The Rock
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(Production Note: Before I come to the platform, show ‘Postcards From The Bible’, Volume 2, ‘The Valley of Elah’ intro and freeze frame until I get into position and begin the message)
Perhaps you know the story of David and Goliath. It’s amazing what a rock can do against a giant enemy, even when that rock is in the hands of a young boy.
One might say, well didn’t David’s enemies have rocks too?
Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies recognize this.
The answer is yes! However, David’s Rock was God! And believe me, there is a difference!
Turn in your Bibles with me to the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17.
* This story is set around 1025 years before the birth of Jesus. Israel’s first king, King Saul, and his army were camped on one side of the valley of Elah while the Philistine army set their battle camp on the other side of the valley. This particular spot in the valley of Elah, near Azekah, is only 15 miles West of the town of Bethlehem, where David lived, and only 6 or 7 miles East from Gath, the hometown of Goliath. It’s interesting to me that David and Goliath only lived about 21 or 22 miles from each other for years. You know, sometimes our enemies may be closer than we realize.
Anyway, at this point David was too young to go out with King Saul’s army for the battle but his brothers went. 1 Samuel 17 tells us that these two opposing armies been camped across from each other for at least forty days. Twice every day the Philistine’s champion warrior, a giant named Goliath who was over 9 feet tall, came down into the valley and challenge the army of Israel to send a champion out to fight with him, one on one, so the battle could be determined without both armies having to fight against each other in full array.
However, King Saul and the Israelites were terrified of this giant and no one had the courage to face him. This pride-filled giant enemy of Israel continued to taunt and humiliate the Israelite army as he arrogantly strutted in front of them each morning and each evening.
After a few weeks David’s father, Jesse, grew concerned for the welfare of his three oldest sons who were serving in Saul’s army. He sent food to them by the hand of David so that he might know how they were getting along. When David arrived at the outskirts of the camp, Israel’s army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries. Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. David ran to watch the battle.
However, when Goliath came out from the Philistine ranks shouting his challenge to the army of Israel, David saw the Israelites begin to run away in fear. You can read the story for yourself in 1 Samuel 17.
Cutting to the meat of this morning’s lesson from God, we see David enraged at the pride and arrogance of Goliath. In his passion and zeal for the Lord, David volunteered to go out and fight this giant himself. David was confident that he could defeat this pagan Philistine who had defied the armies of the living God. He said: “The Lord who saved me from the claws of the lion and the paw of the bear will save me from this Philistine.” And so King Saul consented.
David started across the valley of Elah then stopped at the stream bed where he chose 5 smooth stones and put them in his shepherd’s bag. Armed with only his shepherd’s staff, a sling and the rocks, he then continued across the valley to face his enemy. Goliath walked out of the Philistine camp toward David sneering in contempt at this young boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And then he cursed David by the names of his gods.
1 Samuel 17
45 David shouted in reply, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD Almighty—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46 Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!
47 And everyone will know that the LORD does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The LORD will give you to us!"
You probably know the rest of the story how that David ran toward Goliath while reaching into his shepherd’s bag. He took out a rock and when he hurled from his sling it hit Goliath in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face downward to the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a rock and a sling. Like I said earlier:
It’s amazing what a rock can do against and enemy, even when it is in the hands of a little boy.
By the way, that’s not all that the prophet Samuel had to say about The Rock!
1 Samuel 2:2 "No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
2 Samuel 22:2 ¶ And he said: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
2 Samuel 22:32 "For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?
2 Samuel 22:47 "The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation!
2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.
The Rock of Israel spoke … how can a rock speak? Because Jesus, the living Word of God, is a Rock. The Word is a Rock, and the Word still speaks today!
God prepared and then picked those rocks for David. While David was running across the valley no doubt God’s guiding Spirit directed David’s hand to just the right rock to bring down his enemy. God chooses rocks for each of His children who face enemies in this life.
There is a rock for every giant …
Joshua’s Rock (Scripture) – Joshua 1:8&9 This book … be strong …
Isaac’s Rock – Don’t go down to Egypt … Sow in the land of famine
Esther’s Rock – Who knows … If I perish … but I’m going to see …
Daniel’s Rock – My God has sent His angel and shut the lion’s mouth
Mary’s Rock – Be it unto me according to Thy Word
Moses’ Rock – Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord
Job’s Rock – When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold
Abraham’s Rock – I will bless thee and make thee a blessing
Samuel’s Rock – To obey is better than sacrifice
Caleb’s Rock – We are well able, let us go at once and possess …
Ruth’s Rock – Entreat me not to leave you …
Paul’s Rock – I have fought the good fight, finished … kept the faith
Jesus’ Rock – Not My will but Thine be done
What was God’s Word to Peter … Upon this Rock I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against My Church.
* What is the rock for the giant you are facing?
* God knows just what word will work against that giant.
* All you need is one Word, one Rock from God
* One word from God can change everything.
* Ask God for the Rock, the Word, you need today
* Use that Word God gives you on the enemies you are facing
* And remember, there won’t just be one giant in life, perhaps that’s why God gave David extra rocks. Keep some rocks on hand …
TAKE OUT and show THE ROCK from the stream bed of Elah.
