David (1 Samuel) (11.9.1985) — Nigel Lee

The Failures of Eli’s Priesthood and King Saul

1 Samuel. We've seen two failures so far. In the first seven chapters, the failure of the priesthood, the two sons of Eli, worthless men, says scripture. They did not know the Lord, they sought their own satisfaction first, above that of God, even though they were involved in religious service, it was all ultimately for their own benefit.

And they were even causing others to sin. Their own spiritual deadness led other people around them, eventually, as it inevitably will, into sin against the Lord. Failure of the priesthood. And then from chapters 8 to 15, we saw the failure, in spite of all God's training and patience and coaching, the failure of King Saul.

And now God is going to introduce us to his King. You see, right from chapter 1, as we've been seeing, in spite of things being so appalling, gloomy, national disasters taking place, God is still quietly at work, out of the limelight, making a way for his word, raising up those that will speak his word, those that will be his instruments of government through his word according to the covenant.

God has his eye on the whole of Israel and he sees David. And he's going to appoint David to be the King after his own heart. Saul is dismissed in chapter 15 for two reasons. He had done what he was not told to do and he had not done what he was told to do.

If you just turn back to chapter 13 for a moment, verses 8 to 10, we will see that. Saul, verse 8 of chapter 13, waited for seven days, the time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal. And Saul's men began to scatter.

Just as he was losing the donkeys when we first met him, now he's losing the people. So he said, bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, and Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived.

He'd done what he'd been told in chapter 8, verse 10, not to do. He'd been told to wait. And then in chapter 15, verse 9, he'd not done what he'd been told to do. 15, verse 9,. But Saul and the army spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and tattle, the fat calves and lambs, everything that was good.

These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak and blind and lame, that they totally destroyed. But they kept back for themselves what was best, even though God in the early verses of the chapter, particularly verse 3, had said utterly, totally, completely, destroy the Amalekites and everything that belongs to them.

And so in verse 26 of chapter 15, Samuel says, I will not go back with you, You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel. You remember how in chapter 8 when we were looking at that, how the people came in response to Samuel's sons going astray, and their solution to the problem of sons not taking after their father, was to plead for a hereditary monarchy.

Stupid. And God saw it this way. He said, look, they haven't just rejected you Samuel, they've rejected me as king. Chapter 8, verse 7, They have rejected me as king over them. OK, well, let them have their own way.

Let's teach them by giving them their own way. God did all for that king that he could have done. But now he has to reject the king, just as the people had rejected God. Now here, God rejects King Saul, because Saul himself is not governable.

If we are not governed by the word of God ourselves, we are unfit to have any leadership, any authority, any position where we are to lead through service in the kingdom of God. And so in chapter 16 now, we see God choosing David.

God Chooses David by Looking at the Heart

Let's read together. The Lord said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem.

I have chosen one of his sons to be king. And then in the middle of verse 5, Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord.

But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass in front of Samuel, but Samuel said, The Lord has not chosen this one either. Jesse then made Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, Nor has the Lord chosen this one.

Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Samuel said to him, The Lord has not chosen these. So he asked Jesse, Are these all the sons you have? There is still the youngest, Jesse answered. Not sure where he is right now.

A little squeak of a lamp, I think he's off looking after the sheep. Samuel said, Send for him. We will not sit down until he arrives. So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy with a fine appearance and handsome features, fresh out of the fields.

Then the Lord said, Rise and anoint him. He is the one. So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. And from that day on, the spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.

You notice the contrast. God deliberately says to Samuel, It's not a matter of outward appearance. It's not a matter of education. It's not a matter of what the person seems to have done in life that mankind would count as qualifications.

Verse 7, The Lord looks at the heart. Those who love God with all their heart. Those who commune with God in their heart, God knows them. Those who are upright in heart, who seek to serve the Lord with a whole heart, God knows them.

God knows us as we sit, we stand, we move around this conference. He knows us. And although David didn't look very much, he was in fact regarded by his brethren as the youngest, most foolish little character.

They're irritated by him every time they see him. God in fact chooses him. Turn over to 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians, chapter 1. And Paul there reminds the Corinthians, who had an inclination to be a little bit proud of themselves, of this same principle.

Verse 26, Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Look around the church next time you gather with them. Look around the OM conference or the discussion group, just have a look. Think of those on your team.

Not many of you were wise by human standards. Not many of you had PhDs, not many of you were influential, not many of you were of noble birth. God deliberately chose the foolish things in order to shame the wise.

God chose, out of all that he could have chosen, he deliberately chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Sometimes when you look at your churches you think, well how on earth can we make any impact in our district?

We've got one or two people here who are soft in the head. We've got people who've been through this crisis and that crisis that seem to have left them emotionally lame for life. We've got folk who really aren't very much.

And God has chosen us out of the community in order that through us he might have an impact on the district. How can God do it? Why does God work this way? God has deliberately picked out the foolish and the weak and the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him.

In chapter 2 of 1 Corinthians, verse 12. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

God does a supernatural work. He speaks through people who may outwardly look very weak, because he wants to speak spiritually. Now God has chosen David against all the expectations, even of Samuel. Now we're going to move quickly on through the story.

David’s Ministry to Saul and the Kindness of God

How does God begin to move his chosen one into the palace? Well, from verse 14 to 23, we see how God does it. Here comes now another stage in the training process of David, that which Saul so many ways lacks.

Saul actually summons David. How is God going to get this shepherd boy, whom he has chosen as king, into the palace? Well, amazingly, Saul the king actually summons him to come. Saul is disintegrating.

He's not in harmony with God at all. His mind, his conscience are in a most fevered state. Mind and spirit all destroyed. And Saul sends for David, in order that he may come and soothe him. Play his harp.

Sing things like Psalm 23 to him. Put his hand on his fevered brow. Calm him down. You know, our God is exceedingly kind. Saul has become more and more rebellious. More angry. Less and less in control.

He's turned his back on all that God has said. That man is drifting inexorably towards his rendezvous with the witch of Endor. He's going to attempt to kill the Lord's Anointed. He's going to cause upheaval and bloodshed amongst God's people.

He's going to bring so much damage and heartache amongst the people of God. And yet, still, God in his kindness will have his servant David go and be kind to him. Calm him down. Make him feel easier. Minister to him when these attacks come.

That, friends, is the kindness of God, even to his enemies. Jesus of Nazareth. Walking in Palestine. Slipping away from those occasions when they tried to kill him. And all the time ministering in love and kindness to those that were ultimately going to stand and say, We will not have this man to reign over us.

Crucify him. Crucify him. He never dealt with them with anything less than love and kindness and patience. Because that's the way God is. Even with the Jews. God will cause a ministry of loving kindness to come to this decrepit old man who's destroying himself and will take others to death with him.

God, you know, he puts barriers in the way of people. People drift, it's true, towards a lost eternity. And yet, God will plead with them. God will warn them. God will give them a different example. God, by his Holy Spirit, will put every hindrance in their way that they may not just go unwarned out into that utter darkness that they choose for themselves.

Goliath and the Failure of Saul’s Calling

That's the way God is. And God causes his own servant, David, the king whom he has anointed, to come and complete that ministry. And then over into chapter 17. Chapter 17. Let's read together. Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Soco in Judah.

They pitched camp at Ephes Damim between Soco and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another with the valley between them.

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gad, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of scale armour of bronze weighing five thousand shekels.

On his legs he wore bronze greaves and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.

Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel. Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects.

But if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us. Then the Philistines said, this day I defy the ranks of Israel. Give me a man and let us fight each other. He was a huge hunk of man, yelling these things at Israel, afraid of nobody.

On hearing the Philistines' words, Saul, who was the tallest in all Israel you may remember, people would have been looking to him to have a go. Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

Saul, you see, had been appointed to deal with the Philistines. That was his mandate. That was what the people had asked for. In chapter 8 verse 20, they had come and said to Samuel, will you give us a king, that he may go out before us into battle.

In chapter 9 and verse 16, those had been the terms of the mandate he had been given. Chapter 9 verse 16, God had said to Samuel about this time tomorrow, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin.

Anoint him, leader over my people Israel. He will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me. That was his job. That's what God had called him to do, and yet he cannot do it.

He's utterly terrified. What sort of people were the Philistines? We're quite used to thinking somewhat in terms of national characteristics. We have to be careful not to completely categorise people, but you do know what you think of when you think of a typical German, don't you?

Or a typical Italian. I mean, all the actual Italians that you meet are not the typical Italian, but you know what you mean by a typical Irishman, or Scotsman, or Englishman, maybe some of you. I mean, it's a matter of their history, and their culture, and their weather, and all kinds of other influences that have gone to make them what they are.

And as you walk around the conference, you can see the differences between the different nationalities, can't you? You try and organise the French. Unbelievably difficult job. Germans are different. You know, let me tell you secrets.

If I want to get certain jobs done in the conference, in an emergency, I will tend to look to certain nationalities for certain jobs. If I want something cleaned up, I go for the Swiss. You will not get a room cleaner than a Swiss person can get it if they set their mind to it.

People have these national characteristics. And the Bible thinks in the same way at times. It speaks of Amalekites, we'll meet them later. It speaks of Philistines. Now, what were the characteristics of the Philistines?

Well, they're frequently spoken of in the Bible as uncircumcised Philistines, outside the covenant of God. They represent, whenever they appear, unregenerate flesh. Carnality through and through. Actually, if you'll turn back, where shall we turn to?

1 Corinthians again? 1 Corinthians chapter 3, you find Paul speaking to the Corinthians about the problem of their carnality. At the beginning of chapter 3, the word that is used in the NIV is the word worldly.

It's related to carnality. Brothers, I couldn't address you as spiritual, but as carnal, as worldly. Mere infants in Christ, I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed, you're still not ready, you are still carnal.

You're still like the Philistines in many ways. But since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not carnal, worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? The problem of Philistinism, right there in the Corinthian church.

Now, the Philistines, sometimes, genetically, produced very, very big men. Huge, great, quarrelsome mountains of flesh. In fact, as you read through 1 Corinthians, again, you do see that Corinth is plagued by a number of big men.

Quarrelsome men who make factions and parties, who gather groups around themselves, who fight against other groups. There's quite an outbreak of the characteristics of the Philistines there in Corinth.

Now, Saul was tall. No good being tall when you meet someone who's taller. He's now faced with a bigger man than he's ever met in his life before. What is he going to do? You see, one day, friends, we will be faced with a bigger one still.

More powerful. More mighty. More a consummation of all that is carnal and rebellious in the heart of man. The man that the Bible speaks of as the man of lawlessness. Huge, self-confident, defying God to his face.

One day, that man will walk on this planet and he will seek to govern the entire world. And he will seek to bring all God's people into subjection to him. He's a big man. The Bible says plainly he's coming.

Now, how will that man eventually be defeated? How will we deal with him? How will God deal with him? How will God's anointed king deal with him? Because that is what we're going to see here in this chapter 17.

David’s Faith in God’s Deliverance

Well, let's read on. Turn to verse 31. David has come to the camp. He's been sent with some food supplies by his dad. He's given it out to his brothers. And the little lad has got into conversation with the brothers and he's annoyed them again.

And he's started asking pertinent questions. And verse 31. What David said was overheard. And reported to Saul. And Saul sent for him. Sent for him again. Ah well, maybe Israel will do that one day. Having dismissed him once, they may well send for him again.

David said to Saul. This is David taking the initiative now. Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go out and fight him. Saul replied. You're not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him.

You're only a boy. And he has been a fighting man from his youth. It's a matter of experience, said Saul. Fine one to talk about experience. I mean, look at Goliath. He's a man in his maturity. Rock hard muscles.

Killed dozens of people. He is the single combat hero of all the Philistines. We've hardly ever been plagued or terrorized by a worse than that. I mean, I appreciate that you've got a bit of spirit, David.

You feel a bit warlike when you hear this man saying these things. I mean, I feel the same. Don't misunderstand me. But David. What is he going to do to you? You're a lad. One swipe of that enormous great sword.

And you'll be in bits, David. David said to Saul. If it's a matter of experience. I have a little experience. It's in that one area, Saul, where you have not experience. David said to Saul, verse 34. Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep.

When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it. Struck it. Rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it. Killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear.

This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them. Because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear. Will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.

David claims experience of trusting God. Verses 36, 37. Precisely that experience which Saul is lacking. You know, fear is a strange enemy, isn't it? It suddenly comes and grips your heart. You get suddenly afraid of what's happening.

And really the only antidote to it is to know God and His word a bit better. So finally, Saul agrees. Listen to him at the end of verse 37. Saul said to David, go and the Lord be with you. What? Pious old flat trap.

Why couldn't Saul have gone and the Lord be with him? Then David, from verse 38, chooses his weapons. Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head.

David fastened on his sword over the tunic. And tried walking around. Because he was not used to them. I cannot go in these, he said to Saul. Because I'm not used to them. So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand.

Chose five smooth stones from the stream. Put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag. And with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. Meanwhile the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him.

Kept coming closer to David. He looked David over. And saw that he was only a boy. Ruddy and handsome. And he despised him. And he said to David, am I a dog? That you come at me with sticks. I mean this was a monumental insult to a man of Goliath's class.

The great single combat hero of all. Of the Philistines. And the best that Israel can send out. Is a lad with a stick that you'd whack a dog with. Am I a dog he says. Come here. I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.

David standing a good little distance away. Said to the Philistine. You come against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I come against you. In the name of the Lord almighty the God of the armies of Israel.

Whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me. And I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air. And the beasts of the earth.

And the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know. That it's not by sword or spear that the Lord saves. For the battle is the Lord's. And he will give all of you.

Into our hands. As the Philistine moved closer to attack him. David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag. Taking out a stone. He swung it. And struck the Philistine on the forehead.

The stone sank into his forehead. And he fell face down on the ground. Just exactly like Dagon had done. In one of the earlier chapters. The God of the Philistines. So David triumphed over the Philistine.

With a sling and a stone. Without a sword in his hand. Holy Spirit is very careful to say that. He struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword.

And drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him. He cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead. They turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah. Surged forward with a shout.

And pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath. And to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewed along the Shaareim road to Gath and Ekron. When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines.

They plundered their camp. David took the Philistine's head. And brought it to Jerusalem. And he put the Philistine's weapons in his own tent. As Saul watched David. Going out to meet the Philistine. He said to Abner.

Commander of the army. Abner. Whose son is that man? Abner replied. As surely as you live O king. I don't know. The king said. Find out whose son this young man is. As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine.

Abner took him. And brought him before Saul. With David still holding the Philistine's head. Whose son are you young man? Saul asked. David said. I am the son of your servant Jesse. Of Bethlehem. Some of the very clever critics you know.

They've suggested that this is evidence that. One Samuel was put together piecemeal. A bit here and a bit there. I mean Saul should have known. Who David was. Because he's been. Benefiting from his. Part ministry.

Chapter or two early. They missed the point. Saul isn't concerned about who David is. He wants to know whose father he is. Whose father he comes from. Because you see. Saul has promised that whoever deals with the Philistine.

Well he's going to marry the king's daughter isn't he? I mean David's father is going to become a relative. If he doesn't watch out. They're going to be intertwined by marriage. The whole of the kingdom.

David’s Simple Weapons and Spiritual Warfare

All his plans for his dynasty. His house is all bound up with what this lad is going to do. And so he desperately wants to know who this chap's dad is. Turn back to. David's choice of weapons. Notice that he puts aside the wrong ones.

For a number of reasons. One is that they wouldn't have scared Goliath. Not a scrap. David turning up in Saul's armor. Wouldn't have impressed. A man like Goliath in any way. In any way David would probably have got killed.

Because Goliath's weapons were bigger and better. And if he wore Saul's armor. It would have hindered him. Prevented him from using the right weapons. And yet it must have taken tremendous courage. Imagine it.

You're going out against this enormous fellow. I mean he's so tall. I mean if you had a sword in your hand you couldn't have reached up to him. Couldn't have done any damage up there. You've got to get the man down on the ground before you can ever stick anything in him.

But to go with nothing. Not even a sword. Not even a Swiss Army penknife. To go with a leather pouch. Bit of a stringy leather thing. And five smooth pebbles that you got out of the river that morning.

And you walk towards this chap. I mean you look sometimes at your weapons and you think well what. How on earth are we going to do anything. Don't you sometimes feel that? You look at the team. You look at the weapons that you have for spiritual warfare.

You're going to go and try and do something in the Muslim world. You're going to try and crack Austria open with the gospel. You're going to go into a university somewhere and ask God to so deal with that university that at least during the time that you're there God is on the agenda in people's conversations.

God takes the center of the stage. And you look at these people and their arrogance and their pride strutting up and down the street and you think how on earth. How on earth are we going to make any impact there.

God has given us some weapons. But it takes a very great deal of courage to trust in them doesn't it. To go with the weapons that God has said I will use. And actually use them against the enemy. Great courage David shows.

What we see from those verses, verse 41 onwards, is single combat and it follows certain traditions. I mean it always did in the ancient world. The two champions would advance towards each other. And then they would make great speeches.

Abusing each other and scorning each other's choice of weapons. And then they would advance a little bit more and make another bit of a speech. And then gradually they would get within range of each other and then they'd go to it.

And this was the set pattern and this is exactly what happens. David comes forward and says what an insult you come after me with a stick. How utterly foolish of you. He scorns the man for his foolishness.

Some of you maybe detect that in a moment or two I'll be back in 1 Corinthians. There were these proud Philistines. Mocking the weapons with which David came to deal with them. And David comes out and he makes his speech.

He says I come to you in the name of God. And I tell you Goliath you are under the judgement of God. He tells him straight. Because of your behaviour, because of your words. You are under the judgement of God.

The whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. The entire world will. And also everyone here in this place will know. That he saves not with human weapons. Then they get closer. It's very dramatic.

This little lad walking forward. And there's Goliath with his armour bearer standing there. And the whole future history of Israel is hanging on that. I mean can you imagine the Israelites up on the top of the hill.

Watching or not watching. You know it's like a penalty competition in the final of the world cup. Can you even bear to watch? What's going to happen? The whole of our national future is depending on this.

And there's this lad going out with the simplest of weapons. Going in the name of God and trusting in God. Even though he's a lad. Even though he's a youngster. Trusting in God to bring down this great lumbering giant.

The Cross as God’s Weapon in Corinth

Think of Paul. Trudging alone down that dusty road into Corinth. And there's this sprawling commercial metropolis. Trade centre. Full of immorality. All the bustle of business and pleasure and money making and debauchery.

Massive self confident Mediterranean city. And Paul entered that city alone. What is he going to do? There is a giant. A Mediterranean giant. Resistant to the gospel. Defying the living God. Already under the judgement of God for the way it's lived.

The city of Corinth is no different from some of the places you'll go. And as Paul makes his way into that city he thinks, What on earth am I going to do? What am I going to fight with? What are going to be my weapons?

And in those early chapters of 1 Corinthians he talks about choosing the right weapons. I determined, he says, to know nothing among you. Save Jesus Christ and him crucified. Turn back with me to 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 1 verse 18. The message of the cross. Well it is foolishness. It's easily mocked and scorned by a chap like Goliath. If the city fathers of Corinth could have known what Paul was going to do as he came.

Known the message that he was going to preach on the street corners. Well they wouldn't have given him a moment. They wouldn't have worried about him. The thing is so incredibly stupid. That this man is going to come and talk on every street corner about a Jew who was crucified.

And then some story about resurrection. How stupid. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God. That's your chief weapon. The message of the cross.

And with that he went into that city and he began to see God work. It is written, I quote scripture again. I will destroy, says God, the wisdom of the wise, the intelligence of the intelligent. I will frustrate.

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where are the great ones of this age? Where is the philosopher? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? Did not God bring down Goliath, crash on his face?

With a little pebble embedded in his skull? He prided himself probably on his brain too. As well as his brawn. The brain is not much good if you've got a stone lodged in it. God says he will bring it down.

The wisdom of God. The world through its wisdom did not know him. God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached. To save those who believe. Greeks, Jews demand miraculous signs. And Greeks look for wisdom.

But we preach Christ crucified. A stumbling block to Jews. And foolishness to Gentiles and Philistines. But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks. The cross. Christ crucified. The power of God and the wisdom of God.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men's wisdom. And the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Preach the cross. Never get away from it. Watch how people will begin to listen as you talk about the cross.

I've seen it time and time again. You can get a huge crowded auditorium full of over a thousand godless students. They sit there in their pride and their arrogance. They wonder what this unheard of fifth Greek evangelist is going to say to them.

And when you begin to talk to them about the cross. It's interesting how you can see God begin to deal with them. One after another all over the room. Because you see the cross puts us all at the same level, doesn't it?

We're all the same there. We all need that same redemption by his blood. And the cross is the greatest demonstration of the love of God that you will ever see. And sometimes these poor proud students, they get so desperately hungry for something of the love of God.

But they never admit it. And at the cross they can see the love of God. For them. Individually. You preach the cross. The great weapon that the Lord has given us. Sure the messengers are weak. We read those verses from 26 onwards.

But we go in our weakness. Because in our weakness is his strength made perfect. Not afraid to be weak. Not afraid to admit that we're nobodies. You know, we don't all come with theological degrees. We've not, you know, had years in Christian work.

And yet God is doing something through people like you. If you use the weapons that he puts in your hand. Don't trust earthly weapons. Go out against the Goliaths with the weapons that God gives you. The message of the cross.

Prayer and the Divine Weapons of Warfare

Prayer. You remember in 2 Corinthians 10. The first four verses of that chapter. Paul says, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ I appeal to you. I, Paul, who am timid when face to face with you. But bold when away.

I beg you. That when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be towards some people. Who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world. We do not wage war as the world does.

The weapons we fight with. Are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary. They have divine power to demolish strongholds. Paul was not afraid to be weak. He was not afraid to be real and honest with God.

Not afraid to be known as timid. You know great shakes of Paul. And yet he believed in prayer. He believed in the message of the cross. And he believed that God would do his work as surely as God had dealt with Goliath.

Back there in 1 Samuel chapter 17. In Acts chapter 18. We can read of Paul's coming into Corinth. He starts off by being a tent maker just to make a bit of living. He lives with Aquila and Priscilla. But verse 5.