Fight the Good Fight

#22 When Stepping Stones Become Stumbling Blocks 07.25.21

1 Samuel 17:45-54 NASB But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a saber, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you and remove your head from you. Then I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that this entire assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will hand you over to us!” 48 Then it happened, when the Philistine came closer to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone penetrated his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with the sling and the stone: he struck the Philistine and killed him, and there was no sword in David’s hand. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and finished him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah rose up and shouted, and they pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the Philistine dead lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron. 53 Then the sons of Israel returned from their close pursuit of the Philistines, and plundered their camps. 54 And David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.

Considerations

· Victories are usually hard-fought, hard-won, and sometimes hardly-noticed.

· Other times they are misunderstood, overvalued, or undervalued.

· David won by three principles.

1. Purpose: “I will.” He ran quickly toward the battle.

2. Progression: “Lion and bear” - and I’m still growing.

3. Power: This battle will be won by The Lord. “Some may trust in horses, some may trust in chariots but we will trust in the name of our God.”

· Victory can be dangerous.

· God has given us some victories over the past 28 years; we ought to be able to celebrate sensibly and with humility.

· In every church there are:

1. Those who make things happen,

2. Those who watch things happen,

3. Those who don’t realize anything has happened.

· Not that we’re everything we ought to be; nor are we everything we will be, but we aren’t what we used to be either.

· We are growing in key areas and we are celebrating victories. AND I TRULY BELIEVE THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

In chapter 18, we will see some reactions to the victory in chapter 17.

1 Samuel 18:1-12, 28-30 Now it came about, when he had finished speaking to Saul, that Jonathan committed himself to David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2 And Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his military gear, including his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5 And David went into battle wherever Saul sent him, and always achieved success; so Saul put him in charge of the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 Now it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with other musical instruments. 7 The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” 8 Then Saul became very angry, for this lyric displeased him; and he said, “They have given David credit for ten thousands, but to me they have given credit for only thousands! Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David with suspicion from that day on. 10 Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand. 11 Then Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from his presence, twice. 12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had left Saul. 28 When Saul saw and realized that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually. 30 Then the commanders of the Philistines went to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David was more successful than all the servants of Saul. So his name was held in high esteem.

I. Partnership (18:1-4)

A. A wise thing…typified by Jonathan

B. Do we know how to celebrate the victory of another church?

C. “If you can’t shout in another man’s meeting, you might not be shouting over what you think you are shouting over.”

D. For Jonathan to celebrate David, the result would eventually be the lessening of himself.

E. There is not a trace of jealousy in Jonathan, in fact the bond between these two men transcends Jonathan’s lifetime.

F. If anyone had reason to be jealous it was Jonathan, but he knew David’s heart, and he knew the heart of God.

II. Praise (18:6-7)

A. A mixed thing…manifested by the women of Israel

B. Misdirected but understandable

C. There is a delicate balance here.

1. It is right to honor men and women. But it should be in context and proper measure.

2. Paul thanked people for their help and honored people for their ministry.

3. But after all the accolades, everyone clearly understood that the honor and glory belongs to the Lord.

D. When we forget this lesson, we find we can overcome mighty Jericho and then ignominiously be defeated by little Ai.

E. Achan forgot that not only the Battle belonged to the Lord, but the spoils of war belonged to the Lord, too.

F. Lesson:

1. Accept appropriate appreciation, but let praise go through and up.

2. “Be ye kind one to another.”

3. And learn to treat criticism the same way.

4. And if you want to own the praise, you have to own the criticism. Or you can give both to the One who can handle it all.

III. Pride (18:8-12)

A. An unwise thing…manifested by Saul

B. “An evil spirit from the Lord” points us to the judgment of God upon an individual.

C. “Turned over to” as in 2 Thessalonians 2

1. Marked by anger (v. 8)

2. Marked by jealousy (v. 9)

3. Marked by fear (v. 12)

D. “I was not an Absalom when I was young; I will not be a Saul when I become old.” A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards

IV. Prudence (18:1-30)

A. A humble thing…manifested by David

B. Prudent is described as virtuous wisdom that directs the action adequately towards an end; the ability to understand what is the wise thing to do. Wise behavior. HUMILITY OF LIFE.

C. Praise either does something good or bad to you, depending on what you have cultivated in your inner person.

D. Proverbs 27:21 NASB The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him. (“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.” NLT)

E. A victory in your life brings to the surface precious gold and silver, or worthless dross (foreign matter, dregs, or mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface of molten metal.)

F. “Some people are impossible to get along with because they think they are impossible to get along without.” Adrian Rogers

G. David’s response: “Who am I that I should be the King’s son-in-law?”

H. Psalm 131:1-3 - a Psalm of David

Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes arrogant;

Nor do I involve myself in great matters,

Or in things too difficult for me.

I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul;

Like a weaned child resting against his mother,

My soul within me is like a weaned child.

Israel, wait for the Lord

From this time on and forever.