Series “David – King of Hearts”. Sermon. “David the Giant Slayer”

David King of Hearts/ David the Giant Slayer

1. Review

• No one else had the title: “Man after God’s own heart.”
• After Jesus no one else is mentioned more in the Scriptures.
• 66 Chapters outlining his life.
• Named 59 x’s in the New Testament
• What exactly was it that qualified him as a man after “God’s own heart.”
• David knew that God wants to dwell without filters among His people.
• David provided ALL PEOPLE unfiltered access to the glorious presence of God.
• David knew what it  was to worship God in the field and in the temple

2. Other Facts about David

• David lived around 1000 BC
• Great grandson Ruth and Boaz
  He wrote approximately half the Book of Psalms- poet/musician
• David had 8 wives
• First he was the King Hebron, then Jerusalem
• 30 years old before he was king over all Israel
• Reigned 40 years (7 years in Hebron, 33 over all Israel and Judah)

However, the most Iconic pictures of David’s life was that he was known as The Giant Slayer, found in 1 Samuel 17.

This story has been told and taught so many times through literature, and art that David and Goliath and their confrontation have all become cliched symbols for underdogs, antagonist. 

• Iconic
• The odds are seemingly overwhelming
• Defeat seems inescapable 
• And the opposition is full on terrifying.

But the story of David and Goliath is so much more than a cliché. It is an account of David’s trust and faith in God which would become one of the defining characteristics.

So let’s Set the Stage for this Epic Confrontation, by taking a look at the scene, the challenger, the challenge, the shepherd boy, the battle and how this reveals David a man after God’s own heart.

The Scene Verses 1-3

 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah… Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. ³ The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

• The valley of Elah is located on the western edge of the Judean low hills. 
• The Valley of Elah was strategically important as a corridor 
• The Israelites believed they must hold this potential attack route in order to protect the rest of Judah
• Neither army is moving from its position. 

Who Were the Philistines?

• In Canaan before Moses and the Israelites claimed it as their Promised Land from God. 
• The Philistines were by nature an aggressive and expansionist people
• They were  constant thorn in Israel’s side. 
• Constant conflict over land, religion and culture
• The battles between Israel and the Philistines continued in the days of Eli and later erupted in the conflict between David and Goliath. 

What of The Israelites?

• Should be confident had several conquests in Canaan before this, escape from Egypt, Jericho, AI other Philistines
• Not to mention they were God’s people… His covenant peoples 
• A COVENANT THAT DATED BACK TO ABRAHAM

Genesis 12:2-3- PROMISE OF DESCENDANTS & BLESSING

I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 15:18-21- PROMISE OF A LAND

 “To your offspring I give³ this land, from ^zthe river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,  the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,  the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

GENESIS 17:4-11- PROMISE MARKED BY CIRCUMCISION

“This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.

These men bore in their bodies the sign of that covenant.

The Challenger- verses 4-7

Goliath from Gath which was from one of the chief cities in Philistine territory…

Champion- the superior one, the title holder, the winner.

In the Herbrew this word used only two times  in bible and both times in this chapter

bay-nah’-yim-, middle man… the space between armies where single combats took place, where that single combat would decide the fate of the armies.

His appearance vs 4-7 (three verses to describe in detail his stature and equipment)

• Height- six cubits  
• Armor reflected different items from different armies which was further designed to incite fear and intimidation… It was like displaying his trophies from previous battles
• Bronze helmet
• Coat of mail – 125 lbs
• Greaves of bronze- shin pads
• Javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders
• The shaft of his spear like a weavers beam
• Spear head weighed 15lbs alone
• These weapons appeared almost superhuman as ordinary men would not have strength to even pick them up much less use them. Thus, Goliath was “armed to the teeth”, large, strong, frightening, well trained, impregnable…He was technologically superior
• Not only does he look scary but he TALKS scary as well.

His insults Vs 8

• “Why do you come out and line up for battle”
• “Am I not a Philistine and are you not the servants of Saul”  
• Are we not enemies, I heard you all were something special… By this time both Israel and Saul had a reputation…
• He is mocking Israel, he is mocking Saul, he is mocking their God.
• Vs 10 “I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight”
• DEFY- taunt, defame, scorn, count as little worth, blaspheme
• Vs16 – for forty days the Philistine came forward every morning every night and took his stand. 
• This is a great  illustration that violence isn’t just physical but it can be psychological. 
• 40 days of psychological harassment, verbal abuse, aimed to  humiliate and weaken the morale of the group.
• He was annihilating their concept of self

• Vs 11 “on hearing the Philistine Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.” They were broken, shattered and vehemently afraid. 
• No Israelite could see himself beating this monster. Probably saying amongst themselves he looks like descendant of a clan of giants.  

• He was both physically and psychologically terrifying

• They have gone from HEIRS TO SCARES

The Challenge- This is where the concept of champion middle/ in between comes into play… Goliath invoked this strategy of a single combat to decide the fate of the war. 

Great illustration of this in the Movie Troy

• Where Agamemnon meeting the Greek army in a valley… 
• Each side drawn up battle lines
• Two leaders agree to send out their best man
• Greeks have a giant but Agamemnon has Achillies
• Giant-physically intimidating beats chest, roars, at troops commandeering loud cheers

• “Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” (17:8b-9)

The Shepherd Boy Verses 12-40

vs 12 “now David the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse.”

Why this reference to the female side of Jesse’s lineage?

Ephrah not Jesse’s mom… but probably great great great grandmother…

Great matriarch married to Caleb, mother of Hur the founder of Bethlehem.

The author is linking Jesse David’s Father to Caleb… Why is this important for us today?

Joshua 14:10-12 (the people of God are on the other side of the Jordan…)

“So here I am today, eighty-five years old!  I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.  Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

Numbers 14:24… God said, “because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

David may look small:

• Perhaps the young shepherd boy has something of his grandparents in him…
• Perhaps he possesses a different spirit.
• Caleb a mountain taker, David a Giant Slayer

Ok Back to the Story, why was David there?

Vs 15 David went back and forth from Saul to attend the sheep…

Vs 17-18 Jesse sends David on a cheese and crackers run…He is the Uber Eats Delivery boy.

So, he is delivering the cheese and crackers and out comes Goliath ranting and raving provoking Israel’s troops

Verse 26 David asked:  What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” He is a man without a promise/covenant

His brothers heard David and they were furious with him… why are you here and who is watching your few sheep in the desert…they accuse of conceit; wickedness and you just came down to watch the battle.

However, what David said was overheard and he was taken to Saul, (we found a guy)

Saul said you can’t fight him you are just a boy, and this man has been a warrior since his youth.

So, David tries to convince Saul:

• I have been keeping my father’s sheep…I take care of fluffy animals. 
• Ok moving on…When a lion or bear came and carried off the sheep I went after it and rescued the sheep from their mouths and when the beasts turn on me, I seized it by its hair struck it and killed it.

David Continues: “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.  The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

David was not militarily tested on the field, but in the field, he was tested by lion and bear and lived to tell about it.

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

Saul dressed David in his armour but David said “I cant go in these.” 

So he took his shepherds staff and five smooth stones and put them in his bag with his sling in his hand.

The Battle Vs 41-51- 

Goliath looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. Sorry to reference Troy again… but this reminds me of Menelaus and Paris at the walls of Troy.

Mark Twain “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight it is the size of the fight in the dog”

 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” 

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied…this very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals…All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

Vesrse 51 “As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground…David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.”

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

Verse 52 “And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted,and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley,and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron”

So you may be asking what in this story constitutes David being a man after God’s own heart… It was his unreserved,  complete trust and faith in God.

David had a different Spirit; it was a Spirit of faith and trust… not in himself but in the God…

1. SPIRIT OF FAITH UNDERSTANDS COVENANT

 “…is there not a cause?” vs. 29

(davar – rhema in septuigent) Do we not have a promise to appropriate.

Every Jew would be well acquainted with the Abrahamic covenant

IT WAS THEIR NATIONAL IDENTITY (REALLY THEY WERE PHYSICALLY DIFFERENT – AND WITH THAT NATIONAL IDENTITY CAME THE PRIVILEGE OF, LAND, DESCENDANTS AND BLESSING

I MAY NOT BE A JEW BY ETHNICITY BUT I AM BY RIGHT OF ADOPTION

Galatians 3:29 ESV And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Colossians 2:11-13  “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands…”

Rom 8 “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…”

Romans 8:14 ESV 

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,.

WE HAVE A COVNENANT KEEPING GOD AND HE PROVED IN CHRIST JESUS… AND I KNOW THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL AND WILL KEEP ALL OF HIS PROMISES.

2. THAT SPIRIT OF FAITH WONT BE INTIMIDATED

By Brothers – “Why do you come here?”

By Saul – “You are just a boy you are not able.” 

Goliath – “Cursed David mocked him…dog”

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

Romans 8:31-32

If God is for us, who can be against us? 

Philippians 1:28“Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”

I will not be intimidated by kin, or the fears and doubts of those I serve… and I will not be intimidated by the devil.

3. THAT SPIRIT OF FAITH COMES FROM RECALLING PAST VICTORIES 

“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.” vs. 36

 

“I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.” vs 39 

Weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

4. THAT SPIRT OF FAITH AWAKENS BOLD ACTION

 “…and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee …David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.” vs. 46-48

A Bold Decree a Bold Act

Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

5. THAT SPIRIT OF FAITH COMES FROM KNOWING GOD OWNS THE BATTLE

 “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.” vs. 47

All I should expect is victory, BECAUSE YOU AND I HAVE A DIFFERENT SPIRIT.

2 Cor. 4:13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak;

Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

1Corinthians 2:12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God

Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature

I am a child of God that is who I really am… and I have the faith and spirit of a Giant Slayer, because Jesus my Giant Slayer lives in me… 

Whatever Giants are you facing God is your answer … the enemy comes to kill steal and destroy but God has come to give you life,

David Said to that Giant I come to you in the Name of the Lord.

1. ​El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
2. Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
3. Jehovah Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
4. Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
5. Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
6. Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
7. Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
8. Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
9. Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
10. EL ROI [el-roh-ee]: “God of Seeing” (the name ascribed to God by Hagar)

Facing a Giant of Sickness

I come at you in the name of the Lord who is my healer

Facing a Giant of Debt and Scarcity

I come at you in the name of the Lord who is my provider

Facing a Giant of Anxiety

I come at you in the name of the Lord who is my peace

Facing a Giant of overwhelming loneliness

I come at you in the name of the Lord who Sees

Facing a Giant of Addiction

I come at you in the name of the Lord who Sanctifies

Facing a Giant of feeling orphaned or without family

I come at you in the name of the Lord who is my Shepherd

Facing a Giant of condemnation and guilt

I come at you in the name of the Lord who is my Righteousness

Feeling surrounded by not one but many Giants

I come at you in the name of the Lord who is my Banner- He is my confidence in battle, He is my rallying point and my identity is found in Him.

There is no Giant we can’t face with God… Like David we are Giant Slayers

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