Thousands and thousands of lives have been destroyed in bringing about this democracy. But the price of freedom is always high.
Many feel the reasons for invading Iraq and going to war with Saddam Hussein are justified. There are those, however, who accuse the President for going to war for oil.
Illus: Jay Leno said, "CNN said that after the war, there is a plan to divide Iraq into three parts...regular, premium and unleaded."
Illus: Jay Leno also said this about President Bush; "Iraq began destroying those missiles they don't have over the weekend. See, President Bush may be the smartest military president in history. First, he gets Iraq to destroy all of their weapons, then he declares war."
While we may laugh about the war jokes, we know that war is a very serious matter. Many of us believe, like the President, that Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator that had to be dethroned because his goal was to take over the whole Middle East and control the oil supply of the world.
His plans were to take over Kuwait, and then Egypt was next on the list. Had we not stopped him there, he would probably have been able to control the Middle East by now.
Can you imagine what it would be like to have some brutal dictator like Saddam Hussein controlling the oil supply of the world? As a nation, God has helped us defeat him. As a nation, we need God to help us in all the conflicts and wars that we find ourselves involved in.
Some of the greatest conflicts and wars we face are within each of us. Just as we need God to help us fight these military wars, we also need God to help us with these conflicts and wars within ourselves.
When it comes to God’s children, the conflict that David had with Goliath is probably the best known in the scriptures.
WHY IS IT SO POPULAR WITH GOD’S PEOPLE? Because:
• It’s is a story of bravery and adventure
• It’s is a story of good versus evil
• It’s a story of the weak overcoming the strong
• It’s a story of the underdog becoming victorious
One reason that many like to read of the conflict between David and the Goliath is because we all wish we had the same courage and faith in our daily battles. We love to read about this conflict in David’s life because it reveals the many inequalities and disadvantages that David overcame.
Let’s consider some of these disadvantages of David when he had to wage war against Goliath:
(1) HIS SIZE
Look at 1 Samuel 17:4, we read, “And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.”
Notice, the Hebrew text says Goliath was “six cubits and a span.” Since no one knows for sure exactly how long a “cubit” or a “span” was back then, scholars’ estimate Goliath was between 9’2” and 11’4”. That’s 2’ to 4’ taller than the center on any professional basketball team.
I am sure Goliath got tired of hearing people say, “Wow! You sure are tall!” I am sure he felt like saying, “Really, I did not know that!”
David was an ordinary sized young man, so he had to deal with this disadvantage. But also, he had to deal with the disadvantage of-
(2) STRENGTH
Illus: One day, three men were hiking and unexpectedly came upon a large raging, violent river. They needed to get to the other side, but had no idea of how to do so.
• The first man prayed, saying, "Please God, give me the strength to cross this river." Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was able to swim across the river in about two hours, after almost drowning a couple of times.
• Seeing this, the second man prayed to God, saying, "Please God, give me the strength, and the tools to cross this river." Poof! God gave him a rowboat and he was able to row across the river in about an hour, after almost capsizing the boat a couple of times.
• The third man had seen how this worked out for the other two, so he also prayed to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength and the tools, and the intelligence to cross this river." And poof! God turned him into a woman. She looked at the map, hiked upstream a couple of hundred yards, and then walked across the bridge.
Goliath was a huge powerful man. The very weight of Goliath’s armor is an indication of how strong he was. No one knows for sure exactly how much a “shekel” weighed back then…or even whether this had reference to the lighter “Babylonian shekel” or the heavier “Syrian shekel.”
1 Samuel 17:5-7 tells us:
• His coat of armor (scale armor—like a fish’s scales) weighed 5000 shekels (90 to 220 lbs.)
• His spear staff was “like a weaver’s beam”—at least 2” thick.
• Even the head of his spear weighed 600 shekels (10 to 25 lbs.) That’s heavier than an Olympic shot put!
• In addition to the coat of armor and the spear, the text mentions a brass helmet, brass “greaves” (which were like shin guards), a sword, and a shield.
Goliath was a walking arsenal - the best equipment money could buy! He appeared to be a weapon of mass destruction and seemed to be invincible.
We hear a lot about weapons of mass destruction.
Illus: Jay Leno said, "President Bush is now launching an investigation into pre-war intelligence over weapons of mass destruction. If we find out we were wrong, do we have to put Saddam Hussein back in the hole?"
Goliath was a weapon of mass destruction in STRENGTH and SIZE.
David, on the other hand, had only:
• A shepherd’s staff (long stick with a crook on the top)
• A sling (Not a sling shot, but a sling)
The contrast in equipment alone could be compared to a foot soldier charging a tank with a water pistol.
He was at a tremendous disadvantage when it comes:
• To Size
• To Strength
But also in-
(3) EXPERIENCE
I don’t know how old Goliath was, but he was evidently old enough to have had children already.
2 Sam. 21 and 1 Chron. 20, seem to indicate that Goliath had 4 sons who later became powerful warriors themselves.
Goliath had experience in warfare on his side.
According to Numbers 1:3, the fighting men of Israel were supposed to be at least 20 years of age. Three of David’s brothers were old enough to serve; five were not.
David was the youngest of the eight. At the time of this battle with Goliath, David is believed to be around fifteen (15) years of age.
Illus: If Las Vegas were in existence back then, they would have given all the odds to Goliath to win this battle. Goliath had the SIZE, STRENGTH and the EXPERIENCE in warfare to easily win this battle.
It is true that no matter how big the giants in our life might be, God is able to help us to overcome them! Whatever your “giant problem” is, I want to tell you that you can win the victory over that problem in the same way David defeated Goliath.
Let me share with you how David had this tremendous victory in his life, so we can have victory in our lives.
I. HE REFUSED TO BE DISCOURAGED
Discouragement has robbed people of more victories than any other thing on the face of this earth. Everyone has to deal with discouragement.
Illus: Discouragement - A Tool of the Devil (Author Unknown)
Once upon a time it was announced that the devil was going out of business and would sell all his equipment to those who were willing to pay the price.
On the big day of the sale, all his tools were attractively displayed. There were Envy, Jealousy, Hatred, Malice, Deceit, Sensuality, Pride, Idolatry, and other implements of evil display. Each of the tools was marked with its own price tag.
Over in the corner by itself was a harmless looking, wedge-shaped tool very much worn, but still it bore a higher price than any of the others. Someone asked the devil what it was, and he answered, "That is Discouragement." The next question came quickly, "And why is it priced so high even though it is plain to see that it is worn more than these others?"
Because replied the devil, "It is more useful to me than all these others. I can pry open and get into a man's heart with that when I cannot get near him with any other tool. Once I get inside, I can use him in whatever way suits me best. It is worn well because I use it on everybody I can, and few people even know it belongs to me."
This tool was priced so high that no one could buy it, and to this day it has never been sold. It still belongs to the devil, and he still uses it on mankind every day. When Satan gets us discouraged he has us exactly where he wants us.
In the text, David came to the battle with a lunch for his three brothers, Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah who were a part of King Saul’s army. He arrived just in time to hear Goliath shout out his daily defiant challenge to the Israelite army.
Look at 1 Samuel 17:8-10, we read, “And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together..’”
Goliath created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Look at 1 Samuel 17:11, we read, “When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.”
Illus: The Israelites were like the comic strip character, Charlie Brown, who said, “There’s no problem so big that I can’t run from it.”
Look at 1 Samuel 17:24, we read, “And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.”
Even King Saul was afraid! If anyone was big enough to overcome Goliath it should have been Saul. 1 Samuel 9:2 says, “…from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.”
But to David’s dismay, none of his countrymen -- not even his brothers -- dared to respond. So David began to show an interest in taking up Goliath’s challenge himself. That’s when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, exploded in anger against David.
Look at 1 Samuel 17:28, we read, “And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle..”
Discouragement comes in all forms, and some of the most damaging come from our own friends and families.
Later on, Saul also threw a little cold water on David’s enthusiasm. Look at 1 Samuel 17:33, we read, “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.”
But David didn’t allow anyone to discourage him!
Any time you are faced with a giant problem and confronted with the challenge to respond to it with faith in God, there will be people who will try to discourage you.
• Give it up; you can’t do that
• It’s too hard
• You’ll never make it
• If I couldn’t do it, you can’t either
• You’re too young
• You’re too old
• You’re too dumb
• You don’t have enough talent
Words like that can drain the will out of a person. So don’t listen to the naysayer.
Illus: I like the old Chinese proverb: “Man who say it cannot be done should not disturb man doing it.”
Illus: Some looked at Goliath and said:
• “That guy is too big to hit!”
• But David looked at him and said, “He’s too big to miss!”
David REFUSED TO BE DISCOURAGED and -
II. HE REMEMBERED PAST TRIUMPHS
David was confident when facing Goliath because he recalled how God helped him overcome other big problems.
As a shepherd, David had been no stranger to adversity and challenge. He made his case to King Saul:
Look at 1 Samuel 17:34-35, we read, “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: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.”
Notice that this was no boastful, overconfident remark on David’s part. He gave all the credit to God.
Look at 1 Samuel 17:36, we read, “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.”
Are there victories God has helped you to achieve in the past? Remembering past victories can give us confidence to fight today’s battles.
Even smaller triumphs can help us face big battles with boldness and certainty.
HE REFUSED TO BE DISCOURAGED, HE REMEMBERED PAST TRIUMPHS and-
III. HE REJECTED INADEQUATE SOLUTIONS
Finally David persuaded King Saul to give him a chance. Saul agreed that David could confront Goliath with some reservation. Trying to be helpful, Saul even put some of his own special battle gear on David to prepare him for combat: armor, a brass helmet and a coat of mail.
Now, some have suggested that this was a rather humorous scene. David Faust suggests that since Saul was unusually tall, Saul’s armor simply didn’t fit David -- that:
• “Saul was a size 88 long.
• David was a 34 regular.”
David objected to their use, not because they were too big for him, but because he had never tested them.
Look at verse 39, we read, “…I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.”
As Goliath drew closer to begin his attack, David placed one of the smooth stones he had chosen into his sling, and slung it at Goliath’s head. It was a direct hit, and Goliath slumped to the ground.
• It wasn’t David’s skill that won the battle that day; it was God’s power.
• It wasn’t a smooth stone that made the difference; it was a strong faith!
IT WAS HIS GOD THAT GAVE HIM THE VICTORY!
Conclusion:
With God’s help, David overcame a giant problem. With God’s help, we can too.
I. HE REFUSED TO BE DISCOURAGED
II. HE REMEMBERED PAST TRIUMPHS
III. HE REJECTED INADEQUATE SOLUTIONS
