The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-04-23


For forty days ". 16) Goliath defied
Saul's army, encamped near Bethle-
hem. Three of the sons of Jesse were
in Sauls army and to them David is
sent with food wv. 10, IS, 19). These
brothers scornfully reproached David
when he expressed a willingness to
fight Goliath, accusing him of pride and
reminding him that he was but shep'
herd wv. 26-29). David's words are
carried to Saul and he is introduced to
the king.
|. BoastfuI Pride, w. 3e-4A Fear
and dismay were aroused at the very
sight of this proud Philistine wv. IL,
"a, S2), yet such fear was foreign to
David, for his eyes were not upon man
but upon God ". 80. He related to
Saul his exploits not as Boosting but
as giving him assurance that God was
able to deliver him out Of the hand of
this Philistine. Saul, who had once
been a man of like simple faith, is now
as much in fear as any of his army.
David was perhaps about twenty years
of age and verse Sc calls him strip
ling" hence it was that Saul's armor
would not fit him (cf. 1929. Human
ly speaking, it was an impossible thing
David offered to accomplish single
handed. Even Saul ". 32) sought to
dissuade David, but David was not
trusting in man nor depending upon
the armor of the king ". 80; Ps. 27:1-
8; lisa. 1872; Rom. SOD. David took
his familiar staff and sling (see l
Thess. 5:2") and sailed forth, STRONG
in the Lord, not in himself; armed not
with steel but with faith" Crossing
''the valley" ". 40 marg.) he prepared
his sling, with which every Israelite
was skilled (see Sam. 13:19-23). On
came the giant, man about nine feet
tall ". A., "a stalking mountain, over.
laid with brass and iron," preceded by
his protector ". Az. Why such a sol.
der after his period of triumph should
desire this added safety is not quite
clear 1t suggests, however, the sim
ner's timidity which reveals his essen
tial weakness in that he trusts him
self, takes no chances, and is even sus-
picious of his own supporters. What
a contrast! This armored giant and
this ruddy-faced, unarmed youth, car
rying only the staff, wherewith he was
wont to fight wild beasts, and his
sling! When God calls man he uses
that weapon with which the man is
most familiar, and when the church or
the Christian soldier seeks to fight in
the armor of another, or by using the
weapons of the world, it is foredoomed
to failure Eek. Az; Judges 3:SD.
II. conquering Humility, w. 1851.
David acknowledged Goliath's su-
perior armament, yet armed with the
name of the God of the army of Israel
which Goliath had insulted, his conf
dence overtops that of the Philistine
and he hurls back his broud boast.
Furthermore, the victory was to be an
immediate one. this day" (zech. AS;
James 40. With calm assurance he
informs Goliath of the outcome of
their conflict, but takes no credit to
himself. David had naught but naked
faith and the sense of just cause to
strengthen his arm. He would do to
Goliath and the Philistines the things
that Goliath had boasted he would 40
to David wv. A and 46) that all the
earth may know that there is a God
in Israeli" see also v. AZ. Davids
seemingly insufficient preparation is
now revealed to be abundant, for he
had four stones more than he needed
". 400. 1t is thus that God chooses
the weak things to confound the mighty
Il Cor 1:2O.
III. Summary. We have before us
three lessons. First the lesson of indi.
vidual responsibility A sinful king had
paralyzed the effectiveness of the
army of Israel. David, "a man after
Gods own heart" refused Sauls ar
NOR, crying out 81 cannot go in these"
Saul, bound by tradition, must use
conventional weapons. Every great
advance in the history of the church
has been led by some man who struck
out boldly, insensible alike to the con.
ventionalism of his friends and the
gibes of the enemy. God would have
every man work according to himself,
not copying, not initiating, but with his
own equipment. Second, all the giants
of sin have not yet been overthrown.
We still have the giants of Intemper.
ance, Unchastity, Graft, Selfshness,
Ambition and the Inequalities of our
civic and social life. These can only
be overcome in the strength of God.
Bunyan mentions three giants,
Pride, Grim and Pagan; to these we
may add, Anger, Untruthfulness, Self
ishness and Sullenness.
Third, Our Helper. See Golden
Text. OF all the graces David pos
sessed, faith was the root of each one
faith in a living God.
His active faith caused him with
nimble feet to attack this blasphemous
enemy ". 48).
His faith in God characterizes his
entire life, resounds in his songs and