More Than Enough
Enough Might
1 Samuel 17:1-3 “Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.“
We’ve Got A Problem:
The Face of the Problem: Goliath:
1 Samuel 17:4 “And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.”
1 Samuel 17:8-9 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not 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.”
Too big for military might, governmental authority, or diplomatic maneuvering.
David:
1 Samuel 17:26 “And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
Not My Battle "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (17:26)
On The Battlefield:
1 Samuel 17:45-46 “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.”
Not My Might “And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?” (v.26)
1 Samuel 17:32-33 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
David’s Previous Experience: God delivered him from the lion and the bear.
Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
Not My Outcome
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Goliath wanted to set the terms of battle -
Sidebar lesson for Spiritual warfare: Ever wonder why they did not think to surround Goliath and kill him with the advantage of numbers?
Zechariah 4:6 “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
Enough Might
1 Samuel 17:1-3 “Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.“
We’ve Got A Problem:
The Face of the Problem: Goliath:
1 Samuel 17:4 “And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.”
- Bronze helmet and armor, giant spear, mighty warrior
1 Samuel 17:8-9 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not 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.”
Too big for military might, governmental authority, or diplomatic maneuvering.
David:
1 Samuel 17:26 “And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
Not My Battle "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (17:26)
- This was not an attack on an army of men… but an attack on the Kingdom of God. Their pagan gods against the one true God.
On The Battlefield:
1 Samuel 17:45-46 “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.”
Not My Might “And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?” (v.26)
- David’s confidence despite overwhelming odds
1 Samuel 17:32-33 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
David’s Previous Experience: God delivered him from the lion and the bear.
Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
Not My Outcome
- When it is not my battle and not my might, the outcome is not up to me.
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Goliath wanted to set the terms of battle -
Sidebar lesson for Spiritual warfare: Ever wonder why they did not think to surround Goliath and kill him with the advantage of numbers?
- Lesson: never let the enemy set the terms of warfare
Zechariah 4:6 “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”