Who Is This?

Who Is This? (Keeping The Right Perspective of Our Enemies)

1 Samuel 17:26 (NKJV) Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who 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?” From an outward perspective, David sounded like an impetuous young boy whose inexperience in matters of war should require that he remain silent. After all, he had just arrived to do three things, deliver provisions, get an update and return home to his father with a report. He was nothing more than a gopher and being the youngest of nine sons his brothers' sentiment towards him were understandable, you don't belong here, just take notes and return to father without getting hurt or into trouble. David however was not speaking from a position of war nor from inexperience, his question was from a place of knowing God and recognizing that the slander from this Philistine was not only being charged against the army of Israel, it was being levied against God Himself! WHO IS THIS UNCIRCUMCISED Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? - This was not a question in search of understanding, it was a rhetorical question to which he already knew the answer. This UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE WAS NO ONE! How dare he defy the army of Israel and our God! The problem is David was the only one in Israel who seemed to know this. How did he come to be so sure and resolute in his thinking? As a young shepherd David was often found alone and left to his own devices and cunning to watch over his father's sheep and fend off attacks from wild animals - see 1 Samuel 17:34-35. This was not a job of popularity nor was it a coveted position of prestige. Even when Samuel the prophet showed up at David's father home and there was a feast prepared for him, his father invited all of his sons except for one, David who he left in the field to watch over the sheep. - see 1 Samuel 16:11-12. However, what appeared to be a time of loneliness and isolation was actually a time of seclusion set up by God for David to come into a more intimate relationship with Him. From this place of intimacy David penned the Psalm 23 and it is there that we are able to find his convictions. Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. -- Provides insight to David's initial longing and desires, having brothers who berated him and a father who's forgotten him, he makes a decision to focus on The Lord and not the pain of his heart. The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want what I wanted before the Lord became my shepherd. Psalm 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. -- He makes me to lie down, reveals that David did not want to lie down in green pastures. As much as it was best for him, David's early devotion was contrary, his soul crying out for one thing and the Spirit of God bringing him to another. Prayer is never our primary pursuit, but our spirit needs it and God requires it. It is there that we are nourished and fed continually. God MADE him lie down. It is only after lying down that David was able to be led by The Lord to still waters. Waters representing the voice of God are found in that quiet still place. It is there that we become acquainted with God and the voice of the stranger we no longer follow. His Word is a lamp to our feet while it lights our path and we begin to hear the whisper, be still and know that I AM God. Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. -- God knows how fragile and tender our souls are; He can restore our soul with the same breath that He breathed into clay make man a living soul. Whatever God makes He can restore and when He operates the outcome is sure. With David's soul restored he is now able to trust God to be led in the path of righteousness for His name's sake. Psalm 23:4(a)Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; -- Trusting became David’s resolve after experiencing God through perilous situations and impossible circumstances. Now in the valley of the shadow of death evil is no longer feared knowing that God is there. It is this fear that has gripped David's brothers and the entire army of Israel paralyzing them to indecision. There is only room in our heart for one to be greater, trust in God or fear of evil. Psalm 23:4(b)… Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. -- As we walk with The Lord we learn to find comfort in both the rod and staff. These instruments are one in the same, but the application of them are different. God uses the rod as an authority to correct us when we go astray and fend off attacks of the enemy. As a staff, God leads us by setting standards and guidelines to follow Him. Psalm 23:5-6 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. -- David is forgotten by his father, but remembered by his God. He is crowned king over Israel while being faithful tending his father’s sheep, – I Samuel 16:13. God not only prepared David, He prepared opportunities to bring David's enemies before him. As a king, his validation must succeed his coronation.

1. God sets a table before me in the presence of my enemies -

God's strategic positioning for victory!

1. God anoints my head with oil - God's favor in that strategic position!

2. Cup runs over - God's increase for whatever is needed!

3. Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - God's grace is not a onetime blessing, it is for life.

4. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - Continually abiding in God's presence is an act of our will to worship the Father in spirit and in truth like David, a man who pursued God’s heart!

It is with this authority that David confronts an enemy that no one else in Israel could stand against, including Israel's dethroned and declining king, Saul.

Who is that enemy in your life that would bring an indictment against you and ultimately against the God that you have come to know and trust? This is an opportunity for you to declare like David who your God is, what He has done and what he will do, not because you deserve it, but because He spoke and promised it! For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. - Mark 12:36 1 Samuel 17:40-51 (NKJV) 40 Then he, David, took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.

David relied on what proved and prepared him. For many it appeared that he was too young, ill equipped and going ahead without a chance of victory, but those are the same people who stood on the side lines and watched. They were on the side lines when he was a shepherd, they were on the side lines when he was crowned king and they were on the side lines in the time of battle. It is very possible that you are being prepared for your greatest battle and it is not about knowing your enemy as much as it is about knowing your God. You never know what you can do until you can't do what you want to do. Trust that once it is all said and done God will restore your soul, you will fear no evil and in the battle ahead The Lord your God is with you! Trust God; Be encouraged; Get the right perspective of your enemy and watch them fall! In Jesus' Name, AMEN!

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