Is There Not a Cause?

“And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”

(I Samuel 17:29)

David knew that there was a cause, and he fought for it. My prayer is that God will use this message in your life for his great cause.

There was a great enemy

“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. 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. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 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.” (I Samuel 17:4-7) Goliath stood about 9-3/4 feet tall. His coat of mail weighed about 180 lbs, his spear head about 18 lbs. He was undefeatable from man's perspective.

There was great preparation

“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: 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.”

(I Samuel 17:34-35)

There were great obstacles

- He was slandered by his family- “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.”

(I Samuel 17:28)

-He was encouraged to take the wrong approach- “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. 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.”

(I Samuel 17:38-39)

-He was told that there was no hope- “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.”

(I Samuel 17:33)

-His enemy distained him- “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.”

(I Samuel 17:42)

There was a great cause

“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. 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.”

(I Samuel 17:46-47)

The whole earth needed to know the one true God. People needed to know that salvation comes by faith in him alone. This cause has not changed! God’s desire is to deliver people from their great enemy (sin). Just as David rejected man’s weapons and armor and relied completely on God’s simple ways, so we must know that the finest armor and weapons of man are no match for the enemy of our soul. And just as David used a simple stone (formed by God, and not changed by man)…

“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.”

(I Samuel 17:40)

…so must we rely totally on God’s simple way and not our own works or ways. Jesus contrasted the hopelessness of man’s ways, and the wonderful hope in God’s way as follows:

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

(Mark 10:25-27)

I once despaired of God ever helping me. Then, a humble man befriended me and showed me that I simply needed to stop trying to reach God my way, and rather put complete trust in that which Jesus Christ had done for me on the cross. This is the same faith that David had when he laid aside Saul’s equipment and gathered some smooth stones instead. Don’t you see how hopeless it would have been for David to depend upon the armor and sword that Saul gave him against this huge giant? It is just as hopeless for you to depend upon your own works and ways, or upon man’s traditions and teachings, no matter how good they may appear. If this is your method, you are like the rich man who is depending upon his own wisdom and methods instead of upon God. You are like a camel trying to squeeze through the eye of a needle. My friend, it will not work.

Are you struggling with this giant today? Are you weary of attempting the impossible? Won’t you simply come to Christ as a little child, turning from your sin and putting all of your trust in him and his finished work on the cross to save you?

May God give you the victory!