CONQUERING GRACE! 1 Samuel 17 INTRO: Here we have the history of a great battle that took place between God s chosen nation Israel, against the

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1 INTRO: Here we have the history of a great battle that took place between God s chosen nation Israel, against the Philistines, who were ungodly, uncircumcised, pagan idolaters. But this story is far more than a mere historical account of an epic battle. This story was penned by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. It illustrates for us the battle that takes place in the hearts of God s elect, when Christ conquers then by grace.! What takes place in the saving of a sinner? What happens when God works by omnipotent grace and delivers his own from the bondage of Satan? Salvation is the mighty operation of God s Spirit, through the preaching of the gospel. He saves sinners by the foolishness of preaching. But if you could peek inside the soul of a sinner and see what God is doing, you would see a great battle taking place. Here in our text, the battle is described in great detail. Remember the words of our Lord to the religious Pharisees? He said to them, You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have life, and they are they which testify of me. The entire volume of the book is written about Christ; his work of redemption on the cross, and the operations of his grace in the hearts of his people. Christ is the mighty conqueror. David serves as a picture and type of Christ. In the time of love, the day of his power, Christ comes to his people and conquers them by omnipotent grace. This is the meaning of our text.! Each character and place in this story is significant to the picture given. Once we ve learned the meanings, we may then substitute the meaning of the names so that we see the picture of the text.! It is my prayer that God the Holy Spirit would bless his people and comfort our hearts with this picture of Christ and the experience of grace. It is also my prayer that God would have mercy on those that believe not, giving you faith to trust Christ. This that we re about to read is what takes place in the hearts of sinners when God conquers them by grace.! (v. 1) Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.! THE PHILISTINES The Philistines, the enemy of Israel, gathered together their armies to battle. The root word for Philistine means rolling in dust or wallowing one s self. The Philistines represent the natural man, that selfish, self-wallowing man of sin. He loves and worships himself, which is no different than rolling around in the dust. He has one motive me, myself, and I. He s uncircumcised in heart, proud, fleshly, and under the wrath of God. He is enmity against God.! GATHERED AT SHOCHOH He gathers together his armies to battle at Shochoh, which means hedged in, or restrained. The battle takes place at a place of restraint, where God has hedged in the man for battle. Then we read that Shochoh, this hedged in place, belongs to Judah. Judah means celebrated or to praise, or to worship. The old man, the Philistines, are gathered together, hedged in for battle at Shochoh, which belongs to Judah. This speaks of the place of worship, his church, where God meets with his people in the preaching of the gospel. God hedges in His people to bring them under the sound of the gospel. And this place, where God has hedged in the old man, belongs to God for the worship of his name. God has purposed to bring glory and honor to himself in the salvation of chosen sinners, and their hearts belong to the worship of God, though now the old man arrays himself in battle formation against the LORD.! EPHESDAMMIM Then we see that the Philistines pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. The old man, the self wallowing man, is pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, which means tilled or stirred by plowing. God puts the sinner between this hedged in place and the place of stirring. He shuts him up and plows the heart of the self wallowing man and then the battle takes place in this last place named Ephesdammim which means the boundary of blood drops. The ground where God will conquer his chosen vessel of mercy is the boundary of blood drops. It s the boundary, because this is as far as his wallowing pride shall come. Like to the waves of the sea, God commands, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed. It is the boundary of blood drops, because it speaks of the only place where proud, self wallowing man is defeated, on the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we learn that God almighty hedges in proud man by his providence,! 1!

2 and the Holy Spirit plows the heart by conviction to bring him to this boundary of blood drops, the cross of our Lord Jesus.! (v. 2) And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.! SAUL AND ISRAEL Saul s name means to inquire or beg. He and the men of Israel were gathered together. Israel means prince with God. This is the true name of God s people, the name given them in Christ from before the foundation of the world. Saul s name speaks of how God brings sinners to the place of supplication and prayer, when the battle for man s heart is set in array against the Philistines, that self-wallowing man of sin. The men of Israel represent the people of God that are called to the battle against the old man, but here we have the men of Israel following Saul. David is not yet king of Israel. Saul is leading the men. This speaks of gospel questions set forth throughout the book of God.! (Job 25:4) How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?! The armies of the Philistines are gathered, and the armies of Israel are gathered, to fight at this one place The boundary of blood drops. Saul leads the army of Israel, illustrating how a sinner hears the truth of God s holiness, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ, but knows the guilt of sin, and is terrified of the enemy that stands against him. He supplicates God s throne, How can I be saved? Is there mercy left for me? Who can overcome such an enemy? My sin is ever before me, and the battle is set in array against my soul. How can I know that I am one of God s Israel? Without victory in this battle, you can never know. And victory is impossible with you, because there is a great champion in the army of the Philistines who cannot be defeated by you. The old man, the self wallowing man, is led by and rallies behind a great champion named Goliath.! (v. 3-11) And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. 4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. 8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.! MAN S HEART DIVIDED Now see the heart of man divided. The enemy holds one side on the mountain of self-will and the lust of the flesh. Israel holds the other side on the mountain of God s purpose and grace in Christ. Out comes this giant of a man! His name is Goliath! His name means to expose or uncover in a disgraceful sense. He is the accuser of Israel. He is Goliath of Gath, which means wine press. The wine press in scripture is always used to set forth God s wrath.! Revelation 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.! GOLIATH OF GATH Goliath is the child of Gath. His presence speaks of the power of Satan, which rules in the heart of every man by nature. The apostle Paul speaks of this giant s influence that we all walked according to in the lust of our flesh. All of God s elect were once the children of wrath even as others. Some of you here today are still under the power and influence of this giant.!! 2!

3 (Ephesians 2:2-3) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.! This Giant accuser, who holds men by nature under wrath, and is lifted up in pride. He s over 9 ft. tall and armed with giant weapons of warfare. This one, who represents fallen man under the influence of Satan, has a helmet of brass on his head, representing how Satan blinds the mind and arms it against the truth with ignorance, prejudice, and brazen contempt for the God of truth. This is why sinners are hard hearted by nature and will not bow to the claims of Jesus Christ or recognize the truth of death and judgment. That spirit of disobedience has shielded the minds of those who will not believe. Paul describes this in Romans when he gives the awful condition of the natural man, and what happens to those whom God gives over to this giant.! (Romans 1:28-32) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.! He also had a coat of mail which weighed 150 pounds. This coat protected him from any life threatening blow to the heart, which speaks of Satan s rule in man s heart, darkening it with the pride of life. He s armed with a spear that weighed 50 pounds. He is a strong man armed and set against the Israel of God. Our Lord spoke of this in Luke, when the Pharisees accused him of casting out devils by the prince of devils.! (Luke 11:21-22) When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.! All men by nature are under the influence and dominion of Satan. They are possessed by the devil. If left alone by God, the result will be the utter ruin of man s soul. Unless there is someone who can defeat this giant enemy, spoil him and take his armor, the man is doomed. It appears to be the fight of a losing battle, and it is a losing battle with men. With men, salvation is impossible. That s why we read in verse 8 of the taunting of this great enemy. He asks this question, Why do you come to fight? Am I not a Philistine, a self wallowing, proud, sinful man? And are not you servants to Saul, questioning about the possibility of victory over this enemy?! I remind you again, this takes place in the heart of a chosen sinner whom God has purposed to save. He sees the enemy (his sin), he has many questions, and supplicates God s throne. The giant accuser says, Choose you out a man to come and fight me! If he s able to kill me, we ll be your servants, but if I prevail and kill him, you shall be our servants and serve us. I defy the armies of Israel today. Give me a man that we may fight together. This is the great question. Who is able to fight and prevail over this foe? If the wrong man goes, then the giant will defeat him and we shall serve the Philistines. The wrong man is always me. The wrong man is always you. That is why Saul and all Israel, who heard the words of that great Philistine, were dismayed and greatly afraid. If left up to us, we do well to be afraid and dismayed, for there is no hope in us. Sin and the dominion of Satan is too strong for us to defeat, but this giant made a great mistake when he defied the armies of ISRAEL. If he had defied any other nation, he would surely win and defeat all who stand in his way. So it is with those who perish without hope. This! 3!

4 giant accuser can defy and defeat any other nation, but the nation of the living God he cannot defeat. God has purposed to save all of Israel, and he has chosen the one champion who shall prevail for His people. His name is David, that man after God s own heart, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.! (v. 12) Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.! DAVID Listen to this, children of God. David s name means Loving, to boil over with love, lover, friend. David represents our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of Love, God in human flesh, the Godman our mediator KING. He is the Son of God, and he is the Son of man. He is of Bethlehemjudah, the house of bread. He came down from heaven to feed His people with living Bread, and He is the living Bread.! (John 6:51) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.! Now, see the work of our David, the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.! (v ) And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. 15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren;! OUR GREAT SHEPHERD Here we see David representing our GREAT SHEPHERD, running to the camp of his brethren with parched corn and ten loaves. He is sent by the Father, running with provisions of grace from eternity, from the Father s eternal purpose and grace to chosen sinners. These chosen sinners are his brethren, for he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are both one, for which cause he s not ashamed to call them brethren. This great shepherd, who s name is LOVE, leaves the house of bread, his Father s house, and runs to camp of his brethren.! (v ) And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.! I can t help but to think back on the time when my soul was under the weight of sin and the battle cries I shouted to God. With questions and stirrings in my soul, the enemy fought against my soul. The battle was in array, army against army. If not for my David coming to me in this dark time, the battle would have been lost. But he comes in the most desperate hour, to be the champion and deliverer of my soul. And this He still does when the enemy raises its ugly head.! (v ) And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. 26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the! 4!

5 man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?! Who is this uncircumcised, self wallowing man of sin, that he should defy the purpose of God s grace to his Israel. God has given us the land, and who is he that he should defy the armies of the living God. Often this giant does defy the Israel of God, and as in our text, it happens as our Savior talks with us. David comes to his brethren with provisions, and as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the self wallowing child of wrath, the accuser by name, out of the armies of the Philistines. He always has the same words, as he did in the beginning of our conversion. So now as we continue to fight, he defies the armies of the living God, and accuses and exposes our sin. The flesh wareth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, so that you cannot do the things you would. But Christ our Shepherd, who runs to our aid, says, Who is this? Who is this that should defy God? Christ comes to take away the reproach of Israel...! (v ) And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. 28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?! I must confess, God hasn t revealed to me the significance of this elder brother chiding David. Perhaps he represents the elders of Israel in the time of our Lord, when they questioned him in unbelief, and despised his truth because he was of no reputation. But what s important is that David wasn t discouraged. He said, Is there not a cause? Our great David was is not dismayed by Goliath, but valiant, zealous for the glory of God and the victory of Israel.! (Isaiah 42:4) He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.! (v ) And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. 31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.! THE HEARING OF THE WORD The words were heard! Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. When the words were heard which LOVE spake, they rehearsed them before questioning Saul, and Saul sent for him. I can remember, when first I heard those words of salvation and life. Oh, how I rehearsed them in my heart, wanting it to be so for my soul. The sinner engaged in a great battle, who hears the words of Christ, will send for him. He ll send for Christ every time he knows the words are spoken. He ll come to the place where he knows Christ is preached and rehearse the words again and again. And he hears the words, Let no man s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. Oh blessed words of comfort to the soul. Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. Thy servant shall go and fight this filthy, uncircumcised man. He calls himself our servant. He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister to needy sinners. But with the hope of deliverance comes disbelief and doubts.! (v. 33) And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.! UNBELIEF I believe this speaks of the smallness of grace in the heart of a sinner at the beginning of the battle. He sees the greatness of the enemy, who s been a man of war from his youth up. I ve lived my entire life in sin, and rebellion against God. When first the sinner hears the promises of Christ in the gospel, he doubts whether he s a candidate for such mercy and forgiveness. The prospect is so small in! 5!

6 the eyes of unbelief. So Satan holds the battle ground, and the giant accuser continues to defy and reproach the Israel of God. But then David, who s name means LOVE, speaks the words of experience. I ve been here many times before. My grace is sufficient to save to the uttermost, them that come to God by me.! (v ) And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.! DAVID S FAITH Children of God, listen to me. Christ our great David, the lover of our souls, is able to deliver from the hand of any and all our enemies. Here we have two completely different enemies of his father s sheep, a lion and a bear. You don t fight a lion the same way you fight a bear. So our great David, David s son, has the skill to defeat whatever foe may oppose our souls. I ve proved him over and over. Many different kinds of enemies have assaulted my soul, but Jesus Christ, the lover of my soul, has defeated them all by his omnipotent grace.! David is certainly a type of our Lord, and in this text we ll see him as such, but he also represents the people of God, walking by faith in this evil world. David learned by experience, that the Lord was able to deliver him from any foe. Therefore with confidence, he faces the giant, trusting that the Lord who delivered him out of the paw of the lion and bear, would deliver him out of the hand of the Philistine. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the man of perfect faith in God. He trusted the Father without wavering. He shows by his faithful obedience unto death, that God is faithful and true, and able to deliver.! (v ) David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. 38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.! SAUL S ARMOR Saul was trying to help David by giving him his armor, but there s nothing of Saul s that can help David in this battle. David must fight the battle alone, with no help from Saul. Saul who represents questioning, and supplications, cannot contribute to the battle. He may only watch from a distance and supplicate, beg God for the victory. All the begging and asking will not win the battle. David himself must go alone to win the victory. By all means, ask, beg God, but know that unless God almighty fight the battle, all is lost. This is important, because religion has fabricated a false gospel that depends on your outward profession. Say the sinner s prayer, say God I know I m a sinner, I m sorry for my sin, I believe on Jesus. Then they tell you, You re saved, and don t let anyone tell you different. No sir, your armor of religion is useless in this battle. The enemy is too great for carnal warfare. He must be destroyed by the Spirit of God. Wait on the Lord. Ask, and keep asking, but wait on him to defeat the enemy. David, who represents our loving Lord, will not have the armor of Saul. He must face the enemy alone, with none to help. David had not proved the armour of Saul, but he had proved his God. When our Lord was taken to Pilot s judgment hall, there were none that stood beside him. All forsook him and he faced our enemy alone.! (v. 40) And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.! THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST He took in his hand his shepherd s staff and a chose five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in a shepherd s bag with his sling was in his hand. What a sight! Here is this small, young shepherd boy going out to face a giant with a slingshot. What humble means he goes! 6!

7 to battle with. How on earth could a boy with a slingshot ever beat a giant with a sword and helmet and shield? I m sure Satan asked the same question, when our Lord humbled himself to become a man, and humbled himself further to become a servant of men. Here is a vivid picture of Jehovah s faithful servant, our Lord Jesus Christ, going out to face our great enemy in the boundary of blood drops. It would be by these humble means, that the God of Glory would reveal the arm of his strength. God said, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.! (Isaiah 53:1-2) Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.! (v ) And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.! Oh, hear these words sinner! The battle is the Lord s. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Our great David, the lover of our souls, ran to our camp with his provisions of grace. He heard the voice of our enemy and went out face him, not with sword and spear and shield, but in the name of the Lord of hosts.! (v ) And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.! That stone represents the name of our God. I m not sure of the significance of five, but I know that our God is a rock. His name is unchanging and true. He is faithful. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise of God in the garden when he died on the cross. He crushed the head of the serpent. He spoiled principalities and powers. How did he do it? Read on.! (v ) So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.! David, who s name means to boil over with love, took Goliath s own sword, the sword of the accuser, and chopped off his head with it. Christ our God, when he was made sin for us, took the sword of God s wrath and justice, and pulled it into his heart. The Father plunged it into the soul of his Son, but the Son willingly bore all the hell of God s fury against our sin. He took the only weapon Satan had against us, our sin, and the Holy Law of God, and used it to cut off the head of the self wallowing old man of sin.! (Romans 6:6-7) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.! (Colossians 2:13-15) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his! 7!

8 cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.! How did the lover of our souls triumph over our sin and Satan as the champion of our salvation? He nailed it to his cross. He crucified the old man of sin in his own body on the tree. He chopped off the head of that giant with his own sword, and the enemy fled. When God almighty comes to chosen sinners in the operation of his grace, a battle begins. He hedges them in, and plows their hearts, and brings them to the boundary of blood drops, where he crushes the enemy by his grace. He slays the pride of man by the truth of his cross. There the questions are answered, as Saul sees David run into battle prevailing by the name of the Lord of Hosts. He silences the cries of a screaming conscience by satisfying divine justice, by the sacrifice of himself. If you ever see Christ Jesus by faith, hanging on the cursed tree, dying in your room and stead, there s only one sure response of the soul that is saved by grace the resurrection of life!! (v. 52) And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.! The men of Israel and Judah arose! The prince with God and worship and celebration arose, and shouted for victory, and pursued the Philistines. Children of God, the battle in won, now all that is left is to pursue the enemy who is already defeated. Pursue him until you come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron, which means eradication. One day soon the pursuit shall be ended, when this body of sin is eradicated in the valley of death. We ll come to the gates of death and leave this old man in the grave, and the spoils of victory shall be ours.! (v. 53) And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.! Everything that had once been owned and used by the Philistines became the possession of Israel. Soon this tongue shall only be used for praise to my God. This vile body shall be put in the grave and raised incorruptible, never to sin again. Soon these eyes shall no more cry or mourn over sin, but shall look upon God my Savior in holiness, accepted in Christ in love. These ears shall only hear the word of God my Savior, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Soon the spoils of victory shall be ours. Actually, they already are, because Christ our Savior, our Great High Priest and Forerunner is already entered into the heaven for us, that where his is, there we may be also. Soon he ll come and receive us unto himself, that we may be with him in glory, in the beauty of holiness forever. He has destroyed the enemy and his armor is in his tent. He brought the head of the enemy to the city of God, to Jerusalem, which means city of peace. He made peace by the blood of his cross.! (v ) And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent. 55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. 56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is. 57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.! I am reminded of that blind man who the Lord Jesus rubbed mud in his eyes and commanded him to wash in the pool of liberty. The Lord came to him afterward and asked, Do you believe on the Son of God? He answered, Who is he Lord, that I might believe on him? The Lord replied, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe, and he worshipped him. Do you believe on the Son of God? Have you seen him in the inspired word of God? Has he spoken with you today through his word? The sure response of God s grace in the heart is faith in Christ and true worship. Do you worship the Son of God? I thank God he showed me his glory and revealed his Son in me. Has he revealed himself in you, or does that old man of sin still reign in your heart? If Christ ever slays that giant of sin in your heart,! 8!

9 you ll pursue the enemy unto death, because God will have given you the victory over sin, through the blood of his Son. Has he brought you to the boundary of blood drops, where the enemy is cut off, and the battle is won? I hope he has. It is my prayer for all of us, that Christ Jesus the Lord would destroy the enemy in us, and give us grace to pursue him unto death. Amen.! 9!