David is one of the most documented figures in the ancient world. Influenced a lot of art throughout the world.
David is the Shepherd King, the Warrior Poet, the Military Musician.
Certainly the most iconic king in Jewish history and much of history.

Their strategy here in our text was for their hero, Goliath, to challenge an Israelite opponent. If Goliath won, the Philistines would win access to the Hill Country.

This man to man combat reflects an ancient style of fighting, in which armies spend some time shouting insults at each other, until one side loses self-control and rushes into battle, or else, as here, a duel between champions decides the outcome of the battle.

The people of God are being taunted and mocked by one of their enemies.
And the text says that Goliath had been mocking and blaspheming their God for 40 days…

We will see Scripture the compare and contrast of two main characters.

Goliath is massive and technically superior. When they send out Goliath, their champion, meaning "man between". Many details are given on his armor and appearance to draw you into the fear of the Israelite experience.

Meanwhile, David is noted to be small, young, and not prepared for battle.

*notice:
David is the only one who doesn’t refer to Goliath as a giant.
He has this BIG obstacle - rightly sized because of his God saturated mind - others have allowed a fear-saturated mindset to creep in.

David has godly confidence in his present because of God's faithfulness in his past.

David then gives a speech.
The speech is longer than the fight and — that is the whole point…

The hero God raises up takes down the giant opposing the people of God.

So how do we apply this to our daily lives???
Our oppositions and challenges are great, so we need to muster up our ‘inner David’ and attack them unconventionally and with innovation…
So GET OUT there and kill your problems!!!

...but what if this isn't about a pump-up rally...

God did not send the Israel army a pump-up speech and ask them to believe in themselves, and He doesn't do that to us either.

==God sent a substitute, a champion - “a man between", a HERO.
that says, "I will step in for you. I will fight for you. I will do what you can’t."
“My victory will count for you."

For the Israelites on that day, it was David - foreshadowing what Jesus would do for all of humanity that would look to Him…

Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

We can keep going in our daily battles and struggles because we have already been given ultimate victory in Christ.

We can keep enduring and not have courage evaporate.
We can persevere and not lose hope.
We can take a stand and not give ground.
We can move forward and not run away.
We live by faith, we don’t cower in fear.

Keep your eyes on JESUS.

We need to fix our eyes on our King. Our Champion. Our HERO.
He has overcome and we have hope in our present and we have a future because of HIM…

Aren't you glad you got to church tonight?!

We gather together to be equipped and to encourage one another as we prepare to step into a new week carrying the hope and the light of Jesus within us!

Join us next Sunday as we continue our SUMMER SERIES "The Shepherd King...a look into the life of David.

Get info on all of the upcoming events in the Elements City church app:
-Happy FATHER'S DAY - we sure appreciate all our Dad's, Grandpa's and Father figures!
-New here recently? Join us for the next Party with the Pastors coming up August 2nd; info in the app or online
-Join us at ROADIES - an Elements crew will be hanging out Monday July 14th if you want to join in and check it out with us; info in the app.
- Registration for the Marriage Retreat is soon closing; $50 saves your spot as a couple. Sign up in May to guarantee your spot for Retreat August 9-11.