Finding Confidence on the Battlefield of Life | Messiah: The Coming King

Sermon Transcript:

(transcribed with AI)

Good morning My name is Rich Kopanke. I'm the community life pastor here at Promontory. And it's my privilege this morning to walk with you through a passage of scripture that's going to confront us about how we face challenges. Can you put a name to that in your life? Some of the challenges maybe this past week? Financial, our kids, marriage. Trying out for the basketball team, whatever it might be. What do you do? How do you respond when things get tough? When it doesn't go your way, when you just can't figure it out. What difference does your faith in God make at times like that?

Now as we wrestle with that, we're going to look into 1 Samuel chapter 18. It's there that we're going to encounter a chapter filled with wild contrasts. I mean, you've got the beginning of a lifelong friendship between King Saul's son. And David, the shepherd boy. And then you've got this romance of Saul's daughter and David. And then you've got Saul's repeated attempts to kill David. Not because of the romance, but to kill David because David experiences a meteoric rise in popularity. And then you've got this really weird wedding with what's got to be the weirdest, strangest dowry ever given.

We're also going to face a whole range of motions in this chapter. Everything from friendship and love. To deceit and envy and fear and murderous rage. And right in the middle of this, we're going to find a kid. Named David. Biblical scholars suggest he's probably around 13 to 15 years old.

And I realized some of you might wonder like I mean why should I care about some ancient kid named David? Let me tell you, the focus of our series right now is entitled Messiah the Coming King, and it's a series that talks about Jesus, the deliverer, the Messiah sent by God to save humanity from sin. And we realized that Jesus didn't just drop onto this earth like, whoa, where did he come from? I mean, his coming was talked about for centuries throughout the Old Testament. Scholars generally agree that Jesus fulfilled over 300 specific Old Testament prophecies about his birth and life and ministry and death and resurrection. And David had a part to play in all of that.

You see, God made an unconditional promise. To David That one of his descendants will always reign on the throne of Israel. Now quite a few kings from David's lineage did sit on that throne over the years, but only one, Jesus, established an eternal kingdom. The first book of the New Testament draws the link between David and Jesus quite clearly when Matthew's Gospel in its first verse describes itself as the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham. And that's why we're looking at David. In part to see how God used him to prepare the way for the Messiah.

So let's jump into the story. It's the story of a shepherd boy anointed to be the next king of Israel, a hero facing off against a giant named Goliath, knocking him over with a single stone, cutting off his head with a Goliath's own sword. And now A hero in need of a shower. I mean, no, taking out a giant can be rather messy. And as we, 1 Samuel 17, that we looked at last week at the year nears its end, we read in verse 57, as soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, again, that was the giant, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with David still holding the Philistine's head. Can you picture it? David's standing there in front of the king. I mean, hiking, where can I put this? Can I shake your hand, King? I mean Yuck. That's all I can say. The Bible doesn't say it, but I would. Yuck.

But something else happens besides David holding his trophy and being congratulated by a king. I mean we're going to read about that now as we turn to 1 Samuel 18. And now normally here at Promontory, we stand when we read God's word. It's a way of honoring the Bible. I suggest this morning we don't do that. You see what we're going to read, it's going to be interspersed with some comments and it honestly it's going to take a little while to read through this chapter. So unless you really want to stand at attention for a long time. I suggest that the way we honor God's word this morning as we be on the lookout for what it is that gives this teenager courage and confidence.

You know, This guy, David, we're going to see, does some awesome things. In some of the most scary, troubling times that you could ever imagine. What made him succeed, so be looking for that. By the end of this morning, let's see if we can identify three of those factors and that gave David and it can give us today in our lives, the courage and confidence to live boldly for God.

First Samuel 18 begins as soon as he, that's David, had finished speaking to Saul. I don't know if he even took a shower yet. The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Now there's something about this young shepherd boy, he strikes a chord with the king's own son. Something, I don't know about his courage, maybe his love for God, maybe his brash daring. We don't know. I mean, who can explain why some friendships click and others don't. But here I believe God was involved, bringing Jonathan into David's life. And our friendship begins And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. I mean, even the king likes him.

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David. Oh, that's a lifelong promise because he loved him as his own soul, and Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David and his armor and even his sword and his bow and his belt. Now guys, this is more than just two friends swapping clothes. As heir to the throne, Jonathan was giving his royal robe, his royal weapons to David. Back then, that was virtually the same thing as David Jonathan himself renouncing his own claim to the throne. In favor of his friend.

And David went out and was successful. Kind of an interesting word there. It's in the Hebrew linked to the idea of wisdom and prudence. There's more to David than just a guy that's really good with a slingshot and kind of an affable person that everyone got to love. Underneath all this, there was a keen awareness of God's loving purpose for Israel and how that needed to be accomplished. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent. So that Saul sent him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servant. Even the rough, gnarly soldiers loved this guy and the crowds.

And they even came up with a song about David. As they were coming home when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments, and the women sang to one another as they celebrated.

Saul has struck down his 1,000s, and David his 10,000.

I don't know what tune they used. But I can tell you there was one person who hated that song so much that every time it played on the radio, he turned it off. And Saul was very angry. And this saying displeased him. He said they have described to David 10,000, to me they have described thousands and what more can he have but the kingdom. And Saul eyed David from that day on. It's the beginning of the end of any hope of a peaceful relationship. Insecure people cannot stand for being in 2nd place.

The next day, a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul. Now we heard about that several weeks ago, that Saul's disobedience resulted in God removing his spirits and his protection from Saul. Opening the door for a harmful spirit to plague him. And Saul raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand and Saul hurled the spear as he fought, I will pin David to the wall. But David evaded him twice. I mean, it's a good thing that Saul had a bad aim. Or this guy would have been skewered to the wall.

But now look at why Saul's reacting this way. Verse 12, Saul was afraid of David. Because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of 1000. Get this guy out of here. Send him out in the battle. And David went out and came in before the people. And David was a success, had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when David saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe. I mean, things are getting out of control for Saul. This is, he becomes the picture of sins destruction in our lives when we oppose the things of God. Nothing is going his way in contrast to David, who's being blessed by God. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

Then Saul said to David, David, here's my elder daughter, Marab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles, for Saul thought. Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against them. If I can't nail that guy to the wall, let the Philistines do it for me. And David said to Saul, Who am I? And who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel that I should be son-in-law to the king. But at the time, Marab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Mahalathite for a wife. Now I did promise you a romance. This is not it. It didn't pan out. Fortunately, David has a 2nd daughter or Saul has a 2nd daughter.

Now verse 30, 20. Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. Saul thought, let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. I mean, Saul is being handed an ideal way to rid himself of a guy like David who's so popular without any political backlash. There falls for Saul said to David a second time, you shall now be my son-in-law. And Saul commanded his servants, speak to David in private and say, behold, the king has delight in you and all his servants love you. Now then be the king's son-in-law. And Saul's servants spoke these words in the ears of David and David said, Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law since I am a poor man and have no reputation?

And the servants of Saul told Saul, thus and so did David speak. Then Saul said, thus shall you say to David, the king desires no bride price except 100 foreskins of the Philistines. I told you there's a weird part coming. That he may be avenged of the king's enemies. Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. I mean, can you picture this? David. I don't want too much of a, you know, dowry, for my rather beautiful daughter. I mean, if you go out and kill, oh, let's say 100 Philistines, I'd be satisfied, especially if they kill you first. And oh by the way, David, you've got to be able to give me solid proof that you killed these guys. Let me tell you, this is not the father-in-law that you want.

Imagine Saul's surprise though when David returns and, not a spear in his back but rather having killed 200 enemies, twice the bride price. 26, when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David rose and went along with his men and killed 200 of the Philistines, and David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king that he might become the king's son-in-law, and Saul gave his daughter Michal for a wife.

But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David. I mean in comparison to David's increasing success and confidence and courageousness, we see in this chapter how Saul's fear just continues to grow. So Saul was David's enemy continually. Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

There's the story. The entire 18th chapter of 1 Samuel, a shepherd boy who turns hero, and then as we're going to see in the coming weeks, public enemy number 1 because of Saul's intense hatred for him. And then fugitive on the run as Saul tracks him through the wilderness and then eventually king of Israel and ultimately the great, great, great, and so on, step-grandfather of Jesus. The odds were against them, incredibly against them. And yet he makes it. How? Why? What gave this young man the confidence, the courage. To continue despite all the injustice and all the trials and dangers he faced.

As we read that, did you identify three major factors that played a role in this for David? And that will play a role in our lives as we look to God for confidence and courage as we serve him? Well, Let's take a look. Let's go back through these verses and let's find out. And as we do, the first thing I think we're going to discover is that we benefit from friends who bring encouragement and hope.

Now, I know ultimately that we will accomplish nothing of lasting eternal worth without God's help. I mean, we need God. We'll be talking about that in a couple of minutes. But God often uses good friends to help us to do the good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do. Do you realize that? And we see that right in the beginning verses as soon as he had finished, the soul of Jonathan knit to the soul of David and Jonathan loved him and his as his own soul. Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe, and we saw what that meant and how important that was.

As we're going to see in the coming weeks, we're going to see how the friendship that David had with Jonathan was vital in helping David to accomplish what God had purposed for him to do. I mean, Jonathan encouraged David when he was low, probably ready to just give up, walk away. I mean, he even protected David from Jonathan's murderous father, Saul. He even affirmed that David and that he would be the next king.

Guys, let me tell you something. Lone Ranger Christianity. Guys and persons women who believe that they can do it all by themselves, that they don't need anybody else's help. It's just me and God and we can conquer the world. Forget it, it rarely succeeds. The Bible is filled with one another verses, verses that speak of our need for one another and the responsibility we have to others. We've got a verse that tells us to love one another. Another says encourage one another, bear one another's burdens, admonish one another. That means talk to your friend when you see them kind of getting out of line or heading down the wrong track. Forgive one another. Guys, I need you. If I'm going to be all that God wants me to be. And you need me for the same reason. That's how God has planned it.

Guys, I know I wouldn't even be here today. I would have never made it through 40 years of pastoral ministry without some good friends who walked alongside me. Who sometimes encouraged me and sometimes admonished me. In Proverbs 17 we're told that a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Can I ask you a personal question? Do you have that kind of a friend walking alongside you? As you serve God Someone that will pray for you, someone that will encourage you, someone that will even challenge you. Let me ask you the other side of that question. Are you that kind of a friend? Selfless, caring, loyal? To others in your sphere. We benefit from friends who bring us encouragement and hope. I don't think David would have made it without that.

And then as we look through this chapter, we find a phrase. It's a phrase that repeats itself 3 times. It's 5 words long. Did you catch it? The Lord was with David. Let me tell you, those 5 words are key to David's success. And that's because we are strengthened as we rely on God's presence. Do you realize that, that what we are called to do as followers of Christ It's actually impossible for us to accomplish by ourselves. Do you realize that? I mean, Christianity is not just, you stepped over that line of faith, now you're a believer, you're a follower of Christ. Now try to be a little nicer than you were before. Try to be a little more polite. Try to maybe be a little bit more generous, and then God's going to be happy with you. No, I mean, that's important. But living our lives for God calls for God-size things to happen in us and through us, and that never will happen without God's presence and help.

You want evidence of that? Just look at David. Do you really believe that this little shepherd boy could wipe out Goliath, the human tank? All by himself You know, I really believe that something else is going on behind the scenes here. And you find that something else as you look a couple of chapters back. When time before David and Goliath, when Samuel anoints David to be next king of Israel, we read about it in 1 Samuel 16.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the spirit of the Lord rushed upon him.

Another translation says the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. David from that, from David, upon David from that day forward. The Lord was with David. Guys, we are strengthened as we rely on God's presence in our lives.

I mean just think of some of the God-size things that our Heavenly Father wants us to do and wants to do in us. Your character changing. As you step across that line of faith. You know, you don't just stay there. God wants you to become more Christ-like, more like Jesus and how you treat people and how you love people, how you forgive people. Your heart becoming more sensitive, more obedient to your father's direction as he guides you. In being a parent and being a spouse and being a friend or a boss or an employee. Your life, having an eternity changing impact on those around you because God's spirit is opening their spiritual eyes to the truth of God's word. And Bringing conviction into their hearts, and he's using you. To speak into their lives.

Living our lives for God, serving him, calls for God-size things to happen. And that will never happen without God's presence and power. You know, David realized that. And just listen, just listen to his defiant words, to Goliath? Picture this here, towering human tank, little guy. got that? And as David basically defies Goliath. I mean, this is no, I'm so great that I'm going to knock you down. Let's put him up. No, we read verse 45 and then 1 Samuel 17.

Then David said to the Philistine, you come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

And now listen to this,

and this day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.

I mean, let me tell you something, David, the shepherd boy from a dirt poor home would never have dreamed of killing a giant, becoming king, being the great, great, great, and so on, step-grandfather of Jesus the Messiah. He would never have dreamt of any of that. If it wasn't for God's presence in his life.

And here's the exciting thing. Guys, Scripture is filled with promises of God's presence and help for his kids. That includes you and me. Promises that we can lean on, promises that we can call upon when we feel all alone and it seems like we're facing impossible odds. We read in Isaiah 41, God saying,

fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

And then there was Joshua The sidekick of Moses. Moses ain't crossing into the promised land. It's Joshua's turn now to lead the armies, to lead the people. And as Joshua stands on the edge of the promised land contemplating the huge battle that's going to have to take place to conquer this land, God speaks to him and Joshua won.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened. Do not be dismayed. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

You know, just like Jesus, looked to his father in the garden as he prayed,

Father. If you are willing, take this cup for me.

And then on the cross as he cried out,

oh my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

David understood as well his dependence on God if he was going to succeed. In fact, he writes about it in his diary, the Book of Psalms. In Psalm 59 A diary entry that was made as Saul had sent men to watch David's house in order to kill him. David cries out,

deliver me from my enemies, oh my God. Protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from those who work evil and save me from bloodthirsty men.

And then that particular diary entry ends. With an expression of assurance on David's part.

But I will sing of your strength. I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning, for you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. Oh my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, oh God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

Did this guy believe in God's power? Did this guy know that he needed to lean upon God? You bet. And he goes on in Psalm 13 we read of David echoing cry that honestly many of us have probably felt over the years. Especially as we can relate to it during a discouraging moment. David writes,

how long, oh Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Have you ever felt like that? You, you're trying to do what's right. You're trying to do things God's way and it feels like the world's crashing in and it even feels like God has somehow abandoned you. Your prayers are just bouncing off the ceiling. Have you ever come to the conclusion that David comes to in several verses later? I mean, the struggles are still there for him. Nothing physically has changed. He still doesn't know how things are going to end up. But he makes the choice. A choice to trust God and lean on Him. And in verse 5, he says,

but I have trusted in your steadfast love. My heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Guys, we benefit from friends who bring us encouragement and hope. We are strengthened as we rely on God's presence. And then again, as we look at David's life, we learned that we can do God-size things. If we live for a cause that is greater than ourselves. That's the 3rd thing I see here about David.

You know, let me tell you this, when my focus is on me, myself, and I. My horizon is pretty short. And my dreams are rather stunted because all I can see, all I can care about is myself. God's plans for my life. The good works that God wants me to do, forget it, it's not going to happen. Live with confidence and courage, be used by God to accomplish God's size things. Nope. Not when my horizon stops at me. I mean, I'll never accomplish what God has placed me on this earth to do, and neither will you.

For David there was a greater cause. A cause that he lived for, a cause that he was willing to give his life for. And that cause was serving God and bringing honor to God's name. We sang about that, bring honor to God's name, how great God is this morning. We can see that in David's life as he faced off with Goliath. Did he catch that verse 47? This day in chapter 17,

this day the Lord will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you down and cut off your head. I will give the dead bodies of a host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth.

Now, why does he want to do that? So everybody talks about David now.

That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

We hear that passion again and again in David's diary as he seeks to help others know how great God is. In Psalm 34, he says,

I will bless the Lord on my soul. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord. Let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together.

And then in Psalm 40,

but may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. May those who love your salvation say continually, great is the Lord.

Guys, what are you living for? What cause is worthy of you investing your time, your talents, your resources, even your life? When you get to your last day here on Earth, when you look back, will you be pleased with what you how you invested your life? In what pursuits you invested him in. Is what you've done going to matter for eternity?

Well, it's honestly about time for us to wrap up. This morning we've encountered a young man who showed incredible courage and confidence in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Presented by a murderous king and a hulking giant. And we identified some of the factors that enabled him to do that. Good friends Good friends who share our values, who are loyal, who will go a long way in helping us surmount the challenges we face in living for God. So again, as we close, I want you to leave here thinking about this question. Do you have friends like that? Are you investing your life in those friends? Are you one of those kind of friends to others?

And then we saw that we can do God-size things that we live for a cause that is greater than ourselves, a cause that has eternal value, resulting in things that will honestly matter for all of eternity. Is this what you're living for? To honor God, to serve him, to point people to Jesus. Will you be able to face your last day here on Earth with a smile on your face because you invested well? Or is it time for you to rethink your investments?

And then we saw how David found strength in radically relying on God's presence, his power. Guys, that's the only way we're going to be able to do God's nice things. As long as we think it's all up to us. That if I just do a little better, if I try a little harder, put a couple more hours into this sermon or whatever, that that's going to make all the difference. It's not going to work. We need God at work in and through our lives.

And let me tell you one more thing. All that starts. By having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. By stepping across that line of faith, putting our faith in Christ, confessing our sins to God, inviting Jesus to come into our lives and change us, that's where it start, it starts and it's through that, through him that we will find the courage and the confidence and the strength we need to serve him and to make a difference in our home, in our school, in our work, wherever we might be. So is this what you want? And if it is, what's your next step? To make that step across the line of faith, many of you have already done that. But is it now to begin to lean upon God for the courage and the strength that you need to accomplish God-size things in your life? Let's pray about that.

Father, here we are. We're your kids. And we need you. Keep reminding us of that, that of that every day. I ask that we don't forget it, that we don't start living like we can do it all ourselves. I thank you for the friends you bring alongside of us that can encourage us, can walk alongside of us, can even challenge us. Lord, I thank you for that. But I thank you most of all for your strength, for your promises that you will be with us, that you will give us the courage, give us the strength to accomplish what you put on our hearts to do. And Lord, may we find that, and may we then accomplish your purposes for our lives. Show us what our next steps are. Show us what needs to happen, Father, and give us the courage to do it. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.