And all those assembled 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." Sermons
1. The obligation is imposed by the Lord. "Fight the good fight of faith." 2. The adversaries are the adversaries of the Lord. "Principalities and powers," etc. 3. The soldiers are the people of the Lord. Those in whose hearts the principles of the kingdom of God are implanted - "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." 4. The Commander is the Anointed of the Lord. "The Captain of our salvation." "The Leader and Commander of the people." 5. The weapons are provided by the Lord. "Put on the whole armour of God" - "the armour of light." 6. The success is due to the Lord. He gives the strength which is needed: "teacheth our hands to war, and our fingers to fight," and "he will give you into our hands." 7. The end is the glory of the Lord. When it is over God will be "all in all." "Who is on the Lord's side?" - D.
The battle is the Lord's. This familiar dramatic story has much to teach us. One lesson only is our present consideration — David's heroic and victorious faith. "Time would fail me," said the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews in his beautiful chronicle of the worthies of faith, "to tell of Gedeon and of Barak, and of Sampson and of Jephthah; of David also." And when does his faith shine with such lustre as when, having single-handed slain Goliath, he "turned to fight the armies of the aliens"? In this narrative we see —I. THE SURPRISES OF FAITH. Forty days; and is he ever to be met in combat? Who will meet him? No Hebrew veteran. No well-panoplied soldier, but a young shepherd, and he with well-slung stone will be victor! Unlikely warrior! unlikely weapon! unlikely victory! A victory of faith. A surprise of faith. So has it ever been. The surprises of history are the surprises of faith. Who are the men who have "entered the kingdom" of influence wherein with abiding sceptre, they rule the human generations? Men of faith. The great men whose names are in the Old and New Testament chronicles were less likely, according to human judgment, to leave the impress they have upon the ages. And what surprises await us if we but emulate such faith? We "can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us!" II. THE HINDRANCES TO FAITH. It is easy to go in company. It is easy among the faithful to deem our faith strong. But solitude tries the spirit. Celebrated is the poet's Abdiel, because "faithful found among the faithless, faithful only he." And where was another faithful beside David through all the camp of Israel.? It was no ordinary foe against whom his courage kindled. Much, too, had he to hinder him in the craven spirit of Israel. Nothing in this to help David. His eye, lit with indignant courage, met no answering light in any other. Israel's only answer to Goliath's challenge was — flight! Enough in this to arrest David from offering himself for the combat. Who is he to stand forth as the pick of the nation's valour? He is brought into the presence of the king. But David had to beat down hindrance sharp and strong before he reached Saul's tent. Sharper, I think, than from any other. To be thus rebuked and slandered by a brother! But his faith stood fast. He answered not bitter with bitter. Eliab was his brother, not his Lord. "The battle was the Lord's," the battle within him as well as against Goliath And the Lord gave him the inner victory before the outer. Had his faith failed him before Eliab he had never stood before Goliath. Hindrances to faith! "How many hindrances we meet" in the way of our heart's supreme surrender to, and reliance on, Christ! Hindrances from tyrannic evil habit whose power Christ only can break. Hindrances from our circumstances; our business methods; the worldly faithless atmosphere in which we long have lived. From those who nearest us can affect us the most, from kindred as close as — closer than — was Eliab to David. What then? All the more need for earnestness. But whether within or without, "the battle is the Lord's." III. THE ARGUMENT OF FAITH. Faith has varied arguments. God's promises are one. God's character is another But experience is the argument of David. This he urges with Saul. A valid argument is that of experience. Has God ever forsaken David. even when life depended upon well-aimed blow against wild beast? As He had never forsaken him, so he never would. One victory carried with it the assurance of another. One enemy slain that all enemies should be destroyed. We too have personal memories of deliverance. These are to be cherished. They are silent promises. To the listening heart they speak of goodness to come as well as past. "Jesus Christ" is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." IV. THE SIMPLICITY OF FAITH. With what naturalness David enters and moves through this wondrous story! He "runs" into the camp and against Goliath with a boy's eagerness, and yet stands among the soldiers, before the king, and face to face with the loud-tongued foe with the calm heroism of seasoned warrior. He will have no controversy with Eliab. He presumes not on his former service to the king; others open for him the way; the king sends for him. He is not boastful, but tells enough of his previous prowess to secure the king's assent to his championship. If faith be simple, not marred by any self-seeking, fixed only in the Lord, set only on His glory, difficulties drop asunder into a pathway for our feet. No matter of what kind they may be. Only trust in God and do the right; let that be the constant rule of life, and you can safely leave the result with Him. Be fearful of criticism; be swayed by the opinions of men, and then the path darkens, troubles gather, and even when the right thing is done it has no acceptance with God, being done to please men and not Him. V. THE VICTORY OF FAITH. Calmly forth went David, a spectacle to two armies. On he went alone, yet not alone, "being," in the words of Josephus, "accompanied with an invisible assistant, who was no other than God Himself." He teaches us to fight. He assures us of victory. Under His banner "the weakest saint shall win the day." He helps to every prayer and effort of resistance. (G. T. Coster.) People Abinadab, Abner, David, Elah, Eliab, Ephah, Goliath, Israelites, Jesse, Saul, ShammahPlaces Azekah, Bethlehem, Ekron, Ephes-dammim, Gath, Jerusalem, Shaaraim, Socoh, Valley of ElahTopics Assembly, Battle, Congregation, Deliver, Doesn't, Fight, Hands, Lord's, Salvation, Save, Saves, Saveth, Spear, SwordOutline 1. The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle4. Goliath challenges a combat 12. David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge 28. Eliab chides him 30. He is brought to Saul 32. shows the reason of his confidence 38. and slays the giant 55. Saul takes notice of David Dictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 17:47 4366 stones 1235 God, the LORD Library The victory of Unarmed Faith'And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock; 35. And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture April the Thirtieth the Test of victory April the Twenty-Ninth the Mood of Triumph The Call of David. How David Prevailed. Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ Hwochow Women's Bible Training School He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church. The Shepherd-King Temporal Advantages. The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6. The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. ) Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners: Man's Chief End Samuel Links 1 Samuel 17:47 NIV1 Samuel 17:47 NLT 1 Samuel 17:47 ESV 1 Samuel 17:47 NASB 1 Samuel 17:47 KJV 1 Samuel 17:47 Bible Apps 1 Samuel 17:47 Parallel 1 Samuel 17:47 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 17:47 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 17:47 French Bible 1 Samuel 17:47 German Bible 1 Samuel 17:47 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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