David's Repentance

Portion for Reading 2 Sam 9-12

David's Repentance

It was springtime—a time for war. King David had sent the entire Israelite army off to battle against the Ammonites. All the able men had gone and left their women at home.
Instead of going off with the rest of the men, David stayed behind in his palace. It so happened that one fateful evening, as he was strolling on the roof of the palace, he saw a woman bathing.

And she was breathtaking—a lovely vision. Taken by her beauty, he asked about her and found out that she was the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Bathsheba was her name. David sent for her and took her into his bed.

If Hollywood was to remake the story of David and Bathsheba, how wonderfully romantic it would be. Two beautiful people falling in love on a warm spring evening. Imagine that. Throw in an exotic place like the Middle East, and it would probably be a box office hit, too.

But this wasn’t a movie, and God’s wrath was real. Human standards do not reflect the standards of God. And God was angry.

David’s Weakness

Everyone struggles with his or her own weaknesses, and David’s weakness was women. Handsome and charming, it is not hard to see why women loved him. Being the king of God’s chosen people, David could have anything he wanted. Anything.

That night, catching a glimpse of Bathsheba, he wanted to have her for himself. So much that when he found out she had conceived, David sent word to Joab, his commanding officer at war, to put Uriah in the frontlines so that he would fall at the hands of the enemies.

Giving in to the lust of his eyes, David coveted another man’s wife. He committed adultery to satisfy the lust of his flesh. Taking advantage of his authority and power, he sentenced a good man to his death.

In a whirlwind of sins, David broke three of the Ten Commandments and stirred up the wrath of God. He did not even realize that he had done such an evil thing. Not until the Lord sent Nathan, a prophet, to rebuke him.

Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel. (2 Sam 12:10, 12)

God’s punishment of David was fierce and quick, and His wrath cost David the life of his baby son. No matter how much David mourned and fasted in front of the Lord, God’s rod was unrelenting. No more Hollywood ending for this love story.

Blinded to His Own Sins

When Nathan told David the story of the rich man who took the little ewe lamb belonging to the poor man instead of offering one of his own, David was furious. He immediately judged the rich man harshly for his mistake (2 Sam 12:1-4).

The reason David did not realize that he had sinned against God was because he thought his decision to send Uriah to his death was the best way to solve his own problem.

We take matters into our own hands because we are impatient to wait for God’s timing. And for some of us, we probably learn this lesson the hard way, just like David.

Our transgressions always carry consequences, and even when it seems we’ve “gotten away with murder,” God remembers and will hold us accountable.

The problem with getting away with murder is that we think we are clever enough to pull it off. It is also an indication that we have misplaced God in our lives and forgotten that we can hide nothing from Him.

And in the process of pulling it off, we probably will hurt others. There is always a high price to pay in self-protection because selfishness comes to the fore.

David Confessed His Sin
As soon as David recognized his sin, he was not afraid of what people might think. Immediately, in front of Nathan, David said, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Sam 12:13).

Almost as immediately as David pleaded for forgiveness did the Lord blot out David’s iniquities, because he held steadfastly onto the Lord and sought Him first. For to David, to lose God was to lose everything.

David faithfully held onto the love and mercy of God because he knew that life would be meaningless without Him. For that, God loved and blessed him. Just as immediately as God’s anger came upon David, His forgiveness and mercy followed.

When we confess our sins before the Lord, there must be a sense of urgency. No one seeks to dwell under the wrath of God because this is much too unbearable.

Recognizing our sins helps us understand that we are weak individuals who need the guidance and mercy of the Lord. It is a form of self-examination and humility that we must often exercise, so that we do not stray too far from the true path of God.

The closer we are to God, the more we are attuned to His presence in our lives. We are aware that following His commands please Him, and we know that the transgressions we commit prompt His rebuke.

Confessing sins is an important practice for a Christian. By asking for forgiveness, we take the time to reflect upon our mistakes and to purify ourselves in front of God. In doing so, we are also taking refuge in Him.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise. (Ps 51:17)

David meekly reflected upon himself, and his repentance has touched many of our hearts through the fifty-first Psalm. So sincere and honest was his confession that many of us turn to his words in our own repentance.

As ageless as David’s sin with Bathsheba was, so was his intimate and beautiful relationship with the Lord.

Source: True Jesus Church

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem.

DAVID lived in a grand and spacious palace in Jerusalem; for not being content with Michal, Abigail, and Ahinoam, the new king had many other wives, and was the father of many children, who all dwelt under his roof.

The king was soon obliged to leave his new capital, to go forth and fight his old foes, the Philistines. When he had conquered these enemies, he felt that it was time to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and to build a Temple where it might take up its abode for good. With an escort of thirty thousand men, he therefore set out.

The Ark was placed on a new cart, and this procession slowly wended its way towards Jerusalem. Now it was unlawful for any but the priests to carry the Ark; and a man, who was not a Levite, once stretched out his hand to steady the Ark when the oxen stumbled. But no sooner had he touched it than he fell down dead.

Awed by this accident, the king ordered the journey stopped, and the Ark was placed in a house near by, where it remained for three months. Then, seeing that it brought great blessings to that house, the people again became anxious to have it in Jerusalem; and as soon as a new tent was erected for it (for the Tabernacle of Moses was at Gibeon), they sent the Levites to bring it thither (1045 BC). In his joy at the return of the Ark, David went ahead of it on foot, in simple garb, and not in his royal raiment; and, dancing and playing upon his harp, he led the way to Mount Zi´on, as Jerusalem is often called in poetry, where the Ark was to remain.
David also gave alms to all the poor, and offered up costly sacrifices. His joy was marred, however, when his wife Michal despised him for dancing and singing before the Lord and his people; and because of this, she remained childless until her death.

Although David had thus brought the sacred Ark to Jerusalem, he did not consider a tent a sufficiently handsome abode for it, and wished to build a fine Temple instead. But when he consulted the prophet Na´than, the Lord told him that it was not for David to build a house for God, but that God would build a house for David, and that his sons would rule after him. Moreover, the Lord confirmed to David that through him the Promised Seed would be born, whose throne would be established forever.

David replied, “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house, that You have done all this for me? For it is for Your word’s sake, and for Your greatness—for there is none like You—that You have done these things. Therefore let Your name be magnified forever, and bless Your servant according to all that You have promised.” This blessing was the probable source of David’s joyful Mes-si-an´ic psalms.

As David did not dare to undertake the building of the Temple after Nathan’s words, he made use of his time in completing the defeat of the Philistines. These enemies were finally subdued, and paid tribute to Israel.

Now David continued to grow in greatness and in renown, and the nations around about, becoming alarmed, joined in league against him. David and his captains defeated them all, and they paid him tribute: Phil-is´tia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Syria to the Euphrates River. Thus it was that under David, God’s promise to Abraham came true, for Abraham was promised the land from Egypt to the Euphrates (Gen 15:18), and all these were tributary to David (1036 BC).
David was now so firmly placed upon the throne that he no longer feared the family of Saul. He even received Saul’s last descendants in his palace, where he made them welcome and treated them like his own sons, out of love for Jonathan.

But because Saul had murdered the Gibeonites, some years earlier, a great famine came over the land which caused much suffering. David, hoping to end this famine, finally gave up to the Gibeonites seven of the former king’s family. These were duly executed, and the famine ceased its ravages (1018 BC).

Riz´pah, the mother of two of the dead, wished to protect their bodies from the beaks and claws of the birds of prey, so she took up her position at the foot of the gallows. There she mightily strove to drive away the birds by day and the wild beasts by night, until David, touched by her devotion, had the bodies taken down and buried.


Source: Nothingnewpress.com

The Sooner It Is Done The Better

Portion For Reading 2 Samuel 1-4
Msg 2 Sam 3:6-21
When Ish-Bosheth falsely accuses Abner of sleeping with one of the royal concubines, Abner defects to David’s court. David welcomes Abner’s support. Abner convinces the other tribes to recognize David’s claim to the throne. Joab, however, seeks revenge for his brother’s earlier death at Abner’s hands, and he stabs Abner in secret. David’s public censure of Joab and mourning for Abner wins Israel’s respect, and two of Ish-Bosheth’s men betray their ruler by presenting David with the severed head of the northern king. David is horrified that they have killed an innocent man, and he publicly executes these men. The united tribes declare David king of Israel.

A. Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul: It seems that Abner supported a weak man like Ishbosheth in power so he could be the power behind the throne. As time went on he increased in strength and influence on the house of Saul.

B. Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine? Ishbosheth accused Abner of a serious crime. This was regarded not only as sexual immorality but also as high treason.

i. “To take the wife or concubine of the late monarch was to appropriate his property and to make a bid for the throne.” (Baldwin)

ii. This might seems strange that there was a controversy over the concubine of Saul, especially because Saul was dead. In their thinking, the king’s bride belonged to him and him alone, even if he was absent. This principle is even more true for Jesus and His bride - the church belongs to no one but Jesus, and it is treason to “take” the bride of Christ as if it were our own possession.

Then Abner became very angry: We aren’t specifically told, but Abner’s response leads us to believe that the accusation was false. It is possible that as he was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul he took the concubine as an expression of his power and dominance. It is more likely that because of Abner’s increasing power Ishbosheth felt it necessary to invent this accusation as grounds for getting rid of Abner.

C. If do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him: Abner told Ishbosheth that he would now support David and help David fulfill what the Lord promised - to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David.

i. If Abner knew that David was God’s choice for king, why did he fight against him before this? Abner is a good example of those of us who are know things to be true but we don’t live as if they were true.

ii. Abner did the right thing in joining David’s side but he did it for the wrong reason. Instead of joining David because Ishbosheth offended him personally, he should have joined David because he knew that David was God’s choice to be king.

D. Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel: It is significant that this word came from Abner regarding David instead of from David himself. Though he was the rightful king, David would not reign over Israel until they submitted to him freely. He never moved an inch without an invitation.

i. This is an illustration of Jesus’ lordship in our life. He is in fact King of Kings of Lord of Lords. But He chooses (for the most part) to exercise His sovereignty only at our invitation.

· Some do not invite Jesus to rule over anything
· Some invite Jesus to reign over a small area - like “Hebron”
· Some give Jesus reign over everything He has authority over - which is everything

ii. Abner is a good example of someone who eventually surrendered to God’s king. Now he wants to influence others to surrender to God’s king.

E. Now then, do it! Because of the word the Lord spoke of David, and because it was so right to do, this was something that should be done now. In this sense, it is very much like our commitment to follow Jesus - we should be told, “Now then, do it!”

i. Charles Spurgeon has a wonderful sermon on this text titled, “Now Then, Do It.” In this sermon he shows how the same principles of Israel’s embrace of David as king apply to our relationship with Jesus. “The Israelites might talk about making David king, but that would not crown him. They might meet together and say they wished it were so, but that would not do it. It might be generally admitted that he ought to be monarch, and it might even be earnestly hoped that one day he would be so, but that would not do it; something more decided must be done.” (Spurgeon)

ii. “The sooner it is done the better. Until the deed is done, remember you are undone; till Christ is accepted by you as king, till sin is hated and Jesus is trusted, you are under another king. Whatever you may think of it, the devil is your master.”

Source: David Guzik

David Makes A Statute

Portion For Reading 1 Sam 29-31

Msg 1 Sam 30:1-25

"And David came to the two hundred men which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them" (v. 21). The expression "whom they had made to abide by the brook Besor" shows plainly that those fatigued men earnestly desired to follow David further, and had to be constrained not to do so. Typically, it tells us that all Christians are not equally strong in the Lord: compare 1 John 2:13. The Hebrew word for "saluted" signifies "he asked them of peace," which means, he inquired how they did, being solicitous of their welfare. Though all Christians are not alike spiritually robust, all are equally dear unto Christ.

"Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart" (v. 22). In the most favored company there will be found selfish men, who being ungrateful to God for His kindness and favors will desire to enrich and pamper themselves, leaving their fellows to starve, for all they care. Even amid David’s band, were certain sons of Belial, wicked men, of a covetous and grasping disposition. No doubt they were the ones who took the lead in suggesting that David be "stoned" (v. 6). Their real character was here made quite evident: in their evil suggestion we may see how the heart of David was tested.

"Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand" (v. 23). David’s reply to the selfish suggestion of some of his grasping followers was meek, pious and righteous, and it prevailed unto their silencing. Note how gently he replied even to the sons of Belial, addressing them as "my brethren"; but observe that he, at the same time, maintained his dignity as the general-in-chief, by directly denying their request. Yet it was not a mere arbitrary assertion of his authority: he followed his "Ye shall not do so" with powerful reasonings.

First, he reminded these selfish followers that the spoil which had been taken from the Amalekites was not theirs absolutely, but that "which the Lord hath given us." Therein David inculcated an important principle which is to regulate us in the discharge of our Christian stewardship: freely we have received from God, and therefore freely we should give unto others. Miserliness in a child of God is a practical denial of how deeply he is indebted unto divine grace. Second, he reminded them of how mercifully the Lord had "preserved" them when they attacked a people who greatly outnumbered them, and how He had also "delivered" the Amalekites into their hands. They must not ascribe the victory unto their own prowess, and therefore they could not claim the booty as wholly belonging unto themselves. It is not a time to give way to a spirit of greed when the Lord has particularly manifested His kindness to us.

Third, he pointed out that their evil suggestion most certainly would not commend itself unto any wise, just and right-thinking people: "For who will hearken unto you in this matter?" (v. 24). When the people of God are in the majority, they will vote down the propositions of the covetous; but when the unregenerate are allowed to outnumber them in their assemblies, woe unto them. Fourth, David reminded them that those who tarried at Besor did so out of no disloyalty or unwillingness: they had fought valiantly in the past, and now they had faithfully done their part in guarding the "stuff" or baggage, and so were entitled to a share of the spoils: "But as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike" (v. 24).

The whole of the above illustrates the fact that when a backsliding believer has been restored to communion with God, he is now in a state of soul to enjoy his recovered possessions: they will no longer be a snare unto him. When God takes something from us to teach us a needed lesson, He can, after we have learned that lesson, restore it to us again. Often, though not always, He does so. Faith is now dominant again, and receives the recovered blessings from the hand of God. One who has been truly restored, like David, who knew what his own failure has been, will permit of no such selfishness as the sons of Belial advocate. Those who had stayed at home, as it were, should share in the victory. That was true largeness of heart, which ever marks one who has learned in God’s school.

But there are always some who would wish to stint those possessing less faith and energy, yet he who realizes something of his own deep indebtedness to divine grace rejoices to give out to others what he has gained. When the Lord is pleased to open up some part of His precious Word unto one of His servants he, with enlarged heart, welcomes every opportunity to pass on the same to others. But how often are those who seek to pour cold water on his zeal, urging that it is not "wise" or "timely," yea, that such teaching may prove "dangerous." While it is not fitting that we should take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs, on the other hand it is sinful to withhold any portion of the Bread of Life from hungry souls. If God has restored to us any portion of His truth, we owe it to the whole Household of Faith to impart it unto as many as will receive it.

Source:Pbministries.com

M I G H T Y I N S P I R I T

Portion For Reading 1 Sam 25-28
Message 1 Sam 25

Our emotions can sometimes be volatile, swinging effortlessly from contentment to bitter envy or from euphoric happiness to biting anger. All Christians struggle with the battle of who will be in control: the self-centered "flesh" or the Spirit, who infuses us with gentleness, patience, and self-control. (Galatians 5:17-25)

Not only do we have to deal with our own feelings and behavior; we also have to know how to respond to the emotions of those around us. You might experience the verbal hailstorm of a co-worker pushed over the edge by a demanding boss. As a parent, you may be surprised by your toddler's fierce explosion about a forbidden piece of candy, or confused by your teenager's outburst stemming from a broken heart. Either we can allow these emotional windstorms to suck us in, or we can act as agents of God's grace, restoring calmness and safety.

In 1 Samuel 25, we find the story of a woman who exhibited godly wisdom in the face of foolishness and raging tempers. Abigail demonstrated the healing influence we can exercise when everyone around us is behaving poorly—a godly influence that is desperately needed in our homes, our churches, and our communities.

In God's Word, Abigail is described as "intelligent and beautiful in appearance." Unfortunately she married her polar opposite. Her husband Nabal, whose name actually means "fool," is said to have been "harsh and evil in his dealings." (v. 3) Abigail's spouse was also quite rich and evidently very selfish with his wealth. In fact, his tightfistedness later ignited a fiery response from the future king of Israel.

David and his 600 men had been hiding in the hills, trying to elude a jealous King Saul. While in seclusion, these valiant soldiers were graciously protecting local shepherds and their sheep from bandits and wild animals. Nabal and his household benefited from their watchful care.
When David heard that Nabal was sheering his sheep and preparing for a celebration, he sent some men to collect a customary payment, instructing them to approach the landowner with due respect and humility. But Nabal insultingly refused to send David and his entourage any token of appreciation, and the messengers returned empty-handed. Nabal behaved true to his name.

It is noteworthy that in both chapters surrounding this story, David humbly spared the life of a man who was bent on taking his. Though King Saul continued to behave badly, David honorably refused to kill the man God had anointed as leader of Israel. In these two episodes, David conducted himself well, but in his dealings with Nabal, the future ruler came undone.
Not only did David answer in haste to Nabal's slanderous remarks and selfishness; he also went overboard in his response. He and about 400 men rode in to slaughter Nabal's household. Perhaps in David's continuous attempts to do the honorable thing, he had taken about as much as even a good man could handle.

Abigail must have already proven herself to be compassionate, levelheaded, and resourceful, for a distraught servant immediately ran to her with the news of his master's shameful behavior. Not hesitating to become involved, the mistress of the house gathered up a bountiful feast for David and his men, saddled a donkey, and ventured out to face trouble head-on.
As soon as she saw David, Abigail dismounted and fell on her face before him. The soon-to-be king may or may not have been instantly taken with her outstanding physical beauty, but her humility caused him to stop in his tracks.

After insisting that the blame for Nabal's foolishness fall on her shoulders, Abigail requested permission to speak and asked David to listen patiently. (v. 24) While begging for him to demonstrate restraint, she continuously showed him honor and respect. She addressed him as "my lord" on eight occasions and referred to herself as his maidservant almost as many times.
Abigail assured David that while Nabal mockingly asked, "Who is David?" she knew very well who he was. He was the future "ruler over Israel." (v. 30)

Throughout her plea for mercy, Abigail reminded David of who he was and where he was going. This wise lady kindly but firmly steered him away from thoughts of retaliation by recalling Gods promise of "an enduring house." (v. 28) While David seemed focused solely on immediate revenge, she reminded him of God's plans for his life. She encouraged him to look past his momentary anger to his future.

The Bible is sprinkled throughout with accounts of God both calling forth storms and causing them to cease. But in this passage, we see how God used Abigail to calm a storm of a different nature.

So often when people around us explode with destructive emotion, be it anger or jealousy, self-pity or impatience, we find that they have somehow temporarily lost their way. The here and now can be all-consuming, and problems easily get blown out of proportion. Abigail's example shows us how to re-cast a vision for the hurting person so that he or she can once again see things from God's perspective.

Abigail could have chosen to treat David as the enemy, a man charging toward her household with revenge burning in his heart; instead, she chose to regard him as a man of God who had momentarily lost his way. David lost his temper, his composure, and his sense of right and wrong. Abigail helped him to find these again by confronting him in humility and speaking to him with respect. Her humble posture, gift of grace, and affirming words gradually opened David's raging heart so that he could hear her refreshing words of reason. Might people in our circle of influence be more willing to listen to our counsel if we first pave the way with humble respect?

But Abigail didn't just demonstrate how to treat others who have lost control of their emotions; she also showed us what to say to them. She simply and reverently spoke truth. Abigail reminded David of his God-ordained destiny as king of Israel. She gently convinced him that the Lord would provide for and protect His chosen while easily disposing of David's enemies. Finally, she reminded David that it would not be wise to needlessly shed blood or avenge himself. These truths may have stung David's raw and emotional heart at first, but, like ointment applied to an open sore, they soon began to heal his wounded pride. When emotions are high and logic is skewed, truth is our best choice as well.

Is it any wonder that David, completely taken with Abigail's wisdom and beauty, responded to her with blessing and heartfelt appreciation? The Bible goes on to tell of Nabal's death by God's hand and the Israelite leader's marriage proposal to Abigail, but the happy ending is most evidenced by the softening of David's heart and the preservation of his integrity. Because Abigail bravely stepped forward with humility and truth, the storm winds subsided, and a king fulfilled his destiny.

By Kay Harms

David at Nob

Portion For Reading 1 Sam 21-24

David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?" David answered Ahimelech the priest, "The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, 'No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place.

Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find."
But the priest answered David, "I don't have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women."
David replied, "Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever [a] I set out. The men's things [b] are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!" So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.

A.. Ahimelech was afraid when he met David: It seemed unusual to Ahimelech that a prominent man like David would wander around the villages of Judea all by himself. It made Ahimelech think something must be wrong, so he asked David, Why are you alone, and no one is with you?

i. As the story unfolds, it seems that Ahimelech knew nothing of the conflict between David and Saul. In fact, he knew that David was Saul’s son-in-law. It seemed strange, and dangerous to him, that David was traveling alone. Plus, we can imagine that David looked tired, weary, disheveled, and probably looked like he had been crying a lot!

ii. “David, who was before beloved, admired, and reverenced of all, is now left and forsaken of all.” (Trapp)

ii. In many ways, we can understand why David lied, and even sympathize with him. Many of us would have done the same or worse in the same situation. At the same time, David would come to horribly regret this lie (as he says in 1 Samuel 22:22).

iii. Why couldn’t David just tell the truth? Why couldn’t he come to Ahimelech the priest, and say “Ahimelech, as strange as it might seem to you, Saul is trying to kill me. I don’t understand the situation myself, but I know God does not want me to die at the hands of Saul. So I am running for my life, and trusting God will protect me and show me what to do. Please pray for me, because I’m pretty depressed and scared!” This might have been hard for David to say; but his lie became harder still.

v. “It is not easy to walk with God. The air that beats around the Himalaya heights of divine fellowship is rare and hard to breathe; human feet tire after a little; and faith, hard put to it, is inclined to give up the effort of keeping step with the divine pace.” (Meyer)

B. Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? We can understand why David wants a weapon, and why he asks. But it is also sad that David continues his same lie about being on the king’s business. David is desperately trying to avoid the king’s business, because right now, the king’s business is killing David!

i. Considering what the king’s business really was, David told the truth when he said, “The king’s business required haste.” That was true, but not in the way David meant it!

ii. “It is painful to the last degree to see one whose faith towered to such a lofty height in the encounter with Goliath, coming down from that noble elevation, to find him resorting for self-protection to the lies and artifices of an impostor.” (Balikie)

C. The sword of Goliath: As David took the sword of Goliath, imagine what he must have thought! Of course, he was happy to have a good weapon (There is none like it). On the other hand, did he remember how he came to win that sword for Israel? He didn’t do it with lies and half-truths. He did it with a bold trust in God, a trust that believed God and trusted Him to sort out the consequences.

i. The last time David held that sword in his hand, he used it to cut the head off the giant he had killed with great faith in God (1 Samuel 17:51). But the sword was not the weapon of faith; the sling and the stones were. David now remembers the victory, but perhaps not the faith that brought the victory.

ii. David can have the sword of Goliath in his arsenal, but he would be even better equipped if he had the same sling, five smooth stones, and faith that killed Goliath. Is David now trusting in Philistine swords more than the shepherd tools? There was nothing wrong with Goliath’s sword - the Lord used it before (1 Samuel 17:51), but only in the context of radical faith. The press of the trial with Saul is challenging these things in David’s life, and it remains to be seen how it will all turn out. He is starting to trust more in his own cleverness than in the Lord, but will he stay there?

iii. “David lost confidence in God and in fulfillment of God’s purpose for his life which had been revealed to him. He went to God’s house for comfort and help and guidance, but he was detected as being wrong in his soul. Instead of acknowledging the truth to the only one who could help him and confessing that he had been telling a lie, he ran for his life again.” (Redpath)

d. There is none like it; give it to me: Knowing that something is precious and wonderful, it makes us want it. Being in a time of trial or stress makes us want the wonderful thing all the more. If this was true of Goliath’s sword, how much more true is it of the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word! How we should say, give it to me!

i. “There are some who are bent on taking away the Word of God. Well, if they discard it, ‘Give it to me.’ There are some who want to put it up on the self, as a thing that has seen its best days. They suppose the old sword is rusty, and worn out, but we can say, ‘There is none like that; give is me!’” (Spurgeon)

ii. Trapp on there is none like it: “Say we so of the sword of the Spirit, the word, when preached especially. As milk warmed is fitter for nourishment, and as the rain from heaven hath a fatness with it, and a special influence more than standing waters: so there is not that life, operation, and blessing in the word read as preached.”

David And Goliath

Portion For Reading 1 Samuel 17-20
Message 1 Sam 17
While Goliath was taunting Israel, David was tending his father's flocks in peace, far from the war, meditating upon the Word of God, playing his harp and singing to the Lord. However, David had three older brothers who were soldiers in the army of Israel. One day David's father came to him and said, "Go and visit your brothers on the battlefront and bring me word about how things are going." So David left his sheep with another shepherd, arose early in the morning and left for the battlefield.

While David was greeting his older brothers and speaking with them, Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, stepped out from his lines facing the soldiers of Israel and threatened them as he had been doing for the past forty days. When the Israeli soldiers saw him, they ran from him in fear. Then someone said to David, "Do you see that man? He keeps defying us. Whoever kills him, king Saul will give him great wealth and will also give him his daughter in marriage and his father's family will not have to pay taxes."

Then David said, "That uncircumcised Philistine, who is he that he should defy the armies of the living God?" When he said that, David's older brother became angry with him and said, "Why have you come here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know why you have come here. You only want to watch the battle!" However, one of the Israeli soldiers heard the courageous words which David spoke concerning the giant, and went and reported them to Saul, the king. Then Saul sent for David and questioned him.

1 Sam 17:45-47

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

Thus, we see today how young David saved his nation from their enemies with a sling, a stone, and a solid faith in the living God. Truly, the story of David and Goliath is an amazing story with many important lessons.

We saw how Saul and the Israeli soldiers feared Goliath greatly. None of them dared to fight with him, but David was not afraid of the giant; he knocked him to the ground and killed him! Why were Saul and his soldiers afraid, but David was not afraid? What was the difference between David and the Israeli soldiers? We can summarize the difference between them in this way: David was not afraid of the giant, because he had confidence in the Lord God. Saul and his soldiers did not have confidence in God. Therefore, they were afraid of the giant.

Saul and his soldiers only saw the powerful giant. David saw the Almighty God! Saul and the Israeli soldiers had a form of religion, but that did not cause them to have a real relationship with God. Belonging to a religion does not cause you to belong to God. Saul and his soldiers knew very well that God exists, that God is one, and that He is great and powerful. But that knowledge could not save them from Goliath. However, David had a genuine relationship with the Living God, the Almighty! David knew God and walked with Him. David believed the promises of God. That is why David was not afraid of Goliath.

You who are listening today, who are you most like? David? Or Saul and his soldiers? Do you know God personally? Or have you just heard a few things about Him? Do you know the Word of God so well that it fills your heart with joy? Or are you only trying to fulfil your religious obligations? Do you have a solid and happy relationship with the living God? Or do you only have dry religion?

Listen to what the prophet David wrote in the Psalms, concerning the relationship he had with God. He said:

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!" (Psa. 23:1,4,6)

How about you? Do you have a close relationship with the Lord God? Do you know Him as your Shepherd? Are you certain that you will dwell in His house in heaven forever? David had that confidence, because he knew the wonderful and precious promises of the Lord God. And he didn't just know them in his head; he believed them in his heart.

Source: Injel.org