The Battle Is The Lord's

I.         A digest of the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-54). A.   Goliath's challenge (1 Sam. 17:1-11).

1.   Once again Israel and Philistia were at war (1 Sam. 17:1-3).

2.   On this occasion the battle was pitched farther south—in the land belonging to the tribe of Judah.

3.   The conflict reached a stalemate when a champion, Goliath, came out to challenge the armies of Israel (1 Sam. 17:4-11).

a)    Goliath was over nine and a half feet tall.

b)    His breastplate weighted 157 pounds.

c)    The head of his spear weighed over 17 pounds.

4.   At first, no champion was found in the camp of Saul.

 B.   David hears of Goliath's challenge (1 Sam. 17:12-27).

1.   When Saul went to battle, David returned to his father's house.

2.   Since Jesse's three oldest sons were in Saul's army, Jesse sent David to the battle front to inquire about their well-being

3. while on this errand David hears of Goliath's challenge (1 Sam. 17:23-24).

C.   David accepts Goliath's challenge Saul sends David out to meet Goliath on the field of battle.

1.   David was not afraid to answer the challenge—he based his judgment on his past experiences with the power of God.

2.   By faith in God he had been able to defend his father's sheep when they were attacked by lions or bears (1 Sam. 17:32-37).

3.   This courage impressed Saul and he sent David out to battle.

D.   David gains the victory and slays Goliath.

1.   David did not use Saul's personal armor (1 Sam. 17:38-39).

2.   He took only his tried and trusty sling and five smooth stones—this is the weapon he felt comfortable with (1 Sam. 17:40).

3.   "Smooth stones like the ones chosen by David for his sling in the combat with Goliath can still be easily gathered in the valley of Elah (or 'of the Terebinth'), where the battle took place. Archaeology has uncovered in various excavations a great number of slingstones. This rustic weapon, so simple and yet so terrible when skillfully handled, was very common, not only in David's time but for centuries before and after him. In many countries slings are still used for chasing away wild animals which threaten the flocks." (Gonzalo Baez-Camargo, Archaeological Commentary On The Bible, p. 81).

4.   After rendering Goliath helpless, David beheaded him with the sword taken out of Goliath's own sheath (1 Sam. 17:41-51).

a)    Abusive dialogue was common among Arab combatants—David's speech presents a striking contrast.

b)    David was full of pious trust and a willingness to ascribe to God glory for the triumph he anticipated.

II.        There were three things David wanted the Philistines, the Israelites and all the earth to know:

A.   "that there is a God in Israel" (1 Sam. 17:46).

B.    "that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's" (1 Sam. 17:47). C.   He was fighting by faith and for the glory of God (1 Sam. 17:37, 45-47).

I.        Lessons From David's Victory

A.   David was specially prepared for the conflict by the whole of his life— without personal preparedness God would not have fought his battles.

B.   David rendered invaluable service to Israel (God's people of the day) by this conflict with Goliath.

1.   He repelled an invasion and prevented the suffering such an invasion would have brought.

2.   He also taught Israel the spirit they should cherish and the kind of king they really needed.

C.   David became a pattern for God's people today by exhibiting the spirit we should have in our spiritual warfare "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" Eph 6:12).

D.   David did not neglect the use of weapons altogether and then sit back and wait for God to fight the battle for him, and neither can we.

1.   We are to fight the good fight  1 Tim 6:12

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2.   The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

3.   We are to humbly correct the opposition (2 Tim. 2:24-26).

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

E.   The characteristics this ancient man displayed are the same characteristics

 modern man desperately needs:

1.   Faith in God, not doubt.

a)    Faith led him to do all for the glory of God (1 Sam. 17:45).

b)    He looked beyond his problems and relied on God for help.

c)    He did not compare himself with Goliath, but he compared Goliath with God!

d)   Armed with faith in God he approached the enemy and won.

2.   Humility, not vain pride.

a)    He did not concern himself with "great matters" (Psa. 131:1-2).

LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul in me.

b)    "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility" (Prov. 15:33).

c)    "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18).

d)    "Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility" (Prov. 18:12).

e)    Do we have such humility? 1 Peter 5:5-7

all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

3.   Zeal rather than apathy.

a)    He was little concerned about his own safety and renown.

b)    He had heard the gods of the heathen extolled and the name of Jehovah blasphemed—he was desirous that, above all things, God should be glorified.

c)    When a man fights for the Lord he may confidently expect God to fight for him, for "the battle is the Lord's" (2 Chron. 20:1-24,  Read this

4.   David's courage stands in contrast to the fear which gripped Israel.

F.   The great principle of life which governed David in his victory should govern us as well: he acted in the name of the Lord and for God's glory.

1.   This great principle of life was not understood nor appreciated by Goliath until it was too late; neither will it be appreciated by unbelievers of today  2 Cor 4:4

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them

 Matt 7:21-23

"Not everyone who says to Me,'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'   And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

2.   In every victory we have over sin we grow stronger in faith.

II.       How Do We Know If Our Battle Is "Of The Lord"?

A.   If we are doing what God has authorized (Col. 3:17;

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

2 Tim. 4:16-17 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me,

B.   If the truth of God's word is at stake and being taught, practiced or defended against error (Phil. 1:17;

but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel

Jude 3;

exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Acts 15:1-11   conflict of the judeazing teachers requiring circumcision.

C.   If it is a spiritual conflict Eph 6:10-13

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

2 Cor 10:3-6

or though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Matt. 4:1-11).   Satan tempting Jesus

D.   If it is being done in the name of the Lord and God is being glorified

(1 Sam. 17:45-46). Back to David and Goliath

E.    If we are fighting in faith, not just fighting (1 Tim. 6:12; Rom. 10:17).

F.    If spiritual armor can be properly employed (Eph. 6:13-18).

G.   If one suffers for "righteousness' sake" (Matt. 5:10-12; 1 Pet. 4:12-16).

H.   If it can rightly be said we are on the Lord's side (Josh. 24:15).

Conclusion

I.         We all fight battles, but they are not necessarily the Lord's battles.

II.        Can you truly say the battle you have been fighting is "of the Lord"?

III.      When we, like David, recognize "there is a God in Israel," and that "the Lord does not save with sword and spear," and we fight by faith in Jehovah God and for His glory, the battle will always be the Lord's.