David and Goliath Part 6 A Lesson on Submission To Authority

# 242 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 17:19,20a, “Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him.” (1 Sam 17:19,20a) The first thing we notice here is that David arose early in the morning. His father had given him an assignment and he didn't dilly dally. It is good advice to not put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Ec 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;” Next we see that he didn't run off willy nilly. He took responsibility and found someone to take care of the sheep in his absence. Then we see that he explicitly followed his dad's instructions. He “went as Jesse commanded him.” He honored his father's position of authority. As it says in Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." All three of these things are good reminders for children of all ages, and can be summed up in this manner: Children obey your parents and those in authority over you expediently. Be responsible in your obedience and don't take short cuts. As long as it isn't something that flies in the face of God's Word, don't delay in whatever they assign you to do. This will not only help things go smoothly for you in your house, but it will do you well to learn it and apply it in all your future dealings with those in authority over you, including teachers, civil authorities, and yes, even church authorities, as we read in 1 Pet 5:5, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders,” (1 Pet 5:5) Submitting to authorities is commanded by God and comes with a promised blessing, or what part of “that it may be well with you,” don't you understand?

David and Goliath Part 5 - The Pledge of Christ

# 241 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 17:17,18, “Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 "And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them." (1 Sam 17:17,18) You can sense the loving concern of a father for his boys who are on the front lines. It's been at least 40 days and no word on how his boys were doing. So he sends David off with some granola and bread for the boys, and some cheese curds for their superior officer. (Perhaps his boys will be given some special consideration as a result of this gift.) There is a certain degree of urgency as he tells David to “run” to the camp. He gives David instructions to bring some assurances back to him that his boys were okay. The King James says that he was to bring back a “pledge.” A pledge would be more than David's word. Typically, this pledge would be a lock hair or something that the father would be able to identify, proving that David had indeed had personal contact with his brothers. Well, he came back with more than a lock of hair, he came back with Goliath's head, thereby proving his boys were okay. I love the way Spurgeon comments on these verses. He says, “The great Antitype of David visited his brethren below, his Father sending him to us with heavenly food, and messages of love. Alas, like David, he met with a churlish reception, "he came unto his own, and his own received him not." The Lord grant that in our hearts he may ever find a welcome.” I would add to this commentary and say that the great Antitype David visited his brethren on earth and took a pledge back to heaven with Him. This pledge proved to all that He had indeed visited his brethren and accomplished His mission. This pledge was clearly visible to all, namely, his nail scarred hands and feet, and riven side. These are the wounds by which all who welcome Jesus into their heart are healed. Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

David and Goliath Part 4

# 240 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 17:12-16, “Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.” ( 1 Sam 17:12-16) Nothing new here, just another recap of Jesse's family. His three eldest having been called into the service of Saul's army. David, who had been called into the kings court as a part time musician and gopher boy did not follow Saul into battle. He was splitting time between serving in Saul's court and tending sheep back home. The implication being that he was too young, not yet fit for battle. A little wet behind the ears. I am reminded of Paul's charge to young Timothy, “”let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim 4:12) A word for any young people reading this: Seek to be an example in these things, and don't worry, your time will come, and your age will not have anything to do with it. So David is tending the sheep, meanwhile Goliath is presenting his challenge twice a day for forty straight days. There's that number again. 40. It usually signifies a complete time of testing or judgment. Well guess what, the Israelites and Saul failed the test, and they were judged as lacking in trust of the Lord and lacking in zeal. Each one of us will be faced with trials and testings in our own lives and the question always boils down to this: Will we trust God or not? Listen again to Paul's advice to Timothy in 1Ti 4:15,16, “ Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” Meditate and continue in the doctrine, (you'll find it in the Word of God) and victory will come whether your young or old.

David and Goliath Part 3

# 239 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 17:8-11, “Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 "If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. (1 Sam 17:8-11) The giant Goliath issues the challenge to the Israelites: “I am the best the Philistines have to offer, give me the best that the Israelites have to offer, and let's battle, winner take all!” Then he says “I defy,” the word means to strip bare, to peel back to expose, like one might peel a banana. In other words he was telling the Israelites that their men were all show and no go, and the implication is that Jehovah God was the same. No wonder David was so upset. Goliath was calling God Almighty a windbag. Who will come forth and stand against this giant? Saul and his men were petrified to the point of panic as they anticipated great harm to anyone who would stand against Goliath. Who will stand against this mighty enemy? Only God could defeat such a foe. Isa 45:22 says, "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” and in Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Enter David, the bloodline of Christ! Christ is our only hope against the evil foe. The enemy pressing in on you today? Is he using his calling card of fear and doubt? Is he insinuating that our God is “all show and no go?” Remember who won this battle and call on the one who gave David his victory. Call on Jesus. Just one word from Him will send the devil and his demons fleeing.

David and Goliath Part 2

# 238 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 17:4-7, “And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. (1 Sam 17:4-7) Goliath. One big dude. Over nine feet tall, fitted with impenetrable armor, and armed to the hilt. Just think of the armor he was wearing. A brass helmet, a coat of mail that consisted of bronze sheets that were overlaid as to look like fish scales. There were no openings and Goliath's vital organs were afforded complete protection. Estimates of the weight of this coat of armor range from 78 to 156 lbs, the weight included to help us get a picture of the strength of this titan. The javelin spoken of here is not what you may think, it was in reality a shield that was typically thrown over the back for easy access during a battle. His spear was huge, which should tell you something about the size and strength of his hands. It was like a weavers beam with an iron spearhead that weighed about 19 lbs. But why spend all this time talking about his armor? What is the Holy Spirit trying to teach us? It's helpful to think of Goliath as a type of Satan and the Holy Spirit is trying to teach us that he is a great and powerful foe. Don't underestimate him. You can't take him on yourself. You need the help of the offspring of David....the Lord Jesus Christ. Heb 2:14 says, Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,” Who destroys the one who has the power of death? Jesus. I'm reminded of Martin Luther's classic hymn, A Mighty Fortress, “For still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe, his craft and pow'r are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing. Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God'[s own choosing. Doest ask who that may be? Christ Jesus it is He; And He must win the battle. Lesson number one from David and Goliath: Don't think for a moment you can take on the devil by yourself, you need Jesus!

David and Goliath Part 1

# 237 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 17:1-4, “Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered together at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. (1 Sam 17:1-4) Those feisty Philistines are at it again. Perhaps they had heard that the Lord was no longer with Saul. Maybe they had heard about his unstable condition and thought this would be a good time to attack. There's a lesson here for us. The Lord is with those who act wisely, that is, those who seek to measure their behavior in accordance with God's Word. (See my Du-votional # 235 “The great Conductor”) When we cease to act wisely, (like Saul) the enemy of our souls sees it as an opportunity to retake lost ground. Further, the enemy sees our instability he knows when we are tottering in fear and doubt, and is quick to seize the opportunity. How did Luther put it? “When the water becomes troubled, the devil likes to fish.” Know these things and be prepared to lean on Jesus for mercy and help. Repent of all unwise actions, confess them as sin, and seek to live henceforth in accordance with God's Word. So the battle lines are drawn. Very real geographical locations are painstakingly given here. Lest we think this is just a story. This is not just some fairy tale unfolding. It is an actual historical event in very real geographical locations that God allowed to play out for our own teaching and benefit. This is the account of David and Goliath. One of those first stories that we all learned about in Sunday School, and rightly so, because the lessons learned from it are vital to the Christian walk. May God the Holy Spirit impress some of those lessons upon us in this series of Du-votionals on David and Goliath.

Labor Day

# 236 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 16:20-23, “And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul. 21 So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer. 22 Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight." 23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. (1 Sam 16:20-23) Jesse follows the custom of the day and the biblical advice of Pr 18:16 as he sends a gift of bread, wine, and a goat to the king. Pr 18:16 says, “A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.” This is wisdom for the ages and works well to this day. Saul is greatly pleased and loved everything about David. Not only did David serve him well as a musician but Saul also put him into service as his armor bearer. That doesn't necessarily mean that David went into battle with Saul carrying his armor. An armor bearer could also serve in the kings court as a gopher, where you would “go for” this or “go for” that for the king. Very useful servants for the king. Evidently, David's time with Saul was a kind of probationary time and having served well, Saul asks Jesse for David to continue to serve him in that capacity. David excelled in all he did. He put forth the effort to do well, whether watching sheep, playing a harp, or just being a gopher. We would do well to imitate him wherever we may be serving or working. Pr 22:29 says, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” In the United States, we just celebrated Labor Day and this example of David's work ethic would be a good one for us to follow as well. Whatever you do in life seek to excel, who knows where such an attitude will lead. Col 3:23 seems appropriate here: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”