David: The Giant Slayer — Ella Jenkinson, 25th August 2024 | LOVECHURCH Bournemouth

Summary

In this inspiring talk, the speaker explores the story of David from the Bible, highlighting his journey from shepherd to king and his battle with Goliath. The narrative emphasizes David's faith in God and his understanding of his own identity and God's power. It draws parallels to modern-day challenges, encouraging individuals to face their 'Goliaths' by recognizing their unique strengths and God's support. The talk concludes with a call to prayer, reinforcing the message of trusting in God's plan and power.

Takeaways

• 📜 David is a multifaceted character in the Bible, known for his heroic acts, poetic contributions, friendship with Jonathan, kingship, and his complex relationship with faith and sin.
• 🛡 The story of David and Goliath is a metaphor for overcoming challenges, emphasizing David's faith and reliance on God despite being an underdog.
• 🤔 The narrative challenges us to reflect on our own battles or challenges in life, encouraging introspection and sharing of personal experiences.
• 💡 David's victory is attributed to his understanding of who he is and who God is, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and faith in overcoming obstacles.
• 🎯 David's use of a sling and five stones symbolizes simplicity and faith over physical strength or conventional weaponry, with the number five possibly representing completeness or preparation.
• 🛖 The Israelites' initial fear and inaction in the face of Goliath's challenge mirror human tendencies to avoid confrontation and wait for others to act.
• 🌟 God values the heart over physical appearances or societal measures of worth, as seen in the selection of David as king and his reliance on divine guidance.
• 🙏 The act of prayer is presented as a powerful tool for surrendering our struggles to a higher power, acknowledging our limitations and seeking divine intervention.
• 🔗 David's story foreshadows Jesus, who also took on the role of the 'underdog' to conquer the world's sins, emphasizing the theme of sacrifice and salvation.
• 👑 The concept of the 'Living God' is contrasted with lifeless idols, emphasizing the active and relational nature of the God who fights for and alongside his people.
• ✝️ Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is likened to David's battle with Goliath, illustrating the divine initiative in overcoming the world's challenges on our behalf.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the script and what are some of his well-known titles?

The main character in the script is David, who is known as David the Giant Slayer, the poet who likely wrote half of the Psalms, David and Jonathan's best friend, the king, and a descendant of Jesus.

What are the two key truths that David remembers in the story?

The two key truths that David remembers are who he is and who God is.

What is the traditional warfare method called that the Philistines challenge the Israelites to in the story?

The traditional warfare method is called single combat, where one person fights another instead of entire armies.

What is the name of the Philistine warrior that David faces in the battle?

The Philistine warrior's name is Goliath.

Why did David bring five smooth pebbles instead of just one for his slingshot?

The script doesn't provide a specific reason, but it could be for multiple attempts or as a backup in case one is lost or fails.

What does David's victory over Goliath symbolize in terms of faith and human ability?

David's victory symbolizes that God can use ordinary skills and extraordinary faith to accomplish His purposes, regardless of human labels or perceived weaknesses.

What does the term 'Yahweh' translate to and what does it represent in the context of the script?

The term 'Yahweh' translates to 'I am who I am,' representing the Eternal, constant, present, and unchanging nature of God.

How does David's battle with Goliath foreshadow the actions of Jesus according to the script?

David's battle foreshadows Jesus by taking the place of others in the fight, similar to how Jesus took our place on the cross, dying for our sins.

What does the script suggest about God's perspective on human worth and ability?

The script suggests that God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance or human measures of ability or worth, and that He equips us for the tasks He gives us.

What is the significance of the phrase 'The Lord Almighty' in the script?

The phrase 'The Lord Almighty' signifies God's sovereignty and power, emphasizing that it is through His name and strength that battles are won, not by human might.

What is the script's message about fear and how it affects our approach to challenges?

The script's message is that fear often causes us to second-guess ourselves and hide, but recognizing who God is and who we are in Him can shift our approach to challenges, giving us confidence.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ David's Faith and Battle with Goliath

This paragraph introduces David as a significant figure in the Bible, known for his various roles such as the Giant Slayer, poet, and king. It highlights David's complex character, marked by both heroic acts and moments of doubt and sin. The main focus is the story of David facing Goliath, emphasizing David's faith and the key truths he remembers: his identity and God's nature. The narrative sets the stage for the battle between Israelites and Philistines, where Goliath challenges the Israelites to single combat. David, initially not part of the battle, questions the inaction of others and volunteers to fight Goliath, despite King Saul's concerns about his lack of experience and armor. David insists on using his sling and five smooth pebbles, leading to his victory over Goliath with a single stone, which results in the Philistines' defeat and Israel's triumph.

05:01

🤔 Reflecting on Personal Battles and Trust in God

The speaker invites the audience to reflect on their own challenges or battles in life, drawing a parallel between their personal struggles and the biblical story of David and Goliath. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of understanding who we are and who God is in the face of adversity. It discusses how God does not expect us to be anything other than who He created us to be, using the story of David as an example of how God uses ordinary skills and faith for His purposes. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about feeling unprepared and under-confident but being reassured by a prayer that they have everything they need, highlighting the role of faith in overcoming fear and self-doubt.

10:03

🌟 Knowing Who God Is and His Living Presence

This paragraph delves deeper into the significance of recognizing God's identity and nature. It explains how David's victory over Goliath was rooted in his understanding of God as the 'Lord Almighty' and the 'Living God,' which contrasts with the inactive, transactional idols of the time. The speaker uses the story to illustrate the importance of having a living, active relationship with God, who fights for His people. The paragraph also connects David's story to Jesus, the ultimate descendant of David, who took our place in the battle against sin and death, signifying that our salvation is not by our own strength but through God's intervention.

15:06

🙏 Embracing Our Identity and God's Sovereignty in Prayer

The speaker transitions into a prayerful section, acknowledging the struggle to balance the understanding of our identity and God's sovereignty. They recognize that some people may feel inadequate or burdened by their weaknesses, while others may have forgotten the power and presence of God in their lives. The paragraph encourages the congregation to pray, offering a space for individuals to receive prayer for specific challenges they may be facing. The act of prayer is presented as a surrender of self-reliance and an acknowledgment of God's power and authority in our lives.

20:09

🦁 The Roar of the Lion: God's Call to Remember Our Identity

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker prays for the congregation, asking God to restore their identity as children of God and to shake them up with the realization of who He is. The prayer emphasizes the power of God's presence in our lives, the perfection of His power in our weakness, and the importance of recognizing and embracing our true selves as beloved by God. The prayer ends with a call to hear 'the Roar of the lion,' a metaphor for God's voice reminding us of His identity and our own, leaving the congregation with a sense of awe and reverence.

Keywords

💡David

David is a central figure in the script, known as a hero and a faithful servant of God from the Bible. He is depicted as a multifaceted character with both strengths and weaknesses, embodying the theme of overcoming challenges through faith. The script references his story as the 'Giant Slayer,' his friendship with Jonathan, and his eventual rise to kingship, illustrating the transformative power of faith and courage.

💡Goliath

Goliath represents the formidable adversary or challenge that individuals may face in life. In the script, Goliath is described as a fearsome warrior with immense size and strength, symbolizing the overwhelming obstacles that can intimidate and demoralize. His defeat by David underscores the message that faith can overcome even the most daunting of adversaries.

💡Faith

Faith is a recurring theme in the script, highlighting the belief in and trust of God's power. It is portrayed as a driving force behind David's actions, enabling him to face Goliath despite the odds. The script emphasizes that faith can lead to victory, even in the face of despair and doubt.

💡Battle

The term 'battle' is used metaphorically to describe the struggles and conflicts individuals encounter. In the context of the script, it refers to both the literal battle between David and Goliath and the personal battles of self-doubt and fear that people face. The script encourages viewers to confront their battles with courage and faith.

💡Identity

Identity in the script is tied to the understanding of who one is in relation to God. It is about recognizing one's inherent worth and capabilities as created by God, which is independent of human labels or weaknesses. The script uses David's story to illustrate that God sees beyond superficial measures and values the heart.

💡Ordinary Skills

The concept of 'ordinary skills' is highlighted in the script to show that even common abilities can be used for extraordinary purposes. David's skill with a slingshot, an ordinary tool for a shepherd, becomes the means by which he defeats Goliath. This underscores the idea that God can use anyone's abilities to fulfill His plans.

💡Fear

Fear is presented as a hindrance that can cause individuals to doubt themselves and hesitate to face challenges. The script contrasts fear with faith, showing that it can prevent people from stepping up to confront their 'Goliaths.' Overcoming fear through faith is a key message of the script.

💡Worship

Worship in the script is an expression of devotion and reverence to God. It is depicted as an intimate and bold act that reflects the depth of David's relationship with God. The Psalms, attributed to David, are mentioned as examples of worshipful expressions in the face of various life experiences.

💡Intimacy

Intimacy with God is portrayed as a close, personal relationship that allows for deep trust and reliance. The script suggests that David's intimate relationship with God is a source of strength and guidance, enabling him to face his challenges with confidence.

💡Brokenness

Brokenness in the script refers to the state of being flawed or imperfect, which is a universal human condition. It is used to describe David's humanity and to relate to the audience's own experiences of failure and sin. The script conveys that even in brokenness, one can find redemption and purpose through faith in God.

💡Jesus

Jesus is mentioned as the ultimate fulfillment of the themes presented in David's story. He is referred to as the 'branch and the root of David,' signifying both his lineage and his eternal nature. The script draws a parallel between David's victory over Goliath and Jesus's victory over sin and death on the cross, emphasizing the redemptive power of faith in Christ.

Highlights

David is a prominent character in the Bible, known for several key stories such as David and Goliath, and writing many of the Psalms.

David's life had significant highs and lows, with moments of bold faith and worship, as well as doubt, despair, and sin.

David is portrayed as both a hero and a flawed human, making his story relatable to all.

The focus of the passage is on how David faced Goliath, a literal giant, by remembering two key truths: who he is and who God is.

David's confidence came from knowing his identity and the power of God, rather than relying on physical strength or traditional armor.

The Israelites were terrified of Goliath, but David, a young shepherd, stepped forward to fight him with only a sling and five smooth stones.

David's faith in God's power allowed him to defeat Goliath with a single stone, despite being vastly outmatched.

The story emphasizes that God does not ask us to be something we are not, but uses our existing abilities and faith to fulfill His purposes.

David's victory over Goliath is a foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice, where He took our place in the ultimate battle against sin.

The passage encourages us to recognize our identity as God's children and trust in His power during our own battles.

Fear often causes us to second guess ourselves, but knowing who we are in God can give us the confidence to face challenges.

David repeatedly acknowledges God's power and presence, referring to Him as the Lord Almighty and the Living God.

The idea of a Living God, present and active, contrasts with the inactive idols of the time, highlighting the uniqueness of the God of Israel.

The sermon draws parallels between David's battle with Goliath and the challenges we face today, encouraging us to rely on God.

The conclusion invites the congregation to reflect on their own battles and challenges, and to seek God's strength in overcoming them.

Transcripts

[Music]

David is a pretty big character in The

Bible there are quite a few headlines

some stories that you may know David

from um David the Giant Slayer as of

this morning David the poet he probably

wrote at least half of the Psalms David

and Jonathan best friends for life David

becoming King David the home record

he stole another man's wife Jesus

descendant of

David the passage we're going to be

focusing on today is a pretty glowing

story of David his life he's a hero he's

a faithful servant of God but he had

some real highs and lows throughout his

life and his faith in God was one of

boldness and worship and

intimacy but also of doubt and despair

and Brokenness and sin he is the man

that wrote The Lord is my shepherd I

shall not want but also how long Lord

will you hide your face from

me David is an Old Testament hero but he

is also a flawed human being just like

the rest of

us and I think what we can learn from

David In this passage today is how he

responds to the the Giant in front of

him he remembers two key

truths who he

is and who God is we're going to come

back to

those I am going to do a a speedy playby

playay of the story the whole passage is

50 verses so I won't put you through all

of that um but to set the scene we have

a battle it's about to commence it's

between the Israelites and the

Philistines and they are on two side of

the valley of aah not Ella that would be

fun but the valley of aah and rather

than initiating a normal battle the

Philistines challenged the Israelites to

a tradition in Ancient Warfare called

single combat it was supposed to spare

lives it was one person versus another

person instead of all of the Army and

the person that the Philistines put

forward was

Goliath he was probably 6' n some

versions say more like 9 foot which is

pretty crazy um he was wearing 130 lb of

armor he had a spear with a hefty iron

head he was a warrior and twice a day

for 40 days Goliath steps out he shouts

to the Israelites come on who's going to

fight me he says choose a man and have

him come down to me 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 so the Israelites are the Bible says

dismayed and

terrified morale is low everyone is kind

of heads down pretending they haven't

heard a bit like all of you when I asked

for a volunteer earlier waiting for

someone else to step

forward and then this little guy David

comes down he's the youngest of eight

brothers he's basically just a child and

wasn't even supposed to be on the

battlefield his dad Jesse sent him down

to deliver some snacks some supplies to

his brothers and check in on

them and David

says what's everyone why is everyone

standing

around why is everyone looking at this

giant and not choosing to fight

him he says I'll do it fine I'll

go why are we letting this guy get the

better of us does he know he is defying

the armies of the Living God he says

that phrase a few

times and Saul is like whoa you are not

prepared to fight this

guy he says you are only a young man and

he has been a fighter ever since his

Youth and they have a bit of a back and

forth here and eventually he says fine

go but please wear my

armor and David's like I can't even move

in that

stuff all I

need is my sling my slingshot and five

smooth

Pebbles my friend's little four-year-old

nephew asked why does he take five

Pebbles when he only needs one so if

anyone knows the answer to that come

back and tell me and I can feedb to him

um but he steps up he takes a single

shot at Goliath and the stone hits

Goliath between the eyes he dies the

Philistines flee the Israelites win and

then David eventually goes on to be

king okay that was a lot of talking from

me take a moment and think what feels

like a bit of a battle or a challenge in

your life right

now this could be a bigger thing in your

life or May maybe it's a really small

thing I know that a couple of days ago

for me finishing this talk felt like a

bit of a

battle take a moment to think and then

share it with someone near you what is a

challenge or a bit of a battle that you

are facing in your life right now 30

seconds go

okay it is

unlikely that we will be

facing a 6'9 Warrior anytime

soon and I'm also aware that we have the

huge privilege of being in a country

that isn't currently impacted by

conflict but even now in this room I

know there will be both physical things

that we will be facing as well as mental

battles and we have or will

experience pain and hurt and Temptation

and fear and

shame Jesus said in this world you will

have

trouble and the Bible teaches us how we

can respond to the battles that we face

in our own

lives and the way David responds to the

warrior Giant in front of him what he

holds on to with confidence is who he is

and who God is who we are and who God is

I think learning those two truths can

entirely shift the way we approach those

challenges Alles those battles that we

face

so who you are the key thing here is

that God doesn't ask or expect David to

be anything that he's

not the story could have gone like this

Saul gives David his armor David

transforms into a 10- foot warrior with

the best fighting skills you've ever

seen and absolutely destroys all of the

Philistines that's not how it goes

he gets his

slingshot puts a stone in it he does

what he's done for most of his life as

he's been looking after the

Sheep God takes David's pretty ordinary

skills and his extraordinary faith and

courage and he uses it to fulfill his

purposes in the chapter before um

chapter 15 we see that Samuel um who's a

prophet is assessing who will be the

next king

and we read that God says to him do not

consider his appearance or his height

for man looks on the outside but God

looks at the

heart in other words God is saying all

of these tools that you use to measure

human ability human worth they're not

the same tools that I

use all of those times that you discount

yourself because you are not enough

enough not old enough young enough tall

enough thin strong attractive whatever

enough God is

saying do you know who you

are do you know who you

are because I

do I see you I see right to the heart of

you God knows who we are because we are

created by Him and the Bible says that

we are divinely inspired human beings

who bear His Image we are created in His

image and so when he gives us a task or

equips us for a challenge he's not

phased by our human labels or

weakness he knows who he's talking

to and he doesn't ask us to be anything

that we're

not one of the last times I um spoke

here I remember beforehand I was feeling

particularly unprepared I wasn't sure

what I'd written was quite right I was

feeling underc confident as second

guessing myself and then just before the

service we always gathered to pray at

the back there we stand in a circle and

and Tim said look I'll pray for you get

in the middle um and he he started

praying for me and he said I'm just

going to start by reading out the

passage that Ella is going to be

speaking on today and he started reading

and I was standing in the middle and I

thought that's not the passage I'm

speaking

on and I'd prepared a completely

different passage than was a apparently

supposed to be the talk for that

day and I thought I wonder if anybody

will notice if I run out the

door I thought I'm not a crypt for this

talk I'm not even speaking on the right

passage how can I get up there and do

this and just before I spoke um someone

came up to me during the service and

offered to pray for me and they said

there's just this phrase going around my

head they said I feel like God is saying

you have everything you need you are

prepared I have given you everything you

need we have everything we

need fear often is the thing that causes

us to second guess

ourselves to hide away like the

Israelites like Saul in his tent waiting

for someone else to step up and fight

the Giant

but God has made us he has called us and

he has given us everything we

need David also wins this battle because

he knows who God is throughout the

passage he repeatedly references who God

is he uses a couple of key phrases he

says I come against you in the name of

the Lord

Almighty the Living God

both of those phrases represent the same

thing we translate it as the Lord

Almighty but David uses the word Yahweh

the name that God gives himself and its

literal translation is I am who I

am the Eternal constant present

unchanging

God and then there's this idea of the

Living God a God who is alive

that would have been pretty radical at

the time where lots of the Gods around

would have been Idols made out of stone

or gold this is a living

God that's a phrase that's repeated

throughout the Bible we hear it in Hosea

where it says the people of Israel will

be called Children of the Living God in

one Thessalonians Paul writes you turned

from Idols to serve the Living

God David is reminding the Israelites

we don't have a stone God we have a God

who is present alive and

active unlike the idols of the time

whose godliness was inactive was

transactional this is radically

different this is a constant present

relational God who fights for his

people David says this is our God

you come against me with sword and Spear

and Javelin but I come against you in

the name of the Lord

Almighty there's a scene in the um naria

films I'm a massive naria fan um and

after one of the

battles there's a nanian dwarf who's

been really cynical doesn't really

believe and Alan comes up to him and he

Roars in his face and he says Do You See

Me

Now do you see me now do you know who I

am the Israelites needed that kind of a

shakeup I think I often need that kind

of a

shakeup do we know who we're talking

to do we know who our God

is David is pointing to God he knows who

he is

and he knows who his God

is andlike all of our Old Testament

Heroes that we've been looking at

David's life itself points to Jesus it

foreshadows Jesus Jesus is actually

referred to as the branch and the root

of

David the branch and the root of David

because he is a descendant of

David but also he's been there since the

beginning of

time he is the root of David as

well and the thing that David does in

that

battle is pretty similar it

foreshadows in a lesser way what Jesus

did for us because it wasn't supposed to

be David that went to fight Goliath it

shouldn't have been him if anything it

should have been Saul Saul was King he

was a head taller than all of the

israelit

according to scripture he leads the

Israelite Army he's also a member of The

Tribe of Benjamin who apparently were um

some of the best slingshot fighters

ever if there was anyone who should have

been going out to face Goliath it was

Saul but David went in his

place and in the same

way Jesus took our place

the point was never for us to be able to

save ourselves we can't do it up against

the Giants of this world the pain the

doubt the weariness the hurt we don't

stand a chance just like David against

that huge Warrior giant we are ill

equipped

inexperienced but it wasn't by sword or

spear or strength or ability or

personality or attractiveness or

anything else that David won the

battle it was in the name of the Lord

Almighty the Living God and Jesus's

death on the cross was God's Act of

saying this battle is

mine and it is

finished the final words that Jesus

speaks it is finished taking our sin and

our shame and dying for

us the Lord Almighty the Living God went

into battle for

us we're going to spend some time

praying

now and I think often we get caught

between those two things knowing who we

are or or knowing who God is we often

miss the point on one of

them I think maybe for some of us here

we have spent so long second in

ourselves forgetting who God has called

us to be that he made us that he loves

us that he sees our

weakness but that's actually the place

where his power is made

perfect and then there are some of us

who've

forgotten who God

is the fact that we have a sovereign

almighty God

who has already been to battle for

us why don't we stand together we're

going to pray into both of those

[Music]

things and if there is a specific

challenge that came up to you you might

not have felt able to say it aloud

earlier a specific battle that you're

facing in your life we would love to

pray for you there are going to be

people over here by The Love Letters um

who are available to pray for

you and maybe it's something else that

is stirred in you this

morning and actually the act of prayer

itself is an act of laying down doing

things in our own

strength it's an act of saying you know

what I can't save myself

so please do come and receive prayer

this morning let me pray for us all and

then we'll worship

together father I thank you that your

power is made perfect in our

weakness your power is made perfect in

our weakness

you don't ask us to be anything that

we're

not you can f fulfill your purposes in

US

Jesus God I ask that you would take

um the pieces of our

lives in the areas where maybe we feel

like we

carry shame or

pain or a kind of feeling of not

enoughness would you come and restore

us to our identity as children of

God would you also shake us up

Lord would we hear this morning the Roar

of the lion

saying do you know who I

am amen