Give Me A Man

A Faithful Saint ~ PART 2 ~ A Study of David

Read 1 Samuel 17: (It’s 58 verses ~ but you can do it!)

 “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” the Philistine said. (Verse 10)

What I noticed most here again is the arrogance of the colossal Philistine, and the various reactions of David, Saul, David’s brothers, and the men of Israel.

My question to you: What made David different?

Saul, the men of Israel, with the eldest three of Jesse were men of war.


But when they heard the words of the Philistine champion, Goliath, “they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” (v11) When the men of Israel saw the man “they fled from him, and were sore afraid.” (v24)

But David was a very young man; just a youth.

And he was a shepherd;
He faithfully tended his father’s flocks; his sheep.

Jesse knew God was with David and that he would be the next king of Israel and sends him to the battle field on an errand saying, “Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched [corn], and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of [their] thousand, ‘and look how thy brethren fare’, and take their pledge."

Notice that David didn’t go looking for a fight; he was a shepherd.

(V20 says) David “shouted for the battle.” ~ He was very zealous for Israel.

(V22 says) David “left the carriage in the hands of a keeper” ~ this he did also earlier with the sheep. (verse20) ~ He was a responsible boy.

(V22 says) David “ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.”

He was a courageous lad. ~ And he was a respectful lad.

David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (v32) ~ He said “thy servant”; Again he was humble.  And he was courageous.

Pastor Laurence Brown asks, “Why did David insist that he could stand up to  Goliath, the evil superman of the Philistines?  Was he foolish or stupid?”  Then he says, “No, he had a very good reason for his confidence.” (See verse 36) Goliath will be killed just like the lion and the bear, because he has ‘taunted the armies of the living God.’” ~ David had great faith.

In fact David was so sure of it he told Goliath to his face.

“The Philistine said unto David, ‘Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.” (v43)

Then said David to the Philistine, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” (v45)

“This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (v46)

“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.” (v47)

So back to my question to you: We have looked at how David was different but My question to you was: What made David different?

Do you know? The Answer is in Chapter 16.

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” 1 Sam. 16:13

The answer is not really a ‘what’ but a Who.

“and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.”

There is no indication how much time elapsed between 1 Sam.16:13, David’s anointing and chapter 17, the battle with the Philistines.  I suspect when he killed the lion and the bear defending the sheep, he did so in the power of the Spirit.  Certainly when he fought courageously against Goliath defending God’s honor, as a patriot of Israel, he did so in the power of the Spirit.

As New Testament believers;

When we are filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18)

When we are led of the Spirit. (Rom. 8:14)

When we are walking in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:16,25)

When we are united in the Spirit. (Eph. 4:3)

We can do and be all these things and more. (Phil. 4:13)

We become humble, while the Spirit in us magnifies our Jesus.

“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him;” 1 Samuel 17:50

“He must increase, WE must decrease!”

Let Us Go On

Every believer who has been a student of the Word for any length of time ought to be a teacher of some sort.  Teaching a Sunday school class perhaps.  Teaching friends.  Everyone has some who ‘look up’ to them and will listen.  Everyone is a ‘shepherd’ of sorts.  I placed that in hyphens because I do not mean to suggest that everyone is a  pastor.  I said “everyone is a ‘shepherd’ of sorts.”  Perhaps also ‘looking up’ is not the right term here because we are not to ‘look down’ on anyone.  We are to come along beside as many as we can.  We all ought to be teaching in some capacity.  Fulfilling the great co-mission is teaching.  Our testimony teaches.  If it teaches the right things then our words will be a powerful tool for the kingdom.


God says…


“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers,”


But he said to these Hebrew believers…


“ ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” 
(Hebrews 5:12)


He said they were just babies and they needed to get off the milk.


“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.” (Hebrews 5:13)


God gave the New Testament church pastors (shepherds) and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, so that the saints could be capable of fulfilling their role in the world.


Their role as witnesses.
Their role as ambassadors.
Thier resposiblility to Love one another.
Their responsibility to edify one another.
Their responsibility to speak the truth lovingly.
He said…


“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” (Ephesians 4:11-16)


As I grew in the LORD I didn’t literally leave my ABC’s (I am learning my ABG’s though.(N.T. Greek is very intriguing to me.)); I didn’t literally leave my ABC’s because we need the building blocks to build the building.  Without the blocks the church could not be built.


Warren Weirsbe says in his book Be Strong that “A wise leader doesn’t completely abandon the past but builds on it as he moves towards the future.  Moses is mentioned fifty-seven times in the book of Joshua, evidence that Joshua respected Moses and what he had done for Israel.”


Weirsbe says “There was continuity from one leader to the next, but there wasn’t always conformity; for each leader is different and must maintain his individuality.”


At some point we who desire to be teachers (and by implication leaders of sorts) must leave the milk and move on to meat…


“strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)


We must learn to discern between right and wrong.
We must fear God; hold to the good and eschew the evil.
We must be ‘philagathos’ ~
lovers of good men. (Titus 1:8)
or simply put "lovers of good".
As we feed on strong meat we become strong,

And those we influence become strong too,
Jesus increases in their lives,
And we decrease.


“He must increase, WE (teachers) must decrease!”

To quote the Karate Kid's master... 
Wax on, wax off, young apprentice. :)

Or to be more current...
Jacket on, Jacket off, strong arms. Smooth motion. :)

One last quote by Wiersbe... he said "Twice in these verses (Josh. 1:1-9) Moses is called God's servant, but Joshua was also the servant of God (Josh. 24:29).  The important thing is not the servant but the Master."  It is important to remember those who have taught us good things.

Galatians 6:6 Says... "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."

But also Hebrews 6:1 says "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;  (Let us go on unto maturity.) not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,"


Let Us Go On Unto Perfection.
Let Us Grow Up
and Go ON Unto
Maturity.
Teach.
Share.
Grow
and
Go.

Go and tell what great things the LORD hath done for you.


“He must increase, WE must decrease!”

I highlighted some things in rainbow colors because I wanted to share Out of the Mouths of Babes with you...

God Looks on The Heart

(A Faithful Saint ~ The Life of David ~ PART 1)

Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13 

When God sent Samuel to anoint David to be king in the room or place of Saul because He had rejected Saul from continuing as king many things stand out in my mind as to Samuel’s, Jesse’s, and other persons mindset in the matter.

God said to Samuel “go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” (Verse 1)

Then He said “I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.” (v3)

1^st     It’s interesting to me to note how the townspeople reacted to Samuel’s coming.  “the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?” (v4)  Many of them were confused and fearful, uncertainty had caused them to tremble.  Many were uncertain of Saul and thought that Samuel was in with Saul.  Perhaps because Saul was the 'peoples choice' and they witnessed Samuel rebuke Saul and hack Agag in little pieces. (1 Sam. 15:33); perhaps that's why they were afraid.  The text doesn't really say why.

2^nd    Samuel was definitely not in with Saul in the sense that they thought… When God told him to go anoint a new king he said… “How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me.” (v2)

3^rd    Jesse called his sons to stand before Samuel. Well, at least the older, bigger, stronger, seemingly more favorable choices.  Perhaps he never thought to call David or perhaps he thought, “Someone has to tend the sheep.”  David was a good little shepherd boy in their eyes.

4^th     Also when Samuel looked on Eliab he said “Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.”

God said, " No Samuel. You’re wrong.” (paraphrase mine) 

Likewise he did with the other six sons of Jesse.  It must have begun to get old… perhaps by the time the seventh passed by Samuel; Samuel could almost anticipate the answer. 

The last key in the bunch always opens the lock.  Unless you don’t have all the keys.  In this case they didn’t have all the keys.

Why is it that we almost always judge things based on externals instead of through prayer, patience, and trusting God’s providence?

God said to Samuel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him (Eliab): for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

God had a man in mind, a man after His own heart, and He had a plan to employ in order to reveal that man.

What a fine choice he was too… Oh would to God that we could be men after God’s own heart in every situation, in every way, every day!

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” (v13)

When we seek first the kingdom of God and His right,

when we acknowledge the Lord in all our ways,

when we call on Him.

He will show us great and mighty things

which we as of yet have not learned.

He will increase, we will decrease.

"He must increase, WE must decrease!"

These studies will be labeled "A Faithful Saint"

If you want to follow along.