The Green Forest tribune., 1915-04-23

Los GOLDEN TEXT-If God be for us, who Is against us?-Rom. S:S1 R. "
 For forty days (v. 16) Goliath defied Sauls army, encamped near Bethle- hem. Three of the sons of Jesse were in SauIs army and to them David is sent with food (vv. 13, IS, 19). These brothers scornfully reproached David when he expressed willingness to light Goliath, accusing him of pride and reminding him that he was but shep. herd (vv. 26-29). Davids words are carried to Saul and he is introduced to the king.
 l. Boastful Pride, w. 3s44. Fear and dismay were aroused at the very sight of this proud Philistine (vv. II, "A, 32), yet such fear was foreign to David, for his eyes were not upon man but upon God (v. 37). He related to Saul his exploits not as boasting but as giving him assurance that God was able to deliver him out of the hand of this Philistine. Saul, who had once been 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 56 calls him strip 1 ling hence it was that Saul's armor would not fit him (cf. 10:23). Human ly speaking, it was an impossible thing David offered to accomplish single handed. Even Saul (v 32) sought to dissuade David, but David was not trusting in man nor depending upon the armor of the king (v. 39; Ps. 27:1- 8; Isa. 1922; Rom. 8:3D. David took his familiar staff and sling (see 1 Thess 5:21) and sallied forth, strong in the Lord, not in himself; armed not with steel but with faith" Crossing 'the valley" (v. 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 (v. 4), "a stalking mountain, over- laid with brass and iron," preceded by his protector (v. 41). Why such a sol dier after his period of triumph should desire this added safety is not quite clear. It suggests, however, the sin 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 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 (Ex. AZ; Judges 3:3D. II. conquering Humility, w. 45-51. David acknowledged Goliaths su- perior armament, yet armed with the name of the God of the army of Israel which Goliath had insulted, his confi- dence overtops that of the Philistine and he hurls back his proud boast. Furthermore, the victory was to be an immediate one, this day" Czech. 4:6; James 4:O. 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 a just cause to strengthen his arm. He would do to Goliath and the Philistines the things that Goliath had boasted he would do to David (vv. A and 46) that all the earth may know that there is God in Israeli" see also V. AZ. David's seemingly insufficient preparation is now revealed to be abundant, for he had four stones more than he needed (v. 4O). It is thus that God chooses ,he weak things to confound the mighty q Cor. 1:27.
 | III. Summary. We have before us | three lessons. First the lesson of indi- yidual responsibility. A sinful king had 1 paralyzed the effectiveness of the army of Israel. David, "a man after Gods own heart" refused Saul's ar nor, crying out q cannot go in these." Saul, bound by tradition, must use l conventional weapons. Every great advance in the history of the church has been led by some man who struck put boldly, insensible alike to the con- yentionalism of his friends and the l 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 1ntemper- ance, Unchastity, Graft, Selishness, 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 living God.
 His active faith caused him with nimble feet to attack this blasphemous enemy (v. 4S).
 His faith in God characterizes his | entire life, resounds in his songs and | strengthened his life of service for Je-