Brother Gary Sunday Morning 8/5/12

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 8/5/12

1Sa 18:1  And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

1Sa 18:2  And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

1Sa 18:3  Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

1Sa 18:4  And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Saul was King at this time.  His oldest son, Jonathan, was gifted with strength and ability.  At this time Jonathan was about 30 years old and was excellent with the sling and the bow.  He also had an excellent spirit.

David was in the presence of the king.  As I thought about this, I had the question: Who was he that the king’s son loved him as his own soul?  David was a shepherd boy, the youngest son of Jesse.  Saul was king; he had been a good king but this was an unfortunate time for Israel because Saul had been disobedient to God’s instruction.  It is always detrimental to an individual and those around them when they are disobedient to God.

God spoke to Samuel and told him to quit morning for Saul and go anoint one of the sons of Jesse as the new king.  Samuel was hesitant; his life would be at stake if he was known to anoint a new king.  When he got to Jesse’s house to anoint one of his sons king, Jesse brought the oldest son first and on down the line.  For each one, the oldest down to the sixth son, God told Samuel, “This one is not the one.” 

1Sa 16:11  And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

1Sa 16:12  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

1Sa 16:13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

One of the unique things about God is that He has a way of giving an anointing to those that care about Him and want to serve Him.  He anoints them with His Spirit.  From that day, David enjoyed this blessing from God.

It is sad that Saul was disobedient to God.  It is sad that Saul made the wrong choice.

1Sa 16:14  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

Saul had chosen to keep what God had told him to destroy.  Saul had terrible times of being disturbed.  One of His servants wanted to call a harpist who may be able to comfort him when he was troubled.

1Sa 16:18  Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

1Sa 16:19  Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

1Sa 16:23  And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

You may be disturbed by something or you may be burdened for someone that is, but there is a God of deliverance. 

David went back to his dad.  In the process of time, Jesse sent David to check on his brothers that were in Saul’s army and give them some supplies.  David saw his brothers and it wasn’t long after that David was rejected by his brothers.

If you feel unaccepted by your family or by someone that you love, if you feel rejection, I want to tell you that this is a common denominator among people.  David was rejected by those that he would have appreciated being loved by.  He was rejected but don’t forget the first scriptures that I read.

David was there only to bring what his Dad had asked him to bring.  Yet God had a plan.

1Sa 17:23  And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

David was a little shepherd boy, young and inexperienced yet he was experienced. 

The giant of the Philistines was about 10 feet tall and was defying the army of Saul. 

You don’t have to be aged to hear the voice of a giant.  The greatest voice is the voice of the devil, but there will be bullies.  When David heard the giant he enquired what was going on.  He was told that the king had offered his daughter in marriage to any that would kill Goliath. 

David had a little experience.  There probably hasn’t been anyone in this audience that hasn’t faced a battle in the last week.  The battle was for a purpose.  God has something bigger and better for you to do than you have ever done before.  God has something for you to do for Him. 

This little shepherd boy that had faced battles before; he’d killed a bear and a lion.

1Sa 17:37  David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

The king had no one willing to go face Goliath.  Here was this shepherd boy.  Saul was afraid to face Goliath and didn’t want to send his son Jonathan.  He said, “Come, let me give you my armor.” 

David was already prepared.  He’d been anointed of God.  We live in a day when religion is empty.  Successful people are empty.  Men and women’s lives are empty and void.

David had an anointing from God.  You and I will face the giants.  If we let God prepare us then we will be ready for the battle. 

David refused the armor and took his staff and his sling.  If you have been saved for a while, you have found things in the Word of God that steady you.  The winds may come and the enemy, but you have a staff that will steady you.

In the winter of 1968, we lived up on the hill.  There was a knock on the door and my mother who was fearless went to the door and saw Ruby Wagenius who told her that their sons had been in a car accident.  When Ruby said that Buster was in the hospital, my mom asked, “Where is Jack?”  Ruby said, “Oh, I don’t want to tell you.”  Instantly as my mom began to faint she felt a staff of grace enter her soul.  She was able to go through the grieving process and bury my brother but she had a staff.

James said, “Let’s ask in faith nothing wavering.”  We need to have faith in God, have the promises of God tried and proven and have your staff right there.  This will hold me steady.  Whatever scriptures that God gave you when you got saved will probably be there for the rest of your life.  I can look back and say over and over again, God’s word has never failed. 

David went out with his staff and his sling and got five smooth stones from the brook.  I don’t know how some people take this, but I think of the stones as promises of God.  He only needed one stone but he took five. 

The stones were smooth because they had been tried.  The promises have been used over and over again.  Grandma and Grandpa used them.  David used them.  They have never failed.

David took the staff, the sling, the stones, and faith in God.  The giant looked a long way down because he was so tall and began to disdain David.  I paraphrase, “You are not even big enough to fill a vulture; I’m going to feed you to the birds.”

1Sa 17:45  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

1Sa 17:46  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

The Lord of hosts:  God and His innumerable army.  David had unwavering faith.  The battle is the Lords.  Whatever your battle, don’t try to take it into your own hands, or choose your battle.  Say, “The battle is the Lord’s.” 

1Sa 17:48  And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

1Sa 17:49  And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

1Sa 17:50  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

1Sa 17:51  Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

1Sa 17:52  And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

1Sa 17:53  And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

1Sa 17:54  And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.

Through God, David was able to kill Goliath.  David was seen by Saul going to the Philistine.  God in His greatness allowed David to slay the Philistine.  In the process of time, Saul said to the captain of the armies, “Who was that and whose son is he?  Bring him to me.”

1Sa 17:57  And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

1Sa 17:58  And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

This is the setting of our text.  Saul, His son in his thirties, and David dressed as a shepherd.  God knew David’s rejections, He knew David’s future and He had prepared the heart of Jonathan, Saul’s son.   

Jonathan loved David.  He loved him so much that he said, “I love you and we will make a covenant because of our love.” 

He took off his garments, and gave them as well as his sword, bow, belt, and girdle to David.  Here was Jonathan, next to the king.  Here was this shepherd boy not well clothed.  Jonathan loved him so much that he gave him his garments.

2Co 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

This morning you could be clothed in rags: shame, oppression, depression, rejection…  There is one that even loves you more than Jonathan loved David.  Jesus ordained that you put off the rags of sin, of self pity, of discontentment, of pride, of excuse.  Jesus became poor that through His poverty you might be rich.

Isaiah said, garment of righteousness.

Jesus loved you so much that he made himself poor that you might be rich.  He made a way in the Gospel Day that you would be equipped to fight and that you would be equipped to win.  God has a plan for His son to love you.  He wants there to be such love in the brothern that there is a covenant made that they will be true to God and to each other.