Don't Mess with the Blessed

I Samuel 18:10-30

Welcome! Today we continue our series on David, from the book in the Bible of I Samuel. We are also going to spend some time remembering the Lord Jesus through taking of the bread and cup, and following this, we will have a short sharing time in which those who wish to share what the Lord is teaching them may do so.

Today’s passage from I Samuel is timeless. Saul is both jealous and afraid of David, jealous of how the people love him and afraid that David will take the kingship from him, and as a result, he tries again and again to get rid of David. But David, a young man of faith and a living relationship with God, is able, by God’s given wisdom and blessing, to overcome every obstacle Saul throws at him.

Whose Son are You?

I Samuel 17:55-18:9

Hello and good morning!  We are continuing on in our series about David titled “Walking Through and Stepping Up.”  We’re still in the early going.  In the last couple of weeks, we’ve looked at the events leading up to David’s battle with Goliath through his triumphant victory over the giant.  David spoke to Goliath just before they fought one another.  His words are so powerful and give us a glimpse at what was in David’s heart that I want to share them again today.

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.  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.  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.” –I Samuel 17:45-47

The Battle is the Lord's

1 Samuel 17:38-54

Welcome back to the story of David and Goliath. This is the third message that we have devoted to this chapter – and we won’t even quite finish it today. Why our detailed focus on this one incident? Well, this was truly a defining moment in David’s life: when he steps up to do something that no one else in the whole country was willing to do. He takes the national stage for the first time, and the way he conducts himself sets the tone for the rest of his career as a public figure. Today we will begin to look at some of David’s leadership qualities.

Will YOU Step Up?

I Sam. 17:12-37

Welcome! Today we continue our series in I Samuel, continuing last week’s message that opened the well-known account of David and Goliath. There is a danger in reading well-known Bible stories that we become deadened to its message. I encourage you today to look at this account freshly, with an inquisitive mind, one open to marveling at the events that we read.

Let me review the passage that we looked at last week before going on to today’s passage:

Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. – I Sam. 17:1-3