THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
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had been anointed king.— chosen as God’s leader.' Here was a great tempta tion to assert himself. (Isa. 53:7.) “ He was oppressed and he was af flicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Prov. 12:13.) “ The wicked is snared by the trans gression of his lips; but the just shall come out of trouble.” His second victory was over unbelief. There was everything in the situation to dismay faith and encourage doubt. David reasons from experience. (Deut. 8 : 2 .) “ And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no.” In the conflict with the lion and the bear God had delivered him. He rea soned from the unchanging laws of God. That was a time of danger, so now. God can be depended upon from “ ever lasting. to everlasting.” Where is Saul, the king, the giant leader? Where is Jonathan, the mighty man? Is there no courage left? Saul was head and shoulders above David, (head for intellect; shoulders for strength). Dependence upon head and shoulders has been the weakness of the church. Saul is out of harmony with God and therefore has no strength. David’s heart filled with faith. “ Let no man’s heart fail him” (v. 32). Every emergency demands a man. God has a leader always. Here is an occasion to vindicate God. It is God’s enemy, God’s battle, God’s army, God’s victory, God’s glory. David believed God. He does not measure himself with the giant, but measures the giant with God. When you measure the devil with man, you are filled with consternation,
David was now between eighteen and twenty-four years of age. Philistia was a low borderland on the Mediterranean Sea, adjoining Pales tine on the southwest. The name has been corrupted into Palestine. The forces of Israel and of the Phil istines were gathered on opposite hills, whose crests were about a mile apart, forming a deep ravine about 400 yards wide with steep sides. Bach army was secure by reason of the difficulty of approach, being pro tected by the rocks and bushes on either side. The Philistines, having a giant cham pion, proposed a single combat to de cide the fortunes of war. The Contrasts of the Besson: The strutting giant, defying God’s army. The discouraged and dismayed Israel. The audacity of God’s enemies,— sug gestive of the scholars who parade their intellect and attainments and boasting of their prowess. Israel frightened and dismayed by this display,— suggestive of the readi ness of the church to yield to the world’s boasting. David’s providential appearance upon the scene,— his heart stirred. “ Is there not a cause?” The cause of God, His honor, His name, Israel’s honor,— all at stake. David took upon his heart God’s cause and upon his shoulders God’s battle. Outline. (1) David Declines Saul’s Armor, vs. 38-40. (2) The Philistine Disdains David, vs. 41-44. (3) David Defies the Philistine, vs. 45-47. (1) DAVID DECLINES SAUL’S AR MOR, VS. 38-40. David’s first victory was over the flesh. His brothers taunted him with “ go home to the sheep.” He knew that he
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