I When David met Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-50):

David was a shepard, poet, giant-killer, ...

- The Philistines gathered their armies for battle (vs 1)
- Saul and the men of Israel drew up in battle array to encounter them
- The Philistines stood on the mountain on on side while Israel stood on the other siden with a valley between them (vs 3)
- The great warrior Goliath (over 3 meters long) came defied Israel "Come and fight me if you dare" (vs 10)
- Israel was dismayed/discouraged and greatly afraid (vs 11)

David ends up fighting Goliath and he engages in the battle with these words:
"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 the LORD be with you!" 1 Samuel 17:37

And you know what, David prevailed over Goliath. You know why, because God was with him.

Goliath:

- frightened Israel
- made them stop believing and trusting in the Lord
- let Israel's heart fail
- caused Israel to criticise David in order to stop him
- cased Israel to try to discourage David with negative comments

Who or what is our Goliath? Do you react like Israel did, or do you react like David did.

David also was a betrayer, liar, adulterer, murderer.

- committed adultary with Batsheba
- arranged the murder of uriah, Batsheba's husband
- did not deal decisively with the sins of his children

The bible doesn't hide David's failure, yet he is remembered and respected for his heart for God.
"I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will" Acts 13:22

David maintained the worship of God, opposed idolatry,and sought to promote universal obedience to God among the people

1 Kings 14:8,9: "And thou [Jeroboam] hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes,"

lI Lessons from Davids life:

willingness to honestly admit mistakes is the first step in dealing with them
forgiveness does not remove the consequence of sin
God greatly desires complete trust and worship

"And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. "Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever." 2 Samuel 7:27-28

Read Psalm 3.

When we are faced with problems, we have an important choice: where are we going to look for help?
- Usually when we encounter problems, when we see circumstances turning against us, we start blaming God.

But like David, we should seek God in times of difficulties.

The Psalms of David teach us to look to God for our help - but also warn us that the unfaithful cannot expect to receive such help.
Psalm 3 reminds us that the prayer of the faithful brings confidence.

"Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me" (v.1).
The opposition was strong and was increasing. Cf. 2 Sam. 15:12.

"Many are they who say of me, 'There is no help for him in God.' Selah" (v.2). Cf. 2 Sam. 15:25,26; 16:7,8.
The insinuation by our enemies that God will not help us is a fierceful attack on the believer.
Cf. the reviling of the Lord while He was on the cross - Mt. 27:41-44.
In contrast to the "many," God was David's defender - v.3.
"But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head" (v.3). Cf. Gen. 40:20.

David described what he did in when difficulties came in his life - vv.4,5.
"I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah" (v.4).
David expressed confidence that He had been heard by God even before he knew what the outcome of the crisis would be.
It was God, not Absalom, who would speak from Zion, "His holy hill."
"I lay down and slept" (v.5).
"I awoke, for the Lord sustained me" (v.5).
David's trust gave him courage - v.6.
"I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around" (v.6).
Cf. 2 Kgs. 6:16,17; Rom. 8:31.
The assurance of answered prayer brings peace.

Gods people MUST have confidence!

On the morning after his restful sleep, David again called upon God to save him - v.7.
"Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!" (v.7). Cf. Num. 10:35,36.
"For you have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly" (v.7). David was not unaware of how many times in the past God had delivered him.
The right perspective on all earthly difficulties - v.8.
"Salvation belongs to the Lord" (v.8). Cf. Psa. 127:1,2.
"Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah" (v.9).
Even more than any personal consideration, we should desire God's people to be blessed.
And we should have the confidence that God's people will be blessed!

III Conclusion

David's confidence in God was based on his belief in God's "covenant faithfulness." Cf. Exo. 6:2-9; 19:3-8.
What God says He will do!
David trusted upon Gods mercy and Gods might.
We should learn from David's confidence in God. No matter what happens, we must not ever:
- doubt God's faithfulness to the covenant.
- forsake our faithfulness to the covenant.
When we make the choice to be faithful to God, we can lie down at night, sleep, and awake in the morning, knowing that God has sustained us.

Vorige