Heroes Are Made Not Born
The Olympic Stadium in Montréal has been witness to a lot of great sports victories and defeats.
Back in 1976, when the Montreal Olympic Stadium was built for the Summer Olympics, a lot of young athletes came from all over the world to compete right here. That summer, some of those young athletes became instantaneous worldwide heroes because of the great victories that they won right here.
That brings me to the question: What makes a hero? What makes someone a champion? Is it courage? Is it training, ability, strength of character?
Today on Bible Talk, we're going to study about David, and we're going to see how God took a young, unknown shepherd boy and transformed him into one of the greatest heroes in Jewish history. We're going to study also how God is able to transform ordinary people into great champions.
So we invite you to take your Bibles, a pencil, and a piece of paper and join our study group today as we study that wonderful story of David and Goliath. So stay with us. We'll be right back after this.
The Setting: I Samuel 17:1–3
Okay, we're ready to start. Today in our Bible class we're going to study a wonderful story–one of the favorite children's Bible studies of all time–and that's the story of David and Goliath. Of course, you're not children, but I think we're children at heart, and we like to hear a good story.
So take out your Bibles to 1 Samuel. That's in the Old Testament–1 Samuel chapter 17. I invite our home viewers to take out their Bibles as well and open to 1 Samuel 17, verses 1–3. I'm going to read the first three verses, so read along with us please:
1Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines. 3The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.
- I Samuel 17:1-3
You need to understand that in those days the way armies fought was different. The Philistines were the bad guys–the arch enemies of the Israelites. Ever since the Israelite army failed to drive them out of the promised land, the Philistines were like a thorn in the side to Israel.
They didn't have long-range missiles. They gathered together to face each other. So you've got two hills and a valley in between. On one hill is the Israelite army; on the other hill is the Philistine army. They wanted to see each other, look at each other, and check what each other was doing.
On this day, the two armies are face to face, calling out to each other, getting ready to go down into the valley for battle.
The Champion: Goliath (I Samuel 17:4–7)
Now we need to describe the champion. This lesson is about how heroes are made, and I want to describe to you the champion in verses 4–7:
4Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. 6He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. 7The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.
- I Samuel 17:4-7
This man was big–nine feet tall. He weighed about 400 pounds, with 125 to 200 pounds of armor on top of him. He was so big that he needed another man to carry his shield in front of him.
Now let's see what this Goliath fellow was doing.
The Challenge (I Samuel 17:8–11)
8He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. 9If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.” 10Again the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.” 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
- I Samuel 17:8-11
When Saul and the Israelite army heard this, they were dismayed and frightened.
For 40 days, every day, Goliath would come out and taunt them: "Send me someone to fight!" The Philistines were winning the psychological war. They hadn't shot an arrow, but they were defeating Israel in spirit. No one moved.
The Challenger: David (I Samuel 17:12–25)
Now let's look at the challenger.
The challenger was a young fellow named David. The Bible says he had a ruddy complexion–he was good-looking, with nice eyes and reddish hair. He was the youngest of eight sons.
One day his father sent him to check on his brothers, who were fighting with Saul's army. He brought them food and went to the battlefront.
When David arrived, he heard the taunts of Goliath. In verse 25, the soldiers say:
The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.”
- I Samuel 17:25
David asked: Don't worry about a thing. I'll take care of this Philistine.
The first thing that transformed David was that he recognized what was happening. Someone was insulting God.
Then in verse 32, David says:
David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
- I Samuel 17:32
He made a decision.
Later, David explains that when he was a shepherd, God helped him kill a lion and a bear. The same God would protect him now. He put his faith in God.
The Fight
David went to King Saul. Saul gave him armor and a sword, but David couldn't move in them. So he took them off, went to the river, chose five smooth stones, and prepared his sling.
Goliath came down the hill with his armor bearer and massive spear. They faced each other.
Goliath mocked him: "Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks? I'm going to rip you apart and feed your body to the birds."
David replied, "I'm going to cut off your head and feed not only your body but the bodies of your army to the birds."
Goliath advanced. David put a stone in his sling–wham! It struck Goliath in the forehead. The giant fell. David ran up, took Goliath's sword, cut off his head, and held it up. The Israelite army shouted in victory and chased the Philistines.
David became a great hero.
What Made David a Hero?
1. David Was a Child of God
The real difference between David and Goliath wasn't size or strength–it was who they were. David was a child of God. Goliath was a blasphemer, separated from God.
It's not how big you are that makes a difference in life. It's who you are. Power comes because of our relationship with God, not because of personal strength.
2. David Was Zealous
David was enthusiastic about God. God was important to him. God's honor mattered. In the Bible, zeal means something is important to you. David cared that God was being insulted. Because he had that zeal, God could work with him.
3. David Had Confidence in God
David's zeal fueled his courage. But what carried him through was confidence in God.
There comes a moment when you stand alone in the valley. At that moment, David realized his confidence wasn't in the stone–it was in God. Don't put your confidence in the rock. Put your confidence in the Rock, which is Jesus Christ.
Your Goliath
We all have a Goliath.
For some, it's money–the desire for it or the lack of it.
For others, it's health.
For some, it's a bad habit–a sin that keeps defeating us.
For others, it's a broken relationship.
Every morning, your Goliath stands on the ridge and says, "Chicken."
The question is: Have you won the victory?
You can become a giant killer. God did it with David. He can do it with you. But there must be something in you for Him to work with.
How God Transforms Us
1. Be a Child of God
If you're not a child of God, you can become one by believing in Jesus Christ, repenting of your sins, and being baptized.
If you are a child of God, remember who you are.
2. Serve God Wholeheartedly
Serve God with all your heart, mind, strength, and soul. Let it matter to you.
3. Trust God
Let go and let God. Say, "God, here it is. You do it for me."
Final Challenge
Are you going to stay up on the ridge all your life?
Or are you going to come down into the valley and fight?
Are you going to let your giant call you "chicken"?
Or are you going to say, "I'm finished with you. Let's do it–and let's do it now."
My prayer for you and for those watching at home is that you let God transform you into giant killers.
