Bigger Than Us: Too Big To Miss

Passage: 1 Samuel 17:20-37

So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had charged him. He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other. 22 David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line.

When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were. 23 While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard. 24 When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified. 25 Previously, an Israelite man had declared: “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the family of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.”

26 David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 27 The troops told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

28 David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and he became angry with him.“Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!” 29 “What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.” 30 Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before. 31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him.

32 David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!” 33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.” 34 David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

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

Pray:

Background:

Samuel anoints David the next King of Israel in front of his 7 brothers and father Jesse. (1 Samuel 16:12-13). God chose David, the youngest and most unlikely of all the siblings. “Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7.

Then later a servant of King Saul, recommends David for a position in the king's service. David then gets appointed guitar/harp player and armor-bearer. Saul loved David very much and David found great favor with the king. (1 Samuel 16:18, 22)

Title: Too Big To Miss (Goliath/Boulder)

Main Points: Qualities of a Victorious Leader/Church/God

1. His Perspective Was Higher
   1. 24 When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified. --- 26b “Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
   2. EX: David saw things differently than everyone else. Everyone saw an invincible giant, David saw a mortal man defying the living God.
   3. Question: Is the obstacle in front of me, big in front of God?

   4. Many of us face our challenges or obstacles as being too big to fight. Career changes, marital problems, loneliness, diagnosis, depression…. We become afraid and often retreat from our problems. Even King Saul, who was most equipped, most resources, most capable, was fearful and isolated.

      1. But what if instead of view our obstacles as too big to fight, we viewed them as too big to miss.
      2. Question: With God, how could we not have victory?

      3. His Opposition Was Great

         1. “28 David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and he became angry with him.“Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!” 29 “What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.” 30 Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before. 31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him.”
         2. There will always be haters

      4. Victorious leaders don’t let the haters and opposition guide their future and decisions. Victorious leaders focus on the voice of God as their guide and obey Him alone.

         3. Areas of Opposition: His...

      5. Family

         1. Eliab said “I know your arrogance and your evil heart” 2. Authority

         2. Saul said “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth” 3. Enemy

         3. Goliath said ““Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?”” 4. Self

         4. David was about 17 years old when he showed up on the scene. He was too young to even be in battle, yet this didn’t stop him or slow him down. 5. With great opposition comes great opportunity. When you are opposed to the enemies plan then you give great opportunity for victory in Jesus name.

         5. His Preparation Was Timely
            1. 33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.” 34 David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
            2. It was all a set up

      6. What if the very things in your life that you see as a hold up, is actually a set up?

      7. David had already been anointed King by Samuel, yet he is still serving the soldiers bread and cheese? He’s still tending to the “few sheep”? He’s still the kings armor-bearer? Hold up?!

      8. His Attitude Was Humble

         1. 37 Then David said, “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.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
         2. Check your source

      9. All credit, authority, and power come from God, David recognized this right out of the gate.

      10. If he did it for me, then, He will do it again

      11. His Methods Were Unusual

          1. 38 Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor. 39 David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.”
          2. You be you!

      12. Saul tried to outfit him with his armor and conventional weapons, but it actually hindered Davids effectiveness.

      13. If we’re not careful, the very thing that's meant to protect us, could be the thing that paralyzes us if we try to live out someone else's story.

      14. Yes the method is unusual, unconventional, but in order to take down a giant that hasn’t been taken out before, maybe we should try methods that haven’t been tried before!

          3. Average in the hand of God becomes savage real quick!

      15. The tools may appear too simple or too weak, but with God little is much.

      16. His Conviction was Unshakable

          1. 48 When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown to the ground. - 1 Samuel 17:48-49
          2. He didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk

      17. Too many of us face the giant and have all the best comebacks, but then shrink back when push comes to shove.

      18. Trust moves forward, faith is forward, obedience does not give us, walk away, or retreat!

          3. It should have been Saul, but God chose David

      19. Saul stood head and shoulders over his men and had great experiences in battle, but he was a coward and did not trust God.

      20. David was not concerned with convenience, but conviction. This philistine was defying the living God and he was not going to stand by, he was going to step up.
      21. His Victory Was Empowering
          1. “The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron.” - 1 Samuel 17:52
          2. It takes one person to move beyond the impossible, steps out in faith, and do the unthinkable to rally the masses behind the vision.

Closing: Too Big To Miss (Goliath/Boulder)

YOU’RE NOT DAVID.

AND WE’RE NOT THE ISRAELITE NATION

WE’RE THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, AND IN HIM AND HIM ALONE CAN WE LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE.

You see, David’s victory, which was ultimately the Lord’s, became Israel's victory. When we step out in faith and live a life of obedience to God, we may be the first to confront and take out the giant, but the benefits of that victory becomes a victory for those around us.

The only reason these qualities are true, is because they are true of Jesus.

David & Jesus

David and Jesus had humble beginnings (Shepherd/Carpenters Son)

David and Jesus were born in Bethlehem

David and Jesus were appointed to be king

David and Jesus came through the Abrahamic lineage

David was 30 years old when he began his reign (2 Samuel 5:4)

Jesus was 30 years old when he began his ministry (Luke 3:23)

David’s victory, gave victory to all of israel

Jesus victory, gave victory to all the world

David risked it all, Jesus gave it all

Jesus is the greater David. Jesus is the greater king! Jesus is the king of kings and the Lord of Lords.

The story is so much bigger than David & Goliath. It’s bigger than the Israelite nation, it’s bigger than overcoming obstacles, this story and the entire history of the OT is pointing to one savior Jesus Christ! The savior and redeemer of the world!