"SURE MERCIES AND FIVE GIANTS"

April 2, 2000 pm
MF Blume

IN DAVID'S YOUTH
1Samuel 17:4-11 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
1Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
1Samuel 17:40-45 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, 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.
IN DAVID'S OLD AGE
2Samuel 21:15-22 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel. And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him. These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

David killed Goliath as a youth, after taking five stones.

But he only used one of those stones to slay the giant.
Four other stones were left.
Someone said FIVE stones stoof for the five letters of J-E-S-U-S.
But Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, and in the Greek it is actually IESOUS - 6 letters.
The FIVE stones were for Goliath and his FOUR OTHER BROTHERS.

At the start of David' life he faced Goliath and was ready to face the other four brothers of Goliath also.

But it was not until the near end of David's life that he faced the other four giants.
David, though, knew he would one day face them all.
Right from the start he was prepared in faith to meet all of them.
FIVE GIANTS.

We need to have the kind of faith that understands that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.

AND NEVER LOSE THAT FAITH!
David had that faith in his beginning but never lost it!
He kept the faith.

1 Samuel 17:4-7 shows all the details of Goliath's armour.

But that meant nothing to David.
The details of David's equipment are also listed in contrast to Goliath's in 1 Samuel 17:40.

A staff, scrip of five stones and a sling.
VERSUS
Spear, shield and sword.

David came in the name of GOD.

And God was greater than any Giant and his brothers put together.
And when time came at the end of David's life to face the four other brothers of Goliath, David still had faith to face them, because he went out into the battle to fight again!

Having FIVE stones represents that David entered into the situation against the enemy willing to destroy ALL of the enemy.

He did not enter in and hope to avoid conflicts with some of the giants.
He was ready to tackle all of them.
And he held that faith.
He did not "mature" and "get over" his "foolish" thoughts of a youth full of zeal and energy, ready to tackle anything.
He did not relent as he served God for a few years.
HE KEPT THAT ZEAL.
IF ANYTHING, IT INCREASED.

So many start out on fire for God but "burn out."

They excuse themselves and say they were foolish and wild at the start.
But they were foolish to lose their zeal.
David proves that we need not lose our faith when we get older.
So many dry up after a few years, and stay dry for decades.
NEW CONVERTS, DO NOT DRY UP LIKE SOME HAVE DONE.
STAY ON FIRE!!!

We can have the faith of our beginning and keep it strong for our entire lives!

Samuel 22 shows David's praise to God for seeing the giants defeated.
And although David fainted and his servants slew the remaining giants, he still set it in his mind to go out and fight them, and the victory was attributed to David and David's servants.

2 Samuel 21:22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Though they were servants, they were DAVID'S SERVANTS.

David referred to God riding upon a cherub to his rescue.
David knew God would not let him down.

David RAN into situations that only God could deliver him out of.

That shows David's faith.
He knew God would be with him.
So he did not hesitate.
He ran!

1Samuel 17:48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

God comes when we need Him to come.

David knew that as he ran to Goliath.
David left God with only seconds to intervene.
But David knew that God was not stupid.
Some people must think God is stupid, since they are afraid He will not intervene in time, so they never enter situations that require God to help.
God knew when David would need Him.
And David's faith was so strong that it did not matter if God was given hours to help or mere nano-seconds.
God is ALWAYS ON TIME, and He is NOT LIMITED TO TIME.

David only knew things would get finished more quickly if he RAN to the enemy.

God loves being put on the spot, for it glorifies Him, when all see that IT MUST HAVE BEEN GOD WHO BROUGHT THE VICTORY, because it certainly could not be a boy with a stone alone.

Samson was not a muscular man, but a normal average-sized man.

That way God would get the glory.
What glory was there in Samson being a "Mr. Universe"?
And if Samson did have huge muscles, how come they did not hold out after he had his hair cut?
The fact was that cutting his hair to remove his strength proves that it was SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH FROM GOD.

People know that God wrought the victory if the human vessel was too weak in itself to do so.

His cherubimic chariot is swift.

Its faster than the wind!

2 Samuel 22:11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

Seconds are nothing for God!

David met Goliath when he was too young to naturally defeat him.

And David met the FIVE BROTHERS when he was TOO OLD to deal with them.
Interesting times for these giants to show up.

David had SURE MERCIES upon him.

2 Samuel 7:12-17 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

No mercy means DEATH.

But David had SURE MERCY.

Isaiah 55:1-4 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

We preached recently about the OIL flowing into the virgins' vessels as ANOINTED WORD OF GOD.

And the virgins were told to BUY OIL for themselves.
Oil FEEDS the lamps.
In Isaiah 55, we are told to BUY MEAT AND DRINK.
FOOD.
"Ye that have no money, come and buy!!!"
And the reference to what is bought is WORD OF GOD, because we also read, INCLINE YOUR EAR, and HEAR AND YOUR SOUL SHALL LIVE.
And the WORD that is FOOD AND DRINK concerns THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.
A COVENANT.
Notice this:

Acts 13:34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, [now] no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Paul said that the SURE MERCIES OF DAVID, as mentioned by Isaiah, was fulfilled in THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

PRAISE GOD!!!!

What is the MEAT and DRINK that we can EAT AND DRINK?

It is the BROKEN BODY OF CHRIST -- The Bread.
The SHED BLOOD OF CHRIST -- the wine.
And since we are told to INCLINE OUR EARS, it all makes perfect sense!
BECAUSE THE TRUTHS OF CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION are called the bread and wine of His broken body and shed blood.
WE ARE FEASTING ON BREAD AND WINE TODAY!!!

This WORD keeps the FIRE BURNING in our lamps.

FAITH AFLAME!
It is an everlasting covenant and that is why it is also called the SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.
They are SURE!
If NO MERCY MEANS DEATH, then SURE MERCY MEANS RESURRECTION FROM DEATH.

Psalm 89:1-2 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

The cherub chariot of Ezekiel was pictured as the Ark of the Covenant.

And on the Ark was a MERCY SEAT.
No wonder David praised God for God's deliverance, riding upon a cherub!
God's MERCY THRONE CAME TO HIS RESCUE.

Psalm 89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

David was young and old, and faced the giants.

His faith remained after all those years.

Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

David saw the giant when he was young and the for brothers when he was old.

YOUNG AND OLD.
The very two times avid met Giants.
And God never forsook him either time!

Israel went to spy the land out in Canaan.

Numb 13:28 Nevertheless the people [be] strong that dwell in the land, and the cities [are] walled, [and] very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

Numb 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

But Joshua and Caleb held the FAITH.

Numbers 14:6-8 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

Notice where spies went:

Numbers 13:22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

Joshua and Caleb did not doubt as the others doubted, and they were spared from death during the forty years' duration when all the elders died due to their unbelief.

Caleb came up to Joshua 45 years later.

Joshua 14:6-13 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

Caleb held the strength and faith for OVER FORTY YEARS!

More than a generation!
I know so many who lost their faith and zeal.
They still attend church, but that's all.
No zeal left.

And the mountain Caleb wanted was of ANAK, and the ANAKIMS, sons of ANAK.

Deuteronomy 1:28 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people [is] greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

Why were Israel afraid of the Anakims?

`Anaqiy {an-aw-kee'}
Anakims
Anakims = "long-necked"
1) a race of giants, descendants of Anak, which dwelled in southern
Canaan

THEY WERE A RACE OF GIANTS.

Deuteronomy 2:10-11 The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.

Caleb, like David, faced the GIANTS he faced forty-five years before.

And he had the same faith at age 85.

Fleshly faith WEAKENS.

But spiritual faith from God never dies nor grows old!

Your faith can last forever!!!

Do not believe for one moment that the faith you hjave now is threatened to the extent that you feel a 99% chance of losing it!
Nonsense!
You can lose it, but only if you are duped by the devil.
Keep feeding it.
Feed on the SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.
The bread and wine of the DEATH AND RESURRECTION -- the GOSPEL.

God doesn't get tired.

Isaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

God GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT.

He increaseth strength.
And WE will run and not be worry.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.