First Samuel chapter 17 and verse 12 says, now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem, Judah, whose name was Jesse. And he had eight sons, and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. The man that went for an old man in the days of Saul was Jesse, the dad of David. We introduced a short series, a mini-series on David and Goliath. last time. And David and Goliath, sometimes it's given over to an idea, well, that's a kid's story. That's something for Sunday school classes. Well, I tell you very much this is an account, a true account, but it's worthy of consideration today for every child of God that this account, as we can see it, is very profitable. It's a very profitable study and really an exhaustible study. And according to these events here, you can easily see how the king saw as a picture of Adam and his fall. He lost the kingdom because of sinfulness and rebellion, not adhering to the word of God. You see Goliath, this giant, this irreverent one, this castaway, casting vile, statements against the Lord himself and trying to establish himself as dominant, which is a picture of Satan. We're going to see today just a quick study on David. And David, a true young man, is a picture of Jesus Christ, but he is still a young man. These are true events. This is a historical record. So this morning, the last time we introduced the battle and we introduced the enemy and all those things, here we're going to introduce David, so David and Goliath part two, we're gonna see David. His backstory, if you go back to 1 Samuel chapter 16, as we read there, you're gonna see the calling of the young man David, his anointing that he would be king. And the Lord said unto Samuel, how long wilt thou mourn for Saul, saying I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go and send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. and call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do. And thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem, and the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably, I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass when they were come that he looked on Eliab and said, surely the Lord's anointed is before him. Meaning that he thought that Eliab would be the king. But the Lord said unto Samuel, look not on his countenance or his appearance, or on the height of his stature. That's what the Dibba king saw. Because I have refused him, for the Lord seeth not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel, and he said, neither hath the Lord chosen this. And Jesse made Shammah to pass by, and he said, neither hath the Lord chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel, and Samuel said unto Jesse, the Lord hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, are here all thy children? And he said, there remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, send and fetch him, for we will not sit down till he come hither. Now imagine, we might say, hey, we're not gonna sit down, we're not gonna move until they come. You ever been waiting on somebody and it take a long time? This might've taken a half an hour, this might've taken 20 minutes, this might've taken several hours before they found David. But he said, we're not moving from this place, nothing else happens until David comes. And he sent and brought him. Now he was ruddy or reddish, think of Esau, either red hair, red face, red, ruddy, and with all of the beautiful countenance and goodly to look on, he was attractive. And Lord said, rise and anoint him for this is he. And Simeon took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose and went to Ram. You see here the back story, the origin story, if you will, for David. He was one, and just consider, just consider the man David. What we know from that passage in 1 Samuel 16, we know that he was a keeper of the sheep. And to be a keeper of sheep, sheep have a tendency to wander, and what a beautiful picture it is of the children of God that the Lord would call us sheep. But sheep have a tendency to wander and get themselves into tight places. They have a tendency, not having any kind of defense mechanism, they have a tendency to get themselves into trouble, don't they? So knowing about David that he was a shepherd, we see that he was a truly faithful person in his work, that he was dependable, that he was reliable, that he was a man that wherever the sheep were gonna be, that that's where he was going to be. If they were looking for David, they could listen for sheep and they would find David. He was a faithful man. He was also a diligent man. It takes continual work to keep the sheep round up. It doesn't say if he had some kind of sheep dog or any kind of help with him, but we know that he was a keeper of the sheep. It was his responsibility and he was a diligent person in that. We also know that in his keeping of the sheep, that he was a courageous person. Keeping sheep that have no threat is no big deal. That's an easy thing to do. But keeping sheep that have enemies, keeping sheep that have adversaries, keeping sheep that have predators, now that takes courage. Look, if you would, in 1 Samuel 17, verses 34 through 37. I know we're getting ahead of ourselves in the account here, but listen to the courage it takes for David to be a shepherd. and first seen in chapter 17, verse 34. And David said unto Saul, thy servant kept his father's sheep. And there came a lion and a bear and took a lamb out of the flock. Now, most of us, if we were keeping sheep and we saw a lion come after one of those sheep, we would think, eh, lost one, can't win them all. And I went out after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth." Now look, the lion and the bear, as it reads, came at the same time. Just having one of those predators grab your sheep would be difficult. Lions, they stalk, they pounce. A bear is ruthless. So taking the prey out of a bear's mouth, which is also in a lion's mouth, that's courage. I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth. And when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. That servant slew both the lion and the bear. And the uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing that he hath defied the armies of the living God." He was a courageous young man. You know, people have thoughts of him being some kind of spindly whatever. This is a man of courage. He was beautiful, he was attractive to look upon, he was handsome, but God said that it has nothing to do with the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. That's what it said in the passage. It says in chapter 16 in verse seven, for the Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Well, what kind of heart did David have? In 1 Samuel chapter 13, the Lord tells us what kind of heart this king had, this coming king would have. 1 Samuel chapter 13, verses 13 and 14. And Samuel said to Saul, thou has done foolishly, thou has not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee. For now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue for the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart. We just read in chapter 17, how that in verse 37, David said, the Lord delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear. He would deliver me out of the hand of the Philistine. He believed with all his being that God was king and the Lord had power to deliver, power to save. He had a heart of obedience unto the Lord. We know that he had a heart of obedience and we're gonna study that further this morning. Yeah, but the Lord has sought a man after his own heart and the Lord commanded him to be captain over his people because thou has not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. So David had a heart toward the Lord. He had a heart even after God's own heart. He had a heart of obedience. In chapter 16 and verse seven, again, the Lord looks upon the heart. David, what else do we know about him? In chapter 16, verses 1 through 13, we see that there were a total of eight brothers. He was number eight of the brothers. Look at Psalm 89, if you would please. Psalm 89. We're not gonna get into the Davidic covenant, but the Lord did make a covenant with David. And Psalm 89 touches on this. He says, I will sing of the mercy, Psalm 89 verse one. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, mercy shall be built up forever. Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen. I have sworn unto David my servant. Thy seed will I establish forever. and build up that throne to all generations, Selah. Speaking of, by extension, the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he will have an eternal kingdom. But look what he says, if you would please, in verse 27. Also, I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. David, though being number eight, was made the choice and the firstborn. He was made king. If you were to go by the ways of man, going how man operates, number one child would have the throne. And that's the presentation that Jesse brought his kids to Samuel onto, the firstborn, then the next, the next, the next. It was the last. that was brought and was made the firstborn. God himself declares in the psalm that he made number eight, son, the firstborn. You see also in chapter 16, verse 13, you had these brethren. Look at that again closely. I trust you caught it. Chapter 16 and verse 13, then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren. Did you catch that? And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward, so Samuel rose and went to Ramah. In chapter 17, verses 12 through 14, I want you to see this. Chapter 17, verses 12 through 14. We read verse 12. the Ephrathite, Bethlehem Judah, Jesse's his dad, and he's old, verse 13. And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab, the firstborn, and the next Abinadab, and the third Shammah, same names we read in chapter 16. And David was the youngest, and the three eldest followed Saul. The brethren rejected the anointed king who was their brother. David was anointed king in chapter 16. In chapter 17, the brothers who saw him anointed as king went and followed and served another. Who in the world does that sound like? John, please, in chapter 7. John, chapter 7. And after these things, Jesus walked in Galilee, verse one, for he would not walk in Jewry because the Jews sought to kill him, nor the Jews, for now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, depart hence and go into Judea, that the disciples may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do those things, show thyself to the world, for or because, Neither did his brethren believe him. The Son of God declared the Son of God and having the approval of God the Father from heaven at his baptism, working miracles and evidencing himself as Messiah, the King of the Jews, his own brothers didn't want to go with him. His own brothers didn't follow him. His own brothers didn't acknowledge him. But guess what? They were on their way to the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus said to them, my time has not yet come, but your time is all the way ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hateth me, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up into the feast. What were they doing? They didn't trust in Messiah, but they were going into religion. You can see the picture there as these brothers, they didn't trust David as their king, and they didn't trust God to be their king, but they had their trust in the works and the person of Saul, which is a figure of Adam. They trusted in Saul, they didn't trust in God. Go up, he says in verse eight, going to the feast, I cannot, the feast for my time is not yet come. When he had said these words to them, he abode still in Galilee, but when his brethren were gone up, they went on up. So his brothers here in 1 Samuel 17, his brothers rejected his anointing as king, but followed the king who is representative of Adam. In John 19, it's also figurative. Yes, the little brothers of Jesus rejected him, but also nationally his brothers rejected him. In John chapter 19 and verse 12. And from henceforth, John chapter 19 and verse 12. And from henceforth Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, Thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. He's not the king, he will not rule over us. They rejected him as a national brother. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought forth, he brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgment seat in the place that is called the pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the Passover, about the sixth hour. And he said unto the Jews, behold your king. But they cried away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, shall I crucify your king? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar. They'd rather follow the man who they thought they could bring some national harmony for a season rather than submit themselves to the one true king. How vividly these brothers in following after Saul pictures both the literal brothers of Jesus Christ, half brothers that is, Mary was their common mother, and the national brothers, they're the Jews in the day of Christ. How vividly they picture that. The brethren held to the dismayed, afraid, and punked-out king. Look back in chapter 17 and verse 10. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day. Give me a man that we may fight together. Give me a man. You got a man? Give him to me. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. But these brothers gathered themselves unto them. It makes no sense at all for people to gather themselves unto the likeness of Adam. It makes no sense at all. But that's what these brothers did. Such is the case with all religion today, though. People reject King Jesus, the Deliverer, but they try to hold to Adam's ability. pictured in King Saul. Oh, if you're just taught this and this and this and this and this and this and you acknowledge this and this and this and this and this and you do this and this and this and this and this, then you can overcome in the day of battle. You can have victory. There was no victory on this battlefield for the Jews. Saul couldn't bring victory. Jonathan couldn't bring victory. Israel collectively couldn't bring victory. David, as a type of Christ, would bring victory. These brethren, they held to things that had no value on the field of battle. Happens today. It's happened since there's been human beings. Romans, if you would please, Romans chapter 5. Romans chapter 5 and verses 12 through 14. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, Saul rebelled, the kingdom was suffering. Picturing Adam, as by one man, Adam, sin entered into the world, his dominion, and death by sin, failure. And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned, distressed, dismayed. For until the law, sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned. from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." Death reigns by sin. Death reigns by sin. In this scene here, in this In this battle scene in 1 Samuel 17, death is on the field. Death is on the line. And all that the best man of Israel can do is guarantee their death. And yet these brothers line up there on the battle, and they're awaiting their death there. All they can do is die. The Philistines have certain victory at hand. But in Romans 6, in verse 23, The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. True victory. Jesus Christ is King. That same Jesus who they crucified is both Lord and Christ. He is Messiah, the anointed King of all creation. He is King. Any work under salvation, religious or otherwise, is holding the King Saul, but that's where the brothers are. You see that. The brothers went to King Saul. You see obedience here in verse 15 though, but David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. David continued being faithful, diligent, courageous. He continued in having an appearance before God and a heart toward God to trust the Lord and follow, be obedient on his commandments. And that his heartfulness toward God is translated in his life. He was obedient unto his parents. His obedience, he was obedient as a brother, and we're gonna see that. He was obedient as an Israelite, but he was obedient unto his father and the work that his father gave him to do. A clear picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew chapter three, the Lord Jesus Christ, obedient in everything the father gave him to do. Matthew chapter three in verses 15 through 17, And Jesus answering, said unto him, Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, his picture of his death-bound resurrection went up straightway out of the water, and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him. And, lo, a voice from heaven sang, This is my beloved Son, and whom I am well pleased. Likewise, in the book of John, In chapter 8, John chapter 8 and verse 29, John 8 verse 29, the Lord Jesus speaking, and he that sent me is with me, the father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things that please him. Now David was a sinner. He wasn't always obedient in everything, but in this thing, he is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ and that he had continual obedience toward his father. His dad told him to do something, he did it. The children of God should likewise desire to be a living picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. We should desire to be as obedient children, an offering of the gospel. and both in word and deed unto all that would examine us. As we go through this passage, you see David here, this young man of the tribe of Judah, that he was chosen to be king. You see here that he was obedient to his father. There's a war raging. Look at in verse number 16. You get glimpses, and it's interesting the way that the Spirit of God provoked the rider of first Sema to give us pulses here, that we would not forget the battle. In verse number 16, you see, it says, the Philistine Jew, Nir, morning and evening, and presented himself 40 days. Yes, there is an anointed King who pictures the Lord Jesus Christ. And yes, He is the firstborn, He is the Son of God. Jesus Christ, He rules, He reigns, and His literal kingdom shall be present in just a little while. And He only does the will of the Father, yet the battle rages. The enemy draws near. The enemy antagonizes the battle. The enemy desires advance of the battle. The enemy draws children of God. You notice, and we're gonna read in future study, that there's exactly one person in the camp who was not overcome by the enemy, and that's David. David was a literal person, you see. But here's a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, a literal person. Children of God. He had confidence in the battle because he had confidence in God, not in himself. He had confidence in God. As the battle rages, the enemy draws near. As the battle is antagonized by the enemy, as everything advances, as the gates of hell, they rage, they will not prevail. The Lord Jesus Christ declared that they would not. The enemy is relentless. Jesus Christ is victorious. John, the enemy being relentless, look, it says that he drew near morning and evening. Morning and evening, day and night, the enemy relentlessly comes. What does that change about God? Absolutely nothing. The enemy is given a space here, look at this. It says he presented himself 40 days. 40 days is interesting in the word of God. It's a sign of trial or judgment. How long did it rain in Noah's day? 40 days, 40 nights. How long was Moses up in the mountain? 40 days and 40 nights. Ezekiel, when he laid himself out carrying the burdens of Judah in Ezekiel chapter four, how long did he lay there? 40 days and 40 nights. Jonah, when he cried unto Nineveh, what did he say? Yet 40 days, Nineveh shall be overthrown. When the Lord himself in Matthew chapter four was at hunger and thirst and was in the wilderness tempted of the devil, how long was he out there? 40 days. 40 days, 40 days of coming near. The enemy was bold against Israel for 40 days. Yes, that's the enemy, but what else is that? Every day, 40 days, he's coming out and says, is there a man? That's also 40 days of cowardice. 40 days of these people sitting there on the hillside and not one of them having the guts to say, this heathen will not defile the armies of the living God and present themselves down there and take on this giant 40 days of cowardice. These people, all they did was just sit up there and be afraid for 40 days. 40 days of not trusting God. Listen to this, 1 Samuel chapter 12. 1 Samuel chapter 12. And verse 12, Samuel says, and when you saw that Nahash, the king of the children of Amon came against you, you say unto me, nay, but a king shall reign over us. When the Lord your God was your king, 40 days, admission of guilt, they did not trust in God to deliver them. 40 days. 40 days of putting up with blasphemy. Chapter 17 and verse 10, it says, Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day. Give me a man that we may fight together. Again, in chapter 17, verses 23 through 26. And as he talked with him, behold, there came up the champion of the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the words, and David heard them. And when all the men of Israel, when they saw the man fled from him and were sore afraid, and the men of Israel said, have you seen this man that has come up surely to fight Israel? Is he come up? And it shall be that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make him his father's house free in Israel. And David spake unto the man that stood by, saying, what shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God forty days without that kind of courage? Forty days. Children of God, I encourage you today and every day, be as David. David was a sinner. He's not perfect to follow, but He's sure a pretty great example of how we're to live by faith, even if no one else in the camp does. Child of God, you are commended by the Word of God to trust the Lord and have courage in Him. Look, here's David in verse 16, in Philistine, June near, morning and evening, presenting himself 40 days. Verse 17. That reproach of Israel, you know everybody in the region knew what was going on here. Truly a reproach in Israel. Is this the same people that the walls of Jericho fell by? Is this the same people that God delivered out of Egypt? There's no way. Verse 17 and 18, And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, these ten loaves and run to the camp to thy brother run told him to run catch that he told him to run and carry these ten cheeses under the camp of their thousand and look how I look I look how thy brethren fare and take their pledge now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines My dad, when we would go to school, my younger brother, as a freshman in high school, he grew about six inches over summer, real big. And he had talent in football and thought that he could have been the starting quarterback for the team. And he was really good. So every day when he would come home, my dad would ask him, what's the facts? What's going on? He would literally say, what's the facts? He would want to know how things are going, how things are in practice. Where are you on the depth chart? What's going on? Well, that's what Jesse, this older man, is asking. He wants to know what's going on on the battlefield. In these days, the armies were supplied by home supply, okay? By home provision. So while they were out there fighting and standing for those 40 days, they weren't also going out and gathering or whatever. So families round about would send in provision, and that's what Jesse is doing. He's saying, okay, here's some food. Take it to your brothers so they have provision. The enemies would simply go out as marauders and pillage and plunder whatever they took. But in taking provision, David would learn how things are going on. Jesse was an old man in those days. Look again in verse 12. It says, David was the son of Ephraimite and of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse. And he had eight sons. And the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. So Jesse wasn't going to go out to the battlefield, you see. But he still wanted to know what was going on. Notice what you can see about David just in this. Oh man, you mentioned cheese and bread. What could we learn about that? Well, we can know that David was old enough to draw unto battle, meaning he was mature enough to draw unto the battle. Jesse would not have sent a person who could not handle it over there. He was mature enough to handle the battle. We see that David was stable enough to draw on in. He wasn't gonna be distracted. He wasn't gonna go chase butterflies over here. He wasn't gonna go do that over there. He was stable and trustworthy unto the things that he'd be given unto. He was dependable enough to draw near. Jesse knew when he sent David down to check on the brothers, that he was gonna do it. He didn't have to ask, is he gonna do it? We know that he was strong enough to draw near. meaning he would be able to physically handle the task, but also emotionally strong enough. You see, when Jesse sent him to the battlefield, he didn't know what kind of gore that David was going to see, but he knew that David was strong enough to go do what he had told him to do. We also know that he was fierce and tenacious enough to draw near. He would not be afraid of what was going on over there. Jesse knew David quite well, didn't he? The children of God, wouldn't it be well spoken of our own selves that we were counted as mature, stable, dependable, strong, and fierce servants of the mighty God? Wouldn't that be well? I would desire that each of us could be sent to a work that we've been called unto. Every one of us is called to a work. Now, not every one of us is called to a pastorate, not every one of us is called to be a deacon, not everyone is called to the mission field, but everyone is called unto a work. Jesse had care, and David was reliable David was reliable to be sent. I would ask you and encourage you to desire that you would be dependable, that you'd be mature, that you'd be stable, you'd be strong, and you'd be fierce. It would be my desire for each of you men that if I were to be called over to a service over here, called over to a service over there, that as Jesse called upon David, I could call upon you and do this charge as it has been committed unto you for a season. Likewise, every man, every child of God has also been commended to lead in the home. David was commended to carry out a work. He was mature, stable, dependable, strong, and fierce. And may every one of you men carry those characteristics as leaders in the home. David had evidently proven himself under this charge. Jesse did not have to send someone to go watch over him. He said, David, go to. Both Jesse and David believed in the providence of God. Remember, in chapter 16, David was anointed king. Does it make sense then to send the young king off into the field of battle without an accompanied army or secret service or whatever? No, they both believed God. They both relied on God, and it was not tempting God for him to go into the battle. David and Jesse trusted God. You see the valley of Elah there in verse 19. Now Saul and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines. Yes, the battle draws near. You see, we got another glimpse of David and going to get the message and everything, but here the battle rages. They show no confidence in God as of yet. Is there any confidence in the armies of Israel and the Lord? There is none in this passage as of yet. How many times are the people of God in the valley of the battle with no thoughts to the Lord? They see the enemy, they plan their strategy, they look to themselves, all the while simply trusting God and doing what he says never enters their minds. That's why for 40 days, not one of them ran down there and fought that man. It's a great way to get mud holes stomped. It's a great way to get mud holes stomped. Yes, our adversary, the devil, walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The children of God have taken many blows because their shield of faith is dropped to their side and they're not trusting God and moving forward. Children, just trust him. Just trust him. The battle rages. You can see here in this valley that it truly is a low place for the children of God. You know, mountains and valleys, hills and valleys. This is a low place for the children of God. They're in a fight they cannot win and their trust is anywhere but where it needs to be. Verse 20, check this out, moral obedience. And David rose up early in the morning and left the sheep with the keeper and took and went as Jesse had commanded him and he came to the trench of the host as the host was going forth to fight. and shouted for the battle. He rose up in the morning. It shows diligence again. He wasn't putting this thing off. Jesse told him to do it, rose up first thing in the morning and did it. Didn't set out for weeks to supply or weeks to plan or anything. He just did it. He just did what Jesse told him to do. And he was gonna do it under the light of day. It could not be missed that this shepherd was now going on a provision to the battle. Under light of day, it could not be missed that he was obedient to his father. He left the sheep with the keeper. This tells us more about David. He was practical. He cared about what he did. He had a practical care with evidential provisional care and thoughtfulness. He wasn't going to abandon his obligations because he had a command. He still was careful and thoughtful toward his obligations. It would be ridiculous in like manner to say that a man would be a pastor of a church but would neglect his family to pastor a church. What sense does that make? No, the evidential provisional care and thoughtfulness that David shows tells us that he's not just an obedient person, but his obedience had a measure of practicalness with it. Jesse commanded that he go and he went, but his stuff was taken care of. How deep that conversation can be. Our service toward God and obedience toward God should never, ever, ever, ever cause neglect of the things that we're to care for and have thoughtfulness toward. Never, never. Jesus Christ, while being crucified, made sure his mother was taken care of. You see the practicality of obedience. Loving God and loving your neighbor, loving his father and caring for those things that he was given command over. You cannot separate them. You see here as the battle wages hotter and hotter in chapter 17, verses 20, the second part of verse 20, the first part of 21. And he came to the trench as the host was going forth to fight. to the fight and shouted for the battle. For Israel and the Philistines have put the battle in array, army against army. The trenches are dug out. The shouting of the battle intensifies." Again, what are they shouting? We're not told. The battle is on though. It seems like today is the day. Well, providentially it would be the day because David showed up, right? And these men of Israel, all they're shouting, who knows what they're shouting, but they're not shouting David's name. As we study, as we continue to study, we won't get there today, when David presents himself even to his brothers, they say, what are you doing? Yeah, it's just you being you. They reject him. The battle is on. Yet again, no evidence of Israel calling upon the Lord. There's other instances where the children of God, they shout unto the Lord and there's indication of that. There's no indication here. The only indication they have is that they're under Saul and they're gonna fight this battle seemingly unto the death. This seems like it will end very, very badly, doesn't it? It seems like this battle is gonna end very, very badly. And if we carry out our battles like this, it will end very, very badly for us as well. We studied in 1 John 5 that there's a sin on the death and we would not pray for him. We run our battles like this, trusting in ourselves, doing things how we think we ought to do them, lining up against the great adversary, that old serpent, Satan, that is the devil, and then think of our own ability, we'll have any measure of victory, that's a recipe for disaster. The children of God are to take up our cross and follow Him. That's what it says in Luke chapter 14. Read the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke chapter 14 and verse 25. And there went great multitudes with him, and he turned and said unto them, if a man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea, his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. He's not preaching some kind of hate doctrine. He's saying that God Almighty has to come first. There is no other God before him. If I would serve myself or serve my family or serve as a patriot in the United States, then I am no disciple of Jesus Christ. That's what he's saying. Whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. There's exactly one disciple noted in 1 Samuel chapter 17 loudly up to this point, and his name is David, the son of Jesse. The children of God are to take up her cross and follow him. Again, I don't know how many men were on that hillside, but any one of them God could have used to throw that Philistine down in death. Any one of them. He providentially declared that it would be David. But the children of God are to follow the Lord, not fight our battles of our own deciding and based on our own conscience, but by the word of God, trusting God, the battle was won in Christ. We're to follow him. We're to search the scriptures. When has the strategy ever paid off for the people of God that we abandon the Lord and trust in our own selves and go in? It's never paid off. In Mark chapter 5, look at this example. Mark chapter 5, please. And as the sea rages, Mark chapter 5. The picture there of the battlefield with the Philistines and the picture here of the sea, it's relatable to every child of God in our affairs of life. Mark chapter 4, verse 35, while he had spake, That's chapter 5, Mark chapter 4 and verse 35. And same day when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. What did he say? Let us pass over to the other side. Again, say it out loud. What did he say? Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as in the ship, and there was also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was on the hindered part of the ship, asleep on a pillow, and they awake him, and saying to him, Master, cares not that we perish? Lord, we're about to die. Didn't he say we're going to the other side? Did not he promise their entry to the other side? And he arose and rebuked the sea, the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? You didn't believe me that I said, We're going to the other side. How is that? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? What's God Almighty Himself? Or crossing over, child of God, Yes, they had every right to be dismayed and fearful, trusted in Saul, trusted in themselves. David, he shows up and we're going to see in future study, he's zero percent afraid. He says, who's this guy that defies the armies of the living God? Show me this man and I'll take his head. God will give your head unto me, he tells the giant. Children of God, I encourage you not to enter into battle in such a case, but to trust the Lord, that He is King, He has prevailed, and victory is in Him. Surely the unsaved, they don't just fight without the Lord, they fight against the Lord. Think about that. They fight against the Lord. That's a bad move, to say the least. What a terrible move, to fight against the Lord. He never lost a battle, which means His opponents will lose every single one. Verse 22. And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage and ran into the army and came and saluted his brother. Here we see more about David. The more we learn about David, the more we ought to want to be like David. He left the carriage, he left the supplies with the keeper, again, the provisional care. Those supplies wasn't just bread and cheese. That was going to be how his brothers lived. If something happened to those foodstuffs, it wasn't going to be his problem, it was going to be his brother's problem. He cared about his brothers. He cared about his brothers, and it says he greeted his brother, and he greeted those that rejected. He went to them first, didn't he? That's what it says. He didn't go greet everybody in the army. He went to his brothers and saluted them. John 1. John 1, verse 11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. You imagine what that interaction would have been like? In my study, I didn't write these things down, but in my study, I was reminded of Joseph and his brothers, how they hated him because he was loved of his father. How these brothers must have hated David, and it's evident in the conversation we're gonna study, how they must have hated him, that being the youngest, he was anointed as king. Those that rejected him, we've read in Luke chapter 24, he tells them to preach repentance and remission of sins and start in Jerusalem. Those that hated, those that he presented himself to, Christ presented himself to, go to them first and preach repentance and remission of sins. Those that were loyal to Saul, he sought their care. Those that were in, he was in obedience. He brought provision to those who were in need, but those who also despised him. Faith he brought energy to those who were dismayed afraid and arrayed they were set up to battle but they were terrified didn't he we're gonna study this too didn't he bring a vibrant energy to the camp when he smoked that Philistine the other Philistines took off running and there was a shout in the camp and they pursued after the Philistines what energy this man brought To say that Jesus Christ himself brings energy to his people that's saying it lightly, isn't it? Oh, we are just so desired to follow after the Lord that when, if it were to be so that someone would read an account of our lives that we do as David, that we would see Jesus Christ and desire to have trust in Him. What if there was a book or a chapter or a few verses written about our lives? Would someone say, wow, how the Lord moved there. May I be as faithful as so-and-so unto the Lord my God. David, yes, a picture of Jesus Christ. a literal person that trusted the Lord and followed after him. You see that David was passionate in the cause. Look there again in verse 22. And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage and ran into the army. What passion we see here in David. Jesse told him to run, and I told you to look at that, run to your brethren. Run, it says in verse 17, run to the camp to thy brethren. Jesse told him to run, he ran. God has told us to go, go. May it even be at a run. Be passionate in your calls for the kingdom of God. Be passionate toward the Lord and trusting Him and following Him, serving Him. Child of God, be like David. Again, David was a sinner, not perfect. I don't want you to worship David, but he is an example of how we are to live our lives. Have a heart toward God. Be diligent, be courageous, be faithful, and dependable. Be mature, stable, strong, and fierce in the Lord. Have a practical provision of carefulness and thoughtfulness toward others. Be one that can be depended upon unto a work that is so designated. When the battle rages, run into it trusting the Lord and doing what he says. Pretty exciting stuff, isn't it? Yeah, just some kind of story they tell kids in Sunday school. Well, this is a pretty amazing story in the Lord, I find. Sinner, you can continue to carry the shield. Look in 1 Samuel 17, verse 7. And the staff of his spear, talking about Goliath, was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed 600 shekels of iron, and one bearing a shield went before him. So if Goliath, he was a real person, a real person, and he died in that day, but he's also a figure of Satan himself. And that one who bore his shield is one that was carrying his defense. You're carrying the defense of that liar and murderer, Satan. You carry his defense by your rejection of God, by your dependence on yourself, and by your following after him the course of this world. How is that? Look in Ephesians chapter 2. This speaks of, I believe, those that carry the shield of Satan himself. Ephesians chapter two and verse two, it says, when in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we had our conversation, our way of life, our shield bearing in time past in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. And we're by nature the children of wrath, even as others, defending and carrying the defense, the shield of Satan himself. is that one outside of Jesus Christ. Your army might seem strong. Oh, that shield bearer, his army seemed real strong and had the Israel all just made and afraid up there on the hillside. And your hero may seem defiant with hopes of victory. In Revelation chapter 20, when Satan's loosed out of that pit and the army's surround there at Jerusalem, oh, Their hero seems like he's so strong, and they have hopes of victory, don't they? Until they don't, until they're firebombed out of heaven. Rest assured, the Lord has never lost a battle, and you can read this book and find when he was ever undone. None can stay his hand, none says, what doest thou? You will be overthrown, sinner. You will be overthrown. And that overthrow will either come in death or conversion. Thank God He overthrows in conversion as well. I mentioned Nineveh earlier. That overthrow came in repentance and conversion. They were given from the highest to the lowest. They were given hearts of repentance turning to the Lord. Thank God He overthrows in conversion. Hard to say. It's what Scripture says. Thank God He overthrows in death also. As her smoke comes up in Revelation chapter 19, What do the people of the Lord say? Hallelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. He's right in every case of overthrow. He only does wondrous things. And to you sinner, I would encourage you to repent, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Overthrow is at hand. I'm so eternally thankful that God overthrew my old heart, my old wicked heart. sinner, I encourage you unto the Lord. And the Lord bless the preaching of his word.