Overcoming Fear: Battling Life’s Biggest Bullies

Overcoming Fear: Battling Life’s Biggest Bullies

Opening Thoughts:

Good morning friends. Today we are looking yet again at an amazing history lesson from God’s Word. Today we will be examining the text found in I Samuel 17:1-51. Now we will read most of the text but we will skip just a few verses for the sake of time. Today’s story is a familiar one. We are looking at the story of David versus Goliath. It is perhaps the greatest underdog story of all time. At least that is what we have been taught our entire lives. What would you think if I told you that it was indeed the greatest underdog story ever told but everyone got the underdog in the story wrong. We were raised to believe that David was the small, weak, underdog. However, when you read the story a bit deeper, when you apply some science and understanding to the story, we learn that it was actually Goliath that was really, fatally, ill prepared for this encounter. It is hard to believe, but believe it or not, I want to prove to you this morning that Goliath was nothing more than a loudmouth paper tiger. 

How do I know this to be true? I’ll tell you. This is true first and foremost because if you have God on your side, everything that seems impossible becomes possible. When you join God’s team, people are transformed from whiners to winners, losers to liberators, from failures and flops to first and foremost. God had HIs hand on David’s shoulder so David had nothing to fear. 

Another thing to remember is that David was uniquely gifted to handle this situation. You’ll learn this morning about David’s training as a shepherd and how his training gave him a leg up on this Philistine soldier. David was working with slings and rocks. David could hit a target from far away while Goliath was in the infantry. His weapons were swords and shields. Goliath would not even see what was coming and ultimately this fight was over before it began. 

Goliath made a critical mistake. He looked at David but he missed the most important thing about this young boy. He could not quantify David’s invisible qualities, he could not see his faith and he could not make sense of David’s heart. Goliath saw that David was undersized, undervalued, and a big underdog.  

Today’s Thought:

David Was Undersized, Undervalued and a UNDERDOG! 

So, how can this piece of ancient history encourage you today? All of us at some point in our lives face a Goliath. We face the Goliath of fear, the Goliath of worry, the Goliath of anxiety. We face the Goliath of a job termination, a move, the Goliath of having to put a parent into an assisted living facility, the Goliath of losing a loved one, the Goliath of disease, or the Goliath of when a son or daughter comes out to you and your wife. These are all problems in life that can overwhelm anyone. 

I have talked to so many of you who face a Goliath and you have told me “Stuart, there is no way that I will be able to make it through this event, this tragedy, or this turmoil. You feel like your boat is filling up with water and that at any given moment, you will sink to the bottom of your ocean. 

Here is what I want to remind you today. Like David, you have nothing to fear or worry about. God is with you. By your side. Holding your had. You are not alone and He will never forsake you. God is aware of your problems but He is not alarmed at your situation. He was very aware that your storm was on its way and He is in your boat. 

Next, God has uniquely gifted you to handle your Goliath. He has given you the right skills. He has blessed you with the right abilities. He has given you the correct spiritual gifts. This world make discount you like David but the world cannot see, they cannot quantify your faith and your heart. Trust me brother and sisters, if David can go from puny to prevailing, so can you!

One More Thing:

If David Can Go From Puny To Prevailing…So Can YOU!

Point:

This morning you are going to hear from acclaimed author Malcolm Gladwell. Dr. Gladwell wrote a book entitled “David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants”. I read the book this week in preparation for today’s message. It is an outstanding read. Gladwell looks deeply into the story of David and Goliath and reveals some wonderful truths about the story. You’ll hear some of his theories this morning but I want to read a quote from the book to you this morning. Dr. Gladwell wants us to know that many times, when we think that we are outnumbered and overrun, God is with us, giving us courage to overcome. 

“Courage is not something that you already have that makes you brave when the tough times start. Courage is what you earn when you’ve been through the tough times and you discover they aren’t so tough after all.” 

Today’s Quote:

“Courage is not something that you already have that makes you brave when the tough times start. Courage is what you earn when you’ve been through the tough times and you discover they aren’t so tough after all.” 

―Malcolm Gladwell, 

“David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants”

Background and Context:

The book of Samuel is one of the great literary works in human history. Its masterfully told stories have captured the imagination of readers for millennia. Chief among them is the story of David and Goliath, the quintessential underdog story. David’s faith-filled theological perspective allowed him a different vantage point on the grave situation in the valley of Elah. To many onlookers, the encounter between David and Goliath looked like a foregone conclusion. For one thing, there was the size difference. In 1 Samuel 17, Goliath is never referred to as a “giant,” but his proportions as outlined in the traditional Hebrew text certainly suggest he was a gigantic man. The traditional Hebrew text (the Masoretic Text) states that Goliath is about 9 feet 9 inches tall. His armor weight in excess of 125 pounds. Goliath was from Gath, a place which seemed to breed unusually large humans at the time. David was thought to be 5’5 feet tall, making him 4 feet shorter than his enemy. 

What you also need to know is that David has already been anointed as King over Israel. There is only one small tiny problem. Israel already has a King and his name is Saul. Saul was God’s anointed until he disobeyed God and disregarded Samuel’s instructions. Samuel tells Saul that God’s spirit has been removed from him and given to another. In I Samuel 16, Samuel anoints David. David is the youngest son of Jesse. David is not a military hero. He was not of royal blood. In fact David was the weakest, smallest, and youngest of all of Jesse’s sons. When Samuel came to anoint the new King, David did not even show up to the ceremony because he just knew that one of his brothers would be the Lord’s pic. David was the kid that was always picked last in P.E. He was the kid that was always seen and not heard. Ever felt like that? So now that you know some of the characters, some of what is happening, let’s read together from I Samuel 17:1-51 from the New International Version. Im going to pick up in verse 4. 

Today’s Scripture:

I Samuel 17:1-51 NIV

4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.[c] His shield bearer went ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

25 Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.”

26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

(In the next several verses, David confronts his brothers for not taking a harder line against Goliath.  He displays his faith in a powerful way.)

32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

(Following this exchange, Saul tries to give David his tunic, his coat of arms, a bronze helmet and his sword.  David removes Saul’s armor in favor of a simple slingshot and 5 smooth stones.)

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.

Follow David’s Path To Biblical Prominence!

I. A Lost Cause vs. 10-11 

I Samuel 4:10-11 NIV

10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Point:

Many people think that David’s underdog story starts when he fought Goliath.  This is far from the truth.  His story, like many of our own, is attached to the successes and failures of his country.  Years before David was anointed King over Israel, the Hebrews did battle with the Philistines.  

The Philistines had long ago settled on the southwestern side of Canaan.  They were extremely aggressive and warlike.  They were also a pagan people.  They worshipped false gods and gave allegiance to idols.  God’s people had done battle with them before and routed them.  However, the story captured in I Samuel 4 reminds the people that their obedience is required.  They could not just trot out the Ark of the Covenant and expect to win.  

The Cause Was Lost…

A. Morally

Point:

The loss in battle actually started with a loss of morals for the Israel people. Eli, the prophet of Israel had two sons.  His sons were acting priests and they were treating the sacrifices of the Lord with contempt.  I Samuel 2 tells us that their sins were great in the eyes of the Lord.  Eli did nothing to halt the behavior of his two evil sons and his unwillingness to actively discipline his household did damage to the moral center of the country.  When the ark came to the army, it was totted by the evil sons of Eli. The army thought that just because a golden box was among them that God Himself would be there to.  They literally believed that they could put God in a box.  They thought that if opened, that God would pop out and perform like a child’s toy.  They were sadly mistaken.  

B. Militarily

Point

Chapter 4 of 1 Samuel tells the reader that the defeat was mathematical.  It gives great insight into just how bad the loss was for Israel’s military.  Israel lost 30,000 foot soldiers.  This was a tremendous blow to the army and most assuredly decimated it. The Philistines were dominated by the size of the Philistine army, the superiority of their weapons and the skills of their war machine.  

C. Spiritually’

Point:

I Samuel 4 details how the Philistines not only destroyed the Hebrew army, but is also tells of how they captured the Ark.  This defeat was demoralizing.  It was a spiritual defeat.  Seemingly the gods of the Philistines had defeated the one true God.  

Eli, the prophet of Israel also lost his two sons.  When he heard of the defeat and the subsequent loss of the Ark, Eli lost his footing in his chair and broke his neck.  So now, the Israelites had no spiritual leader.  

The loss of a leader compelled their desire to have another leader.  Not a spiritual one, rather a military leader.  Having the presence of God in their midst was not enough, they wanted a man that they could see.  Again, this was a tremendous error because King Saul would rise to power.  Saul was a disobedient and arrogant man.  A man that God would eventually remove his presence from all together.  This would set the stage for the real underdog story in I Samuel between David and Goliath. 

Remember Saul’s Story:

Made unauthorized sacrifices in I Samuel 13

Set up unauthorized alters in I Samuel 14

Allowed Jonathan to openly sin in I Samuel 14

Disobeyed Samuel in 1 Samuel 15

I Samuel 15:34 (NIV)

34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

II. A Last Choice I Samuel 16:7

I Samuel 16:7 NIV

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Point: 

Israel’s king is dishonored.  The Lord’s favor is no longer with Saul and his reign is slowly slipping.  God has a new King in mind and he has sent Samuel to Jesse’s house in Bethlehem.  Bethlehem was a small village.  At the time, it would have only had a few hundred inhabitants.  Of these people, you would have met poor farmers and herdsmen trying to make a living.  It was off the beaten path.  Very little trade and hardly any visitors.  Bethlehem was not exactly the place to find a King.  Samuel, the prophet, was not exactly excited about heading there.  

Point:

Samuel is human like all of us.  Upon arriving at the village, he encounters the first of Jesse’s sons.  He felt that this must be the king that God had ordered up.  Nope.  Wrong again.

Then another son, then another, still no king.  All 6 of the sons that Jesse had called to come visit Samuel where there.  Then Samuel asks if there are any other sons and in I Samuel 16:11 Jesse responds with these words:

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Question:

How do you judge people?

Do you judge them the way Samuel did?  Do you look at their exterior?  Are they strong and capable?  Do you judge people by their excitement levels?  Are you drawn to people who demonstrate cariama and passion?  Do you judge For the most part, we look at all the wrong things.  

Why Was David The Last Choice?

A. David Was Insignificant 

Being the youngest, David was not the priority in the family.  He would have held no significant rank in the family and would have been exempt from any inheritance.  

B. David Was Inadequate 

Being the youngest, David would have been the smallest of the bunch.  The runt if you will.  We know that he was handsome but being handsome never won any battles.  

C. David Was Invalid (Spiritually)

Being the youngest, David would have had to do the job that no one else wanted to do.  He was a shepherd.    Chances are he was dirty, unkept and unclean.  David had to eat unclean food that he found in the wild. He was not able to do the ritual washing that Judaism required.  His father was not going to produce his unclean son to the priest of Israel.  

D. David Was Insulated 

David was an artist. He loved music.  Due to the lack of social contact he must have experienced, he spent a great deal of time playing music. He sang. He danced.  David was more likely to win America’s Got Talent than dominate a battlefield.  David felt more comfortable in the quietness of the plains than leading men.  

However, he was just the person that the Lord was looking for.  For all the things that David had going against hi, he had one thing going for him, God.  

God gives significance to the insignificant.  

He gives sufficiency to the inadequate.  

He gives purpose to the invalid.

He brings fellowship to the insulated.

Remember, if God is for you then who can be against you.

Romans 8:31 (NIV)

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

III. A Large Challenge vs. 4-16

4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.[c] His shield bearer went ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

Point: 

So, How “Goliath” Was Goliath?

A. Goliath Was A Champion

So, what can we learn about Goliath from I Samuel 17?  Well, several things.  First, Goliath was a champion.  This means that he was successful in battle.  No doubt he had vanquished many foes and laid waste to anyone or anything that stood in his way.  He was undefeated and unbeaten.  How do we know this?  He was alive. 

B. Goliath Was Colossal 

Goliath was also a colossal specimen.  Just how big is 6 cubits and a span?  Historians differ but some think that he was 9 feet 6 inches tall.  Most believe that the average height of a Hebrew male was about 5 feet 6 inches tall.  Goliath was absolutely massive.

C. Goliath Was Compelling

Goliath was compelling in two different ways.  First, he was compelling to look at.  Not only was he huge but he was also visually stunning.  He had armor.  He had a javelin.  He had a sword.  He had a shield.  Wow.  The could be no doubt that Goliath was a superior fighter.

Next he was compelling to hear.  Goliath had a big mouth and presumably could back it up.  On a number of occasions, he challenges the Hebrew army to produce someone to fight him.  He insults the army and then he insults God.  

Before we go on, what Goliath’s are you facing today?  Goliath’s or huge challenges often insult us.  They tell us we are to small or insignificant.  We have not change.  These challenges seem to huge for us to be able to surmount.  The Goliath we face can make a mockery of our faith and call into question our God.  

As Christians, we must remember that Jesus never said that it would be easy.  He said that we would face many hardships and persecutions in our life.  Be reminded of this scripture dealing with overcoming difficulties.

I Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV)

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

IV. A Leap of Confidence vs. 45-46

I Samuel 17:45-46

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.

Point:

Why do we always say that David was an underdog?  Ok Ok, yes he was small, Goliath was huge.  Yes, he was inexperience in battle, Goliath was a champion.  Yeah, he was outgunned.  Goliath had superior weaponry.  That’s what I thought to until I did a little more digging.  

Remember, there are three types of soldiers in any army.  First, there is infantry.  These are the guys that do hand to hand combat.  That is what Goliath is.  He is a hand to hand combat pro.  Then there is the calvary.  Those on hours back and chariots.  Lastly, there is artillery.  That is where David would have fit best.  The artillery was constructed of bows and what would be called in today’s terms slingers.  David was a slinger.  

David had a sling which is a deadly piece of weaponry.  The sling could accurately hit a target at 200 yards.  When sling would be revolved at 6-7 revolutions per second sending a stone at 35 meters per second and landing with a stopping power of a .45 caliber bullet. 

When you think about it, Goliath was at a distinct disadvantage.  He did not want to face David.  He wanted to face someone like him.  He wanted to fight.  David had seen bigger challenges in his day as he was defending sheep.  David was not 200 yards away.  He might have only been 30 yards away.  He new he could easily meet the task with what God had given him.

Point:

We often think that David is an underdog because of his size.  Goliath was huge.  Could Goliath’s size really have been his ultimate downfall.  

Illustration: Robert Wadlow Died 1940 in Illinois

How many of you know the story of Robert Wadlow.  Wadlow holds the modern day record for the tallest man in the world.  At the time of his death, he was 8 feet 11 inches tall.  Wadlow was a hulking, cumbersome and slow.  Although his size was intimidating, there was nothing intimidating about him.  Wadlow had a condition called Acromegaly.  Acromegaly is caused by a benign tumor on the puberty gland which causes tremendous growth.  

This is a difficult disease because as it progresses, the victim must be led by an assistant.  Also, the tumor compresses on the visual nerves on the brain.  This means that the person with disease has difficulty seeing or even sees double vision.  Many times, both are the case.  

So, look at Goliath.  We notice first he is huge.  9 feet 6 inches tall by some cases.  We see that he is led to the front line by a shield bearer. He seems unstable.  Then we notice that there is no preparation for a man who specializes in hand to hand combat to face someone in the artillery.  Could it have been that he could not adequately see David.  

We know that David had a staff and a skiing. But in verse 43 we hear Goliath complain that David has brought against him sticks.  Wait, sticks.  David had a stick but not sticks.  Again, could Goliath have been suffering from Acromegaly?  This would explain his slow reaction to David approaching.  This would explain his height.  This would explain his need to be led.  

So, what does all this mean?  It means that most giants are not nearly as formable as we make them out to be.  It means that God has given us the skills to surpass challenges we face in our lives.  It means that with a little faith and confidence in God, we can move from underdog to overachiever.  

Isaiah 41:31 (NIV)

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Are You An Underdog or Overachiever?