David, the early years - Part 6

It's OK to be You

3^rd December 2011

No-one else had enough courage - or enough zeal for God's name - to fight Goliath, so David accepted the challenge, and Saul agreed:

1 Samuel 17v38-40
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off.
Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Saul meant well. Although he was afraid to fight, he offered his armour to David. But David couldn't wear Saul's armour and he couldn't use Saul's weapon. When an older Christian teaches a younger Christian, we must be careful; we can teach fundamental principles and we can lead by example (although Saul didn't) but we must avoid teaching others to be just like us. God has made every person unique, and we must respect what God has given to those younger or less experienced than ourselves. David knew he would be far more effective in battle if he used his own gifts, skills and weapons, than if he borrowed Saul's.

The important lesson for us here is: It's OK to be you. God knows what He's doing in fashioning us for His purposes, and God has equipped us with everything we need to fight the battles he wants us to fight.

1 Samuel 17v41-44
Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield-bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"

Goliath was bigger, stronger, better equipped and more experienced than David. He could see no way he could lose, and he mocked David. And, today, those who oppose the church often mock us.

There is usually a moment, after you've taken a courageous decision to stand up and be counted for God and His kingdom, when we see the enormity of the task and the fearsome nature of the opposition. At such times, we can feel weak and ridiculous, and it would be easy to turn and run. Whatever he was feeling, David stood firm:

1 Samuel 17v45-47
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."

David must have felt some fear. But he overcame it by reminding himself and his opponent that:

• David was fighting in the name of the LORD Almighty
• The LORD Almighty is a warrior God: the God of the armies of Israel
• David wasn't fighting alone: "the LORD will hand you over to me"
• The purpose of David's fight and the result of his victory was not his own glory but that the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel
• Although we fight, the battle is the LORD's

The battle belongs to God in that:

1. God is the reason we fight
2. God is our captain in the fight
3. God guarantees us victory
4. God is glorified by our victory

And I want to add this thought:

• It would be better to fight for God and His kingdom even if we die in battle than to hide, or to turn and run.

Isn't it?

In the words of the old hymn:

Stand up, stand up for Jesus
You soldiers of the cross
Lift high His royal banner
It must not suffer loss

1 Samuel 17v48-53
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.

Total victory! Because one man - a young, inexperienced man - stood up for the Name of God.

What can you or I achieve if we are passionate about God's kingdom?