Hello and welcome back to Cultivating Growth. We want to thank everyone for joining us this week. We are beginning a new month, and therefore a new topic. We're gonna be talking about David. Throughout this month, we're gonna break, uh, this conversation into three sections as we have over the past few months.

With the topics we've covered, we're gonna talk about David and the story of Goliath. Today and then next week we'll follow that up with David and Bathsheba, and then we will conclude our conversation talking about David as a man after God's own heart. And then we'll wrap up the month with a guest. So that's what we have to look forward to over the coming few weeks.

We hope you'll join us for all of those. So with that, let's get into the discussion today about David and Goliath.

Well, John, you made mention that this month we're going to spend our time kind of focusing in on David and, and he's a unique character in the Old Testament and really for a lot, a lot of different reasons. Yep. I think one of the interesting things and the, the reason we're able to do something like this quite easily is.

Biblically, we have a lot of information about David. Yeah. Even though we don't have necessarily his birth story, his story begins when he's relatively young. Yeah. I mean, young enough that his father didn't even include him in a lineup of his sons. Mm-hmm. To who would be the next king in First Samuel chapter 16.

How old was he there? 10, 11, 12. You know, it's hard to maybe say, but, but really from that point. All the way the rest of his life. Yeah. We have, you know, the picture and there are other characters we have that Moses is certainly one that comes to mind where we have a pretty full picture of his life.

Abraham is another, you know, good example of that. So he's not alone in that. Mm-hmm. But certainly by the time you throw in the Psalms that he pins, you really have a. Full picture of David and he really is a great character for us to study today because like us, there are ups and there are downs. Yeah.

And there are great decisions that he makes and there are bad decisions that he makes, but ultimately his faith in God and his trust in God really comes to the forefront at the beginning of his life, E even all the way through his life. Yeah. I think you make a really important point when talking about David.

Not only do we get. The narrative of his life, which that's what we're gonna talk about a lot today and, and even next week too. But the Psalms give us David's feelings and his emotions and his expressions to God through prayer and song. Throughout these events that take place in his life that we read about and, and so it's really interesting to not only see the story of his life play out, but also get kind of behind the curtain and, and see what he was experiencing emotionally and spiritually as he goes through all of these things.

But you're right in the story of David and Goliath that takes place in one Samuel chapter 17. David is still a relatively young man, young enough that he's not out fighting in this battle mm-hmm. That his brothers are in. And so a again, he, he's still a very young man at this point in time. And certainly this is a story that, uh, kind of kicks off David's legacy, right?

As it will continue to grow and grow. Uh, but he, he comes onto the scene still as of relatively unassuming young boy, and, and everyone in this story takes notice of that. He is out of place. When he comes into a scene of battle that's taking place, these are men that are prepared to fight in battle and he's out of place as a young child.

And, and that is really a part of what makes this story so compelling from a narrative perspective. Because not only are you getting the giant versus, you know, a smaller individual, but that smaller individual is a young person that really had no business being there in the first place. And so all of these ingredients are here to make this a really compelling story.

But I think you made a point, uh, in your, in what you were just saying, that is also really important in this. It's not just a great story. It is. All the kids love it and it's a great story to act out and VBS and all that stuff, it's great, but there are some really important points about God being made in this story and there are some really important things about David that are pointed out.

That are going to be added to over time as we see his character grow and his relationship with God grow. Yeah. You know, it is really just one chapter after we're kind of introduced to David in one Samuel chapter 16, as he is anointed to be the next king. Very young there, but he's clearly, you know, he's a mid to late teenager.

Mm-hmm. You know, at this point you made the point not old enough to be fighting. Yeah. Probably 20 in, in that neighborhood, but not young enough that his dad was at, you know. You know, to give him the task to, you know, to go. And so, you know, it, it is interesting and you do make, you know, a really good point.

I want to kind of accentuate before we get into the text a little bit. David seems to come to the forefront. In this story, we often, we will always say, you know, David and Goliath, David and Goliath, even people who aren't super familiar with the Bible. Yeah. A lot of times are familiar with the David and Goliath story, but God is the star of the show here.

Yeah. And what makes it really powerful is David. He's the one that acknowledges that. Mm-hmm. He, he acknowledges that he's not the star of the show. God is the star of the show. And, and as you read this chapter, that certainly comes forward. And so if you're listening to this, I mean, we'll, we'll cover, you know, bits and pieces and try to get to the beginning, to them, but it is a long chapter.

It is. And maybe it's a chapter you've read a lot of times before. I, I would encourage you to read it again here in the next couple of days. Or maybe it's a chapter you've never read at all. I, I would. Encourage you to read it from the beginning to the end. 58 verses we're not gonna be able to cover all of them, but it is an, it is an unbelievable story and you're right, it really sets us up and introduces us to David and, and really his attitude and understanding a relationship with God that will ultimately carry him through the rest of his life.

You know, and as we get into chapter 17, also, don't, don't forget if you're, if you're listening to this. That it's in chapter 16, that we're told in verse number 13 that the spirit of the Lord had come upon David from that day forward. And so God has already chosen David to be the next king over Israel.

God is with David and will continue to be with him throughout that. And so to your point, that's what really makes this story possible. God is with David. He is preparing him to be the next king. He's already chosen him for that role, and so as David enters into the scene in chapter 17, God is with him leading him along the way.

And so as we get into chapter 17, the Israelites and the Philistines are facing off in a battle. And there is one champion, one giant of the Philistines that is mocking the people of Israel. And more than that, mocking God as well as he's doing that, as he challenges someone to come out and fight him. And he's described as a giant someone that no one from the Israelites wants to face off in a battle against.

He's quite frankly, terrifying them. He is. He is scaring the people of Israel because of his size and his strength and his valor, and nobody wants to face him. And that's the scene that David comes upon is he is really just being sent to bring supplies to his brothers. Right? That's the only reason he's there.

But he comes up on this scene and he sees what's taking place, and David being the man that David is and, and becomes, he begins to inquire as to what's taking place and what is going on. And, and that's kind of the setup for how this story begins. And what really is interesting, the story, certainly when David kind of comes on the scene is, is he's confused.

I mean, he, he is confused how it is that nobody is, is stepping up, you know, to this, uh, giant Goliath who is mock. King, you know Israel each and every day, right? Mm-hmm. And, and he comes on the scene and he, and he doesn't understand. He doesn't understand why there isn't someone, he, he doesn't understand why the king wouldn't go.

I mean, we're, we're certainly not gonna dive into Saul and, and what he's all about, certainly at this time. But we're told just. Physical stature. Saul himself was a big man. Yeah. Yeah. You're right Now, maybe not to certainly the size of Goliath, but we're we're told when he was chosen to be king, he was a head taller than everyone else.

And that physically and visibly he was impressive. And, uh, and Saul's uninterested in, in going up against Goliath and. And David's confused about that. And so he starts acquiring about going himself. And I think there's a really interesting verse that happens in verse 33 that sometimes we miss, that I think sets up the entirety of this story as, as David is in a conversation with Saul, the king.

And, uh, and he's like, you know, I, I think I'll go. Somebody's gonna go. I think I'll be the one. And, and Saul says in verse 33, you, you are not able to go. Against this Philistine to fight with them for your buddy youth. And he, the man, a man of war from his youth. And I've thought about that verse and, and when Saul says to David, you, you're not able to do this.

He's right about that. Yeah. And I don't think David disagrees with him. Yeah, he is absolutely right because it isn't. But just a few verses later in verse 37 that David will make the point. It it, it's not me who's going, it, it is God. And God has, he has done powerful things through me in the past. Mm-hmm.

And he'll do that again. And so I think it's interesting as we read a verse like 33 when Saul's like, you're not able to do this. David doesn't argue. He doesn't argue with them there. Right. He's like, you're right. I'm not able to do this. Well, good thing. I'm not the one that's gonna be up there fighting.

It's going to be God. And I think that really is the source of his confusion, because from David's perspective, he's like, Jehovah would fight for any of you. Mm-hmm. That would step up. Against Goliath, but none of them are that, and that's such an important principle for us today. I think it's, it's worth acknowledging that we, we all struggle with that at times as well.

When we think about the opportunities that God puts in front of us throughout our lives, and a lot of times it's easy to say, listen, I'm just, I'm not equipped for that. I'm not able to do that. Or maybe the more challenging. Thought is someone else could do it better. Yeah. And, and we, we have that problem it seems like all the time, especially.

You know, among brothers and sisters within the church needs arise. And it's easy to say, well, somebody else could do a better job of that. Somebody else could, could handle that better than I could. And and that's what all of Israel was saying right now. Everybody there, everybody was saying that, right?

Somebody else could do a better job of fighting this giant than me. And there's gotta be somebody like David who says. Maybe physically, I'm not the most equipped person to do it, but God blesses those who step out in faith and that's what David did. And we have to be men and women who do that as well in our lives where, where we say, listen, maybe I'm not.

Obviously the best choice to help in this situation, but you know what, I, I have faith that God will bless me if I step out to help someone or step out to, to be an encouragement to someone or step out to, uh, give of myself to someone else. God. God is with those who step out in faith. And David has shown that he knew that about God and that that's where his confidence came from.

It wasn't to your point, because he was such a big, impressive, empowering person. He was still a young man. He, he puts on Saul's armor and it drowns him. I mean, he can't hardly even carry it. He's not an impressive man physically. But it's the courage to step out in faith that leads him to being blessed by God.

And I think the same is true for us today, but we have to have that kind of faith in order to be willing to do that. I think his reaction, David's reaction when he puts Saul's, uh, what he does with Saul's armor really shows it proves the trust that he has in God. Because if he, if he didn't have full trust in God, he would've done everything that he could to put armor on.

That's right. Yeah. And if Sauls didn't fit him, he would've found somebodies, you know that did, but he's, he wasn't interested in any of that. He, he goes out there, if you're familiar with the story, with nothing. Yeah. The clothes he has on, he picks up some, some rocks out of the stream and, and that's it.

And Goliath is just puzzled. He's puzzled by all of this. And he stands and he mocks David. Which is a bad idea, but what is a really bad idea? As you made mention, he, he, he mocks Jehovah. Yeah. And, and ultimately David is able to bring down this giant, but he, he's not looking for the credit. Mm-hmm. We go back to the very beginning of this.

David fully understands through this whole process, from the beginning to the end. Who is at work here, he understands it better than anybody. Yeah. And, and again, to your, to your point that you're making there, when, when David recognizes that God is the one who has blessed him in this endeavor, there it is life altering for David.

Mm-hmm. He, he has seen God work before in his life already. He alludes to that. Right. Even in this chapter, he has seen it before. But he just did something in front of this entire army that no one else had the courage to do, and everyone saw it. And we can see from this point forward, the people of Israel take notice of David.

They begin to see him as someone who is a warrior, and he becomes that man that is known as a warrior throughout all of Israel. This event is a catalyst for that. And I think it, again, it just goes to show what can happen when we step out in faith. Amazing things can happen. Our lives can be taken completely different directions from maybe we thought that the, the, the way they were going, I.

But it takes the courage to act and takes the faith to do things that would make us uncomfortable and to do things that maybe we even think we're not capable of or not qualified to do. But when that happens in our lives, it can be life changing for us. And I think this event in a lot of ways was life changing for David because certainly the people around him from this point forward looked at him totally differently than they had previously.

No question about it. Well, let's close with kind of the culmination of David's understanding as he is in a conversation with Goliath and Goliath as mocking him and mocking, uh, God. He will share this with the giant before he. Brings them down with a stone and, and this is everything about his understanding of God and the way he operates that will make a difference for us as well.

In First Samuel chapter 17, in verse 46, beginning, it says, this day, the Lord will deliver you into my hand and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines, of the birds of the air, and the wild beast of the earth that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

And then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save. What sword or spear for the battle is The Lord's and he'll give to our hands.

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