David vs. Goliath Part 4: Beware those who disdain trusting in the Lord

Here’s a post based upon the third of four points based upon the famous story of David versus Goliath.

Point 4: Beware those who disdain trusting in the Lord (v.28-51)

1. Proof
   1. In a way David faced three “Goliaths” (Davis, 185). “Goliaths” in the sense of someone disdaining trusting in the Lord and opposing someone who does trust in God.
   2. First “Goliath” was Eliab: “Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, ‘Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.’” (v.28)
      1. Eliab assumes David’s motives
         1. Note Eliab said “I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart”
         2. What Eliab said was ironic because in the earlier chapter God told Samuel not to assume Eliab was going to be picked by God to be king because of his appearance (1 Samuel 16:6).
         3. God’s response was to state God looks at the heart: “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.”” (1 Samuel 16:7)
         4. Now Eliab thought he knew David’s heart.
         5. What did he think was in David’s heart? “you have come down in order to see the battle” (28)
         6. Eliab did not see David’s heart to defend God’s honor.
      2. David’s response:
         1. David’s counter-question: “But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question” (1 Samuel 17:29).  This is like that of a younger brother pleading his innocence!
         2. David ignored his brother: “Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before.” (1 Samuel 17:30)
   3. Second “Goliath” was Saul
      1. Saw David as a kid that God can’t use: “Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33)
         1. Saul saw David only as a youth while Saul saw Goliath as being experienced enough to “saw” down David!
         2. Ironic: Saul said David was “a youth” yet Goliath “has been a warrior from his youth.” Of course David would later become “a warrior from his youth” himself!
      2. David’s Response
         1. References his experience: “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, 35 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. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them” (34-36a)
            1. Remember the principle of being faithful in little, one will be faithful in much!
            2. Also implied here is God’s providence in training David.
         2. The basis for David’s confidence in victory is because of God: “and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted 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 Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and may the Lord be with you.’” (36b-37)
      3. Saul tried to arm David: “Then Saul said to David, “Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. 39 David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them.” (1 Samuel 17:38-39a)
      4. David’s Response
         1. Took it off: “So David said to Saul,’I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.’ And David took them off.” (39)
         2. Stuck to slingshot: “He 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 had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.” (40)
   4. Goliath
      1. “When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. 43 The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 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.’” (42-44)
         1. Notice the curse of Goliath has a theological overtone: “And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.” (42b)
      2. David’s response
         1. Long speech: “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a 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. 46 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, 47 and 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.’” (45-47)
         2. Action: “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. 49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground. 50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.” (48-50)
         3. Notice the speech is longer than the account of the action. It is focusing on God’s deliverance!

2. Practice
   1. We must trust in God.
   2. We must also watch out that we don’t listen to those who call us not to trust in God. Yes we must be wise but we must not forget God is God!