1 SAMUEL 17:19-51

1. THERE IS THE GIANT OF DESPAIR: VERSES 21-24:
1. The sight and sound of this big bruiser struck fear and consternation into the hearts of the Israelites. He was mean, he was vicious, he was tough, he was seemingly undefeatable. Verse 11 says they were terrified and deeply shaken. Their situation was bleak and they despaired.
2. Seemingly they were stuck with only two options: surrender (which was unthinkable) or fight (which was also unthinkable). But, you see, they didn't know the secret.
3. What brings you despair today? What is it that seems to put you into a lose / lose situation? What is it that overwhelms, overcomes and overshadows you?
1. Is it fear? We live in a dangerous world. You never know what sort of whacko will step out of the bushes and bring you harm. You never know when an accident or illness or other tragedy will occur.
2. Is it failure? Have you failed in relationships? Have you failed in accomplishing your goals or realizing your dreams? Have you failed to free yourself of some binding habit or activity or attitude?
3. Is it fatigue? Are you worked and worn to a frazzle? Do you despair of things every becoming easier and calmer and less stressful?
4. Is it a foe? Maybe you just imagine it, or it may be so, that there is someone who just doesn't like you and would like to punch you out. It may be a boss or coworker or kid at school. It might be a sibling or neighbor. But do you despair of ever being just being left at peace and not beleaguered by some bully?
5. Is it finances? Do you spend something like 120% of what you take in? Have you discovered that if your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep will become your downfall?
4. Despair is illustrated by a couple of frogs who fell into a vat of whole milk. Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl, One was an optimistic soul; But the other took the gloomy view, "I shall drown," he cried, "and so will you." So with a last despairing cry, He closed his eyes and said, "Good-bye." But the other frog, with a merry grin Said, "I can't get out, but I won't give in! I'll swim around till my strength is spent. For having tried, I'll die content." Bravely he swam until it would seem His struggles began to churn the cream. On the top of the butter at last he stopped And out of the bowl he happily hopped. What is the moral? It's easily found. If you can't get out -- keep swimming around! (Author Unknown)

So, if your giant is despair, you have to learn the secret. The boy was feeling pretty self satisfied with having routed the giant. But just then, the giant's bigger brother came along. "Hey, squirt! Whaddaya doing in my woods? You don't belong here! Just for that, I'll make a quick snack out of you." The boy replied, "Well, I can't escape, but before you eat me, I have to tell you a secret." The giant, more curious than his brother, said, "Oh, goody! Tell me, quick!" The boy whispered into his huge ear. The giant turned white, threw his hands into the air, and turning on his heel, fled for his life. The boy's secret had once again won the day. Do you know the secret? Can you put the giant of despair to flight? But there are other giants, too. So, back to the text.

2. THERE IS THE GIANT OF RIDICULE: VERSES 28-33:
1. David was curious. He asked about the giant and the benefit of defeating him. His brother Eliab thought he was just being a pesky kid and ridiculed him. King Saul ridiculed him. Well, on the surface, David's query and proposal were ridiculous.
2. People tend to ridicule what they don't understand. Or they ridicule when they have no real argument to put forth against something they don't like.
3. Think about it:
1. They ridiculed Noah - who had ever heard of an ark? Or a flood for that matter. But it was Noah who stayed high and dry.
2. They ridiculed Joseph for his dreams, but he, not they, became ruler in Egypt.
3. They ridiculed Paul for being a weak preacher, but he, not they, wrote 13 books of the New Testament.
4. They ridiculed The Wright Brothers but the Wrights were right.
5. They ridiculed Abraham Lincoln as a "buffoon" but many slaves delighted in his efforts.
6. They ridiculed Edison until he finally demonstrated the first incandescent light bulb. While his detractors sat in the dark, Edison saw the light.
7. They ridiculed Marconi, the father of modern radio. When he proposed sending a wireless signal across the Atlantic, the "experts" almost unanimously declared it theoretically impossible.
8. They may ridicule you
1. For being honest and ethical and not being a crook taking pay under the table.
2. For staying with your commitments. One man said he'd been married for 38 years. A co-worker exclaimed, "To the same woman?"
3. For putting duty and honor ahead of ease and self-indulgence.
4. For being a Christian
4. A fireman became a Christian. He wanted to share his faith with his buddies but didn't know how. He did know, however, that prayer was part of his new life. So when he was on shift, sleeping at the station, he'd kneel by his cot and pray. Others jeered, called him, "Jesus boy" and some threw their shoes at him. He never flinched. In fact, he treated those who mocked him with kindness. He polished the shoes thrown at him. He knew the secret. One by one, they came to respect him. Some even came to know his secret, too.

The boy had routed two giants. But remember that in this story there are three. The biggest and vilest and ugliest and meanest was yet to come And he did. "Hey, pipsqueak! Why are you trespassing in my woods? Come here and I'll chomp you like a grape." The boy, confident now at his recent conquests, said, "Go ahead and eat me. But I have a secret." This guy was not only more horrible than his brothers, but was more curious too. "Tell me! Tell me! I love secrets!" The boy whispered into the behemoth ear and the giant, terrified, turned and hightailed it out of there. Do you know the secret? Can you put the giants of despair and ridicule to flight? But there are other giants, too. So, back to the text.

3. THERE IS THE GIANT OF OVERWHELMING ODDS: VERSES 45-47:
1. Totally outgunned, outweighed and outmatched, David evaluated the odds. Let's see: Goliath, 9 feet tall, a veteran, armed with a spear and javelin and David, a youth, skilled in shepherding, no war experience, armed with a sling and 5 smooth stones. Unbalanced, wouldn't you say? But David knew the secret.
2. People often complain that "life isn't fair!" or "I didn't get the breaks the other guy got." or "the cards were stacked against me." Unequal odds. Who said life has to be fair? Who says everyone gets the same breaks? Who said you don't have to play the hand you're dealt? Nobody I know of who matters anyhow.
3. What are your unequal odds?
1. Too much to think about? Too much on your plate? Too many stresses and problems and dilemmas?
2. Do you feel unequal to the demands of raising children in this culture?
3. Do you feel unequal to the rapidly changing technology at work?
4. Do you feel unequal to the pain and weakness of your body?
5. Do you think the temptations you face are too hard and your strength is unequal?
4. Think about overcoming overwhelming odds. A little train chugging up a steep hill groaned, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." As it drew nearer the summit, it said, "I know I can, I know I can, I know I can." And as it started down the other side it said, "I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could." It knew the secret of overcoming. Do you know the secret?

The boy was able to defeat the giants because he knew a secret. The secret he whispered into the ear of each giant was this, "I have the measles!" Those giants were deathly afraid of measles so they hit the road. David was able to overcome the giant because he knew the secret: God was on his side. If you are trusting in Jesus you know the secret, too: God is also on your side and will help you defeat any giants in your life. A giant is any problem or challenge you have which seems too big for you. But I'll tell you a secret: it isn't too big for God. And if you are trusting in Jesus, it is not just you against the giant, but you plus God against it. No matter how huge your giant is, when you measure it next to God, you will always see that God is bigger, and is able to help you defeat it. Do you know the secret? It is: Have faith in God. Believe that if God is for us, nobody can be against us. And He is for us. If you have faith, you know the secret to victory; the secret to peace; the secret to forgiveness; the secret to eternal life. The secret is out: If you have faith, God will help you and will save you if you make Jesus Lord of life. Do you know the secret? If you do, believe it and act on it and accept the realty of God's love in Jesus. Do that as we sing "Victory in Jesus" / "Greater is He that is in me."

Giant story: David Enyart, JBC;

Return To Old Testament Sermons

Return To Archive

Return To Home Page