It's Complicated(S1) : WK 3 - WED
1 Samuel 17:31-40
… David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD be with you!”
Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.
“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
Psalm 143:5
I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.
David arrives at the king's tent to witness quite a scene. Saul is surrounded by high-ranking advisors who are wringing their hands in frustration. Is he pacing restlessly? Or is he slumped in the corner, resigned to the giant’s victory and a life of slavery at best, beheading at worst? What we know for sure is Saul is afraid (v11).
Before we proceed, notice why David has been invited to see the king. “David’s question was reported to the king.” This young visitor to the battlefield has persistently continued his questioning so thoroughly that he has been elevated up the chain of command: private to sergeant, lieutenant to captain, all the way to the king himself. Here, we learn a lesson. Instead of shrinking into the background when our questions are dismissed, we do better to stand firm, persist, and be stubborn.
As David arrives, he quickly assures Saul, “Don’t worry, I will fight the giant.” Can you hear the voice of this teenage boy cracking? How cute. The king responds with a laugh, “That’s just ridiculous.” But David has a plan.
David tells shepherding stories of a bear and lion attack, during which he faced Certain failure and death until God stepped in to rescue him. His strategy is to attack the giant, and just as Goliath is about to crush the boy, God will intervene and save him from the giant’s grasp. What an absurd proposal! No organizational board would vote to move forward with a tactic like that.
For some peculiar reason (perhaps out of sheer terror at the thought of Goliath), Saul quickly agrees to the plan. He then follows a familiar pattern. Often, when the young and inexperienced are finally allowed to take charge, those in power struggle to relinquish authority. Saul piles his hefty, oversized armor onto David’s teenage frame. It’s as though Saul is saying, “Sure, you can tackle this task as long as you do it my way. Attack in the shape of my armor.” The breastplate of this fully mature man, described as head and shoulders taller than all of his countrymen, won’t fit the boy. Similarly, new leaders shouldn’t be confined to outdated methods. Either Saul needs to gear up and confront Goliath himself or step aside for the boy armed with a shepherd’s stick and a strip of leather.
Besides, David’s strategy doesn’t rely on armor or five stones. Victory rests on whether God shows up.
… David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD be with you!”
Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.
“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
Psalm 143:5
I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.
David arrives at the king's tent to witness quite a scene. Saul is surrounded by high-ranking advisors who are wringing their hands in frustration. Is he pacing restlessly? Or is he slumped in the corner, resigned to the giant’s victory and a life of slavery at best, beheading at worst? What we know for sure is Saul is afraid (v11).
Before we proceed, notice why David has been invited to see the king. “David’s question was reported to the king.” This young visitor to the battlefield has persistently continued his questioning so thoroughly that he has been elevated up the chain of command: private to sergeant, lieutenant to captain, all the way to the king himself. Here, we learn a lesson. Instead of shrinking into the background when our questions are dismissed, we do better to stand firm, persist, and be stubborn.
As David arrives, he quickly assures Saul, “Don’t worry, I will fight the giant.” Can you hear the voice of this teenage boy cracking? How cute. The king responds with a laugh, “That’s just ridiculous.” But David has a plan.
David tells shepherding stories of a bear and lion attack, during which he faced Certain failure and death until God stepped in to rescue him. His strategy is to attack the giant, and just as Goliath is about to crush the boy, God will intervene and save him from the giant’s grasp. What an absurd proposal! No organizational board would vote to move forward with a tactic like that.
For some peculiar reason (perhaps out of sheer terror at the thought of Goliath), Saul quickly agrees to the plan. He then follows a familiar pattern. Often, when the young and inexperienced are finally allowed to take charge, those in power struggle to relinquish authority. Saul piles his hefty, oversized armor onto David’s teenage frame. It’s as though Saul is saying, “Sure, you can tackle this task as long as you do it my way. Attack in the shape of my armor.” The breastplate of this fully mature man, described as head and shoulders taller than all of his countrymen, won’t fit the boy. Similarly, new leaders shouldn’t be confined to outdated methods. Either Saul needs to gear up and confront Goliath himself or step aside for the boy armed with a shepherd’s stick and a strip of leather.
Besides, David’s strategy doesn’t rely on armor or five stones. Victory rests on whether God shows up.
- When was one of the first times you were trusted with a truly important task? How did that make you feel?
- What expectations have others placed on you that don’t fit who you are? How have you reacted?
- What battle are you currently in that can’t possibly go well unless God shows up with rescue? What do you want to say to Him about that?
by Pastor David K. Ferguson
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