Let Not Your Heart Fail
1 Samuel 17:32–34 (ESV) And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father...
For forty days Israel has failed the test of Goliath. They have hid from the uncircumcised giant and lost courage in the face of his incessant verbal opposition. This is the same army that experienced great victories over the Philistines previously. It wasn't long before in 1 Samuel that Saul's reign is described as follows:
1 Samuel 14:52 (ESV) There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.
1 Samuel 14:52 (ESV) There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.
Under Saul, the army has gone from fighting hard to weary hiding.
David's words are poignant here: "Let no man's heart fail because of him." I see in this text so many allusions to the Lord Jesus and His work for us. Saul represents the established religious order inaugurated and upheld by men. Goliath represents death, hell, and our spiritual enemy. David represents Christ and we are the hiding Israelites whose hearts have fallen in the face of unavoidable demise.
The message of David to Saul's men is Christ's message to us.
John 14:1 (ESV) “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
Then the offer:
John 14:2 (ESV) ...I go to prepare a place for you...
David will go and face the giant FOR the people. Remember that. The story is not first an instruction manual on "facing your giants" but a revelation of WHO who faced our ultimate giant FOR US! Let not your hearts be troubled. Why? Because what David did is a picture of what Christ has done.
David will enter the arena of death for the nation. In effect, he gives himself a sacrifice for them. Consider as well that David is first derided by his older brothers and scorned. He is called a trouble maker though he has only done the will of his father in bringing his brothers food! As well it should be noted that David stands trial (of a sort) before Saul. Saul judges him unfit and tries to force David into his armor which David rejects. All these pictures are pointing to the true picture of our true David.
Jesus gives Himself to death for us. He is derided and rejected by His older brothers. He is mocked and scorned and judged unfit. He is also falsely accused of causing trouble. All the while, He had simply come to Earth to do the will of His Father and bring spiritual food to the weary and downtrodden (see John 4, John 6). He stood trial before the religious leaders who tried to manipulate them into their cultural boxes. He would not fit. He was handed over by His own people for death but that death was their victory.
So the good news is, God is not asking you to beat Satan, death, and hell. He's telling you He did that for you. He doesn't ask us to follow Him to His cross. He asks us to follow Him to a life freed from fear, shame, and despair. There is a cross to carry, but it is not one to atone for your sins but rather one that identifies YOU with Him and His victory.
Look up dear Christian, the Cross has overcome the grave. And Jesus Christ has taken the fall so that you, like He, can rise again.
Amen.
David's words are poignant here: "Let no man's heart fail because of him." I see in this text so many allusions to the Lord Jesus and His work for us. Saul represents the established religious order inaugurated and upheld by men. Goliath represents death, hell, and our spiritual enemy. David represents Christ and we are the hiding Israelites whose hearts have fallen in the face of unavoidable demise.
The message of David to Saul's men is Christ's message to us.
John 14:1 (ESV) “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
Then the offer:
John 14:2 (ESV) ...I go to prepare a place for you...
David will go and face the giant FOR the people. Remember that. The story is not first an instruction manual on "facing your giants" but a revelation of WHO who faced our ultimate giant FOR US! Let not your hearts be troubled. Why? Because what David did is a picture of what Christ has done.
David will enter the arena of death for the nation. In effect, he gives himself a sacrifice for them. Consider as well that David is first derided by his older brothers and scorned. He is called a trouble maker though he has only done the will of his father in bringing his brothers food! As well it should be noted that David stands trial (of a sort) before Saul. Saul judges him unfit and tries to force David into his armor which David rejects. All these pictures are pointing to the true picture of our true David.
Jesus gives Himself to death for us. He is derided and rejected by His older brothers. He is mocked and scorned and judged unfit. He is also falsely accused of causing trouble. All the while, He had simply come to Earth to do the will of His Father and bring spiritual food to the weary and downtrodden (see John 4, John 6). He stood trial before the religious leaders who tried to manipulate them into their cultural boxes. He would not fit. He was handed over by His own people for death but that death was their victory.
So the good news is, God is not asking you to beat Satan, death, and hell. He's telling you He did that for you. He doesn't ask us to follow Him to His cross. He asks us to follow Him to a life freed from fear, shame, and despair. There is a cross to carry, but it is not one to atone for your sins but rather one that identifies YOU with Him and His victory.
Look up dear Christian, the Cross has overcome the grave. And Jesus Christ has taken the fall so that you, like He, can rise again.
Amen.
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