“David’s Giant-sized Defender”

July 5, 2009 1Samuel 17:22-27, 32-37, 41-49    Play AUDIO (mp3)  Play VIDEO (wmv)

●    OUTNUMBERED BY CRITICISM NINE-TO-ONE

    ○    requires 9 affirming comments to even out 1 critical comment

●    THE MAN FOR THE MOMENT

    ○    God prepared David to be a fine well-spoken warrior-poet (16:18)
    ○    a man after God’s own heart (1Sam 13:14; Ac 13:22)
    ○    eager for the whole world to know and honour God (17:46; Ex 9:16; Josh 4:24)

●    RELY ON GOD’S RESOURCES, NOT YOUR OWN

    ○    Goliath formidable in height and equipment - even compared to Saul (10:23)
    ○    David’s secret of success: the Lord was with him (18:14; Gen 39:23)
    ○    not by sword or spear that the Lord saves (47)

●    COUNTER EVIL-SPEAKING WITH GOD’S COVENANT PROMISES

    ○    more than likely that Christians will be ridiculed by others (Jn 15:18f)
    ○    Saul’s words not encouraging, either (33)
    ○    eldest brother criticizes David’s motive, maturity, whether he matters, modesty, morality (28; Gen 37:4,8,11)
    ○    David responded trusting God to be his defender (36f; Col 4:6)

●    TAKING CRITICISM IN STRIDE

    ○    Charles Spurgeon encouraged by wife’s reminding of Matthew 5:11