You and I are reading the exciting conclusion of the story of David and Goliath today. We’re learning to see with eyes of faith instead of eyes of fear. Have you ever put on a new pair of eyeglasses? It takes a little while to get used to them, right? That’s what we’re doing here. We’re putting on our faith glasses. Alright, join me now in First Samuel chapter 17.
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Transcription:
Satan never wastes a fiery dart on an area covered in armor.
Such a powerful thought from one of my favorite Bible teachers on earth, Beth Moore. And it’s definitely the number one way to choose faith over fear on the daily, and we’re going to talk about it in just a few moments here on the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica, I’m so glad you’re here. But first, you and I have to read the exciting conclusion of the story of David and Goliath. Maybe the first time you ever heard this story was from a Sunday school teacher and there was a flannel graph involved. It’s for kids, but it is absolutely for grownups as well. We’re learning to see with eyes of faith instead of eyes of fear. Have you ever put on a new pair of eyeglasses? I’ve had a million pairs in my life, or maybe those three D glasses at the movies, and it takes a little while to get used to them. That’s what we’re doing. We’re putting on our faith glasses. Alright, join me now in First Samuel chapter 17. We’re still in that chapter beginning in verse 32. Let’s eavesdrop on a conversation between a king and a young shepherd. Verse 32.
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” 33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
Okay, right there. Do you see how David clearly has his faith glasses on and Saul has his fear goggles on?!
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Do you hear this proclamation from this young man? It inspires me.
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
Now, Saul’s getting it right. Verse 38 now.
Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. 41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. 45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
Is there something in your life going on right now where you can come at it and say, I come to you in the name of the Lord of heaven’s armies. Speak to that problem, that mountain in your life. Today it’s the Lord who’s going to conquer that problem. Who’s going to help you climb that mountain. What David just said is for you and me, this is the Lord’s battle. Verse 48 now.
As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.
That’s faith running toward a giant!
Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.
In this Bible story, the Philistines are the enemy of the Israelites. In our Bible study this week, fear is our enemy and it has to flee. When we pick up the slice water of faith, we can chase it down with our faith, knowing that it’s the Lord’s battle; he’s going to fight for us. That’s what we’re promised in Exodus 14:14. Okay, back to Beth Moore’s words from the beginning of this episode.
Satan never wastes a fiery dart on an area covered in armor.
It’s crazy to think that we have not just enemies like fear and doubt that chase us, but an actual enemy. Satan, right? He’s also God’s enemy. But God is on our side and we are told so clearly in Ephesians chapter six from the apostle Paul, how to fight every day we’ve got to armor up. So join me right now in Ephesians chapter six, beginning in verse 13.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Just like David after he took on Goliath with the Lord, right?
Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
You and I have been talking about it as the fly swatter of faith. Shield… I like that better. Right? Stronger.
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Every day, in order to put on our faith glasses, we’ve got to put on the armor of God. We’ve got to stand sure and strong in the fact that we have been saved by the blood of Jesus. We have to pick up his Word like you and I are doing right now, studying his Word together. Put on the shoes of peace and hold up the shield of faith. Put on the belt of truth. We’ve got to know what the truth is. And do you remember when David put on Saul’s armor? It didn’t fit him. You can’t put on your mom’s armor of God, or your dad’s, or your grandma’s. It’s got to be your armor. It’s your walk of faith. It’s your belief in the Lord that gives you the ability to have eyes of faith. Okay, until next time, armor up and know that you are so loved.
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