The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-04-22

Saul's army. encamped near Bethlc.
hem. Three OF the sons OF Jesse were
In Sauls army and to them David Is
sent with food tvv. 10. ~. l9) These
brothers scornfully reproached David
when he expressed willingness 10
fight Goliath. accusing him Of pride and
reminding him that he was but shep.
herd tvv. 2G-2gD. David's words are
carried to Saul and he is introduced to
the king.
I. Boastfui Pride. w. 1914. Fear
and dismay were aroused at the very
sight OF this proud Philistine (vv. II.
q. 32l. yet such fear was foreign TO
David. for his eyes we're not upon man
but upon God ". 37). lie 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 So calls him strip.
ling" hence II was that Saul's armor
would not NJ him tcf. 10. 23D. Human.
ly speaking II was an impossible thing
David offered to accomplish single.
handed Even Saul w. 32) sought to
dssuade David. but David was not
trusting IN man nor depending upon
the armor OF the king ". 80. rs. 21.l.
8: lisa. i2:2: Rom SAD. David took
III - al 4
Thess. ~ and sailed forth. strong
In the Lord not In himself, armed not
with steel but with faith" Crossing
the valley" ". 80 margl he prepared
his sling. with which every Israelite
was skilled (see Sam. l3 1929 On
came the giant. man about nine feet
tall ". ~. "a stalking mountain. over.
laid with brass and iron." preceded by
his protector ". ~. Why such a sol.
der after his period OF triumph should
desire this added safety is not quite
clear II suggests. however. the SIM
ner's timidity which reveals his essen.
tlal 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 stan, Wherewith he was
wont to fight Wild beasts and his
sling When God calls a man he uses
that weapon with which the man il
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. II is foredoomed
TO failure (Ex AZ. Judges 3:3D.
u. conquerins Humility. w. 45-5t.
David acknowledged Goliaths 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" Czech. 8:
James 40. With calm assurance he
informs Goliath OF the outcome OF
their conflict. but takes no credit TO
himself David had nsught but naked
faith and the sense OF Just cause 10
strengthen his arm. lie would do TO
Goliath and the Philistines the things
that Goliath had boosted he would 90
to David (vv. ~ and 40 that all the
earth may know that there is "A God
in Israel" see also v. A.. Dayid's
seemingly insufficient preparation is
now revealed TO be abundant for he
had four stones more than he needed
". 40). IL Is thus that God chooses
the weak things to confound the mighty
Il Cor. ED.
~. 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 Saul's al
NOR. crying out Il 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 10 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 overthrow.
We still have the giants OF lntemper-
ance, Unchastity. Graft, Selfishness.
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 ". 49,.
His faith In God charscterizes his
entire life. resounds In his songs and
strengthened his life OF service for Je-
hovah.
II is such faith that strengthens the
arm OF the true saint of God, that en-
ables him TO overcome" In his own
life, TO undertake for God and to 90 70