may know that there is a brave new king in Israel. No, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel in all this assembly armies are watching both sides of this ravine may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into my hand, and David doesn't have an advantage because he is a slingshot is fast has an advantage because he is going in the name of the sovereign Lord many as one all-consuming passion is worth fighting for its worth risking his life for that no matter what he does. He wants everything to be seen in light of advancing the glory of the God whom he served, we can do the same.

Can you imagine the scene all the Israelites on one side they're all holding their breath or thinking Goliath is too big to Kellan Philistines are probably jeering him and then David's thinking Goliath is too big to miss what he's like and erases the work setting. David Hill troubled by this is a David and the joy I think Dave is thinking of David and the sitting duck that's I think it right.

David and the sitting duck lets the rock fly. The stone hits the Philistine, the only place about the size of 1/4 they can do anything, just below his helmet line verse 49.

He falls on his face to the ground knocked unconscious. Perhaps not dead yet. Verse 50 is a summary statement David prevailed over the Philistine with the slaying of the stone struck the post and killed.

How here's the detail verse 51. Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine and took his sword without asking, and drew it out of its sheath and killed and cut off his head. Why that you hold it up and show both armies.

Goliath is no more money. Summarize these four scenes with a few challenges. First to let your faith depend on majority opinion in this case everybody else was wrong. David refused to act like Saul refused to dress up like Goliath. He was taunted by his brother is looked down on by the king is jeered and mocked by his enemies. I'm in the. The majority opinion is really obvious.

David, the odds are not in your favor. Go back to the sheep will never win. I love the funny story came across in ministry magazine that was addressing this particular subject made up a story that is funny. Archaeologist was digging in Israel came upon a tune that out of money inside after just a few minutes of observation to call the curator prestigious Museum and said I discovered a 3000 year old mummy of a man who died of a heart attack. The curator reply. There's no way you can. All that said and it will take a look week later the mage curator called the archaeologist. You're right about the monies. Eight. And you're right about the cause of death. Anyhow the world did you know that he died of a heart attack. The archaeologist replied as easy as clutching a piece of parchment in his hand that read 10,000 shekels on Goliath to the thought that was funny. Thank you. We can you shock waves going through this region, no matter the women are any singing in short order of David. Don't pin your testimony. Don't pin your faith.

Don't pin your perspective on the majority opinion.

You may be the only person on that campus in that corporation in that neighborhood in your family. That's right.

Second, don't let your talents be depreciated by conventional wisdom said now you fight. By the way, don't miss the fact David is entrusting in the weapons of war, but he didn't throw away what he had used what he sling was actually a powerful weapon. I did more research on slingshot this week than I told you any of it. Truly glad about that.

Take 15 seconds 11 defense minister in Israel did studies and tried to sort of reenact the scene and found it they could hurl stone at about 75 miles an hour, but the Romans had tongs to pull stones out of bodies that had been on the other end of the slingshot effect you look at the story because we know it we would think what will slingshots perfect yet was but it wasn't. When he started the plan would be whatever you have in your hand whenever you offer to God for his glory given to use it. Hello J. Vernon McGee village Avery McGee from city to set up. You know everything one says of God calls you to use a slingshot. Don't whatever you can do whatever you have, whatever you are don't appreciate does not bring glory to God.

Thirdly, don't let your past be diminished by spiritual dementia 01 author I was reading a provoke my thinking. He said you know if you have trouble and we all do. Remembering God's past deliverances invest in a diary for simple advice. Write it down. Something easy to miss here you look back at verse 54 Events Actually Take Pl. at the end of the chapter, what happens first.

Following the defeat of Goliath is a personal conversation with the king verse 58 David informed Saul of his father may been a conversation about his family. Saul is even more curious than ever.

It's been several years since he initially met were sent a message to Jesse he's wondering now to wait. I promised him my daughter. I'd like to know little bit about his family. Verse 54 tells us the David then carries out to final actions notice personally takes Goliath's head to Jerusalem. Now at this point in time. Jerusalem was occupied by their enemies. The Jebusite more than likely David slips in there one night and plans the head of Goliath. Maybe affixing it to the wall or by the gate as if to say he warns we are following the true and living God, but the invitation would be to join his then I want you to notice something else. It's easy to look over. He put Goliath's armor in his tent. What tent they wouldn't have a tent, then a chapter informed visit so won't let David directors Tom David hasn't come to the front lines with a tent again with cheese now is a tent Old Testament scholars point out the in the plunder of the Philistines that would've been the practice in this case the guarantee that whatever belonged Goliath now belong to David. He has Goliath's tent two stories high front porch massive. I need you at all three hours. I really imagine in that tent. There's some kind of structured up to the rest that armor upon David arranges Goliath's massive armor inside his especially tall tented. Now we know later on.

David presents the sort of Goliath to the priests cohabitant to get a later offering but but these are mementos of this great David hit right in Psalm 111, the mighty acts of God are worth remembering. We we have spiritual memory problems have a trophy case of faith you've written things down member God's providence is, no matter how these these pieces of armor are also good to be lifelong reminders that there are things worth fighting glory of God. I think these pieces of armor be a lasting reminder that the only true channel is God. As soon as Goliath stepped onto that battle, he was doomed because he was facing off with God. This is wisdom for the heart with Stephen Devi Stevens entitled this lesson. David and the sitting duck. Our office is closed today but you can access all of our resources or make a year-end gift to our ministry on our website. Wisdom online.org if you want to call us just leave a message and will call you back when were in the office. Our number is 86 648 Bible. Thanks for listening and join us next time here on this