1 Samuel 17:48-49 “God does it and we do it”

 ”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. 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.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭48‬-‭49‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine: What a scene! Goliath, enraged at David’s boldness, drew near to quickly kill David. David didn’t run away. He didn’t hide. He didn’t panic. He didn’t drop to his knees and pray. Instead, David hurried and ran…to meet the Philistine.

i. Many Christians struggle at this very point. Is God supposed to do it or am I supposed to do it? The answer is, “Yes!” God does it and we do it. Trust God, rely on Him, and then get to work and work as hard as you can – run right at the enemy. That is how the work of God is done.

ii. “The lazy-bones of our orthodox churches cry, ‘God will do his own work’; and then they look out the softest pillow they can find, and put it under their heads, and say, ‘The eternal purposes will be carried out: God will be glorified.’ That is all very fine talk, but it can be used with the most mischievous design. You can make opium out of it, which will lull you into a deep and dreadful slumber, and prevent your being of any kind of use at all.” (Spurgeon)

b. He slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face: David had the calm hand and careful aim of someone who really trusted God. He used the sling – a leather strap with a pouch in the middle – to hurl a stone, killing Goliath.

i. This battle was won out with the sheep. In those lonely hours alone with the lambs, David talked to God and took a lot of target practice with his sling. Now his communion with the LORD and his skill with the sling are both used by God. 

“In the use of the sling it requires much practice to hit the mark; but when once this dexterity is acquired, the sling is nearly as fatal as the musket or bow.” (Clarke)

ii. Everyone else thought, “Goliath is so big, I can’t beat him.” David thought, “Goliath is so big, I can’t miss him.” “A man of less faith might have been too nervous to take the proper aim.” (Blaikie)

c. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face: Just as the Philistine god Dagon fell on his face before the LORD (1 Samuel 5:2-5), so now the worshipper of Dagon falls on his face. (Guzik)

“God does it and we do it”

How true! If the young shepherd David didn’t practice with the sling and stones protecting the sheep from the lion and bear he would have never acquired the skill to drop the giant Goliath!

When my spouse worked at the Gospel Rescue Mission, she took care of the children of the mothers participating in the program during the day and she made a life size cutout of Goliath which was 9’ 6” tall. They colored it and hung it on the wall as she taught them the story of David and Goliath. Afterwards they used a piece of leather and small chocolate easter eggs and each one got to pretend they were David. One child successfully hit Goliath in the eye. 😳

“God does it and we do it” or are you enjoying the “softest pillow”?

Blessings