Many times, the psalmist David had to face those who opposed his faith in the Lord. Most remember the old testament account of David and Goliath -- how David took a pebble and a sling to take down the mocker and scoffer of the Lord God.
Herein, the Philistines had gathered their armies together to battle. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. The Philistines champion was Goliath who was six cubits tall. Goliath had a helmet of brass on his head., a coat of mail weight five thousand shekels of brass, greaves of brass upon his legs and a target of brass between his shoulders. As if this wasn't enough, the head of Goliath's spear weighted six hundred shekels of iron. Indeed, there was even one who went ahead of him.
Moreover, the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." And this continued for forty days. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were greatly afraid. But then comes along David, the youngest of eight sons. Three of his siblings had already gone to fight the Philistines - Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
David's father Jesse instructed to take now for thy brethren to the valley of Elah an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; and carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. When David arrived, he asked the Israeli army, "What shall be done to the man that kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle."
David replied, "What have I now done? Is there not a cause?"
This is a really good question.
Saul told David, "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art] but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." 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: and 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. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God."
David said moreover, "The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said unto David, "Go, and the Lord be with thee."
Saul arms David with armour and a sword but David had not proved them. Instead, David takes his staff and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the brook, putting them into a shepherd's bag in a scrip and a sling. And the Philistine saw David -- his youth, and ruddy and of fair countenance -- and asked, "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field."
Then said David to the Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands."
Then said David to the Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands."
What happens next? David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell." And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is. And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, "Whose son art thou, thou young man?" And David answered, "[I am] the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite."
We will stop there for this day, knowing that the key message therein is that the enemies will have no choice but to retreat when the Lord's people go into battle in the name of the Lord of hosts.
Is there a cause?
Yes.
Stand in the offering plate.
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