1 Samuel 17:41-51

The governing principle of life.

The facts are—

1 . The Philistine, on observing the youth and simple weapons of David, disdains and curses him, and boasts of soon giving his flesh to bird and beast.

2 . David, in reply, declares that he comes in the name of God, and expresses his assurance that, in the speedy death of his foe, all men would learn that the battle is the Lord's.

3 . Goliath falls by means of the sling and stone.

4 . Seizing his sword, David cuts off his head, whereon the Philistines flee. We may regard Goliath and David as representatives of two very distinct orders of character—the one serving as a foil to the other. The low human purpose, the boastful trust in human strength, and the vanity of gaining personal renown, on the one side, set off in bold relief the execution of a Divine purpose, the quiet trust in Divine strength, and the supreme desire to see God glorified, on the other side. "I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied"—here is the great principle that governed David's conduct. " In the name of the Lord" did the stripling raise his voice, select his stones, and use his sling. Nor was this a mere accident in his life. A crisis may bring out into clear and bold expression the principle which governs a good man's life, bait it does not create it. "In the name of the Lord" was his motto when feeding the sheep, slaying the lion and bear, and composing the Psalms. Consider—

I. The NATURE AND RANGE OF THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLE OF a GOOD MAN 'S LIFE . There are various mental acts entering into and lying at the spring of conduct—some more original than others. Life cannot be fully understood without an analysis of them and a recognition of their mutual relation. At one time a passion may be regarded as the governing principle— e.g. "The love of Christ constraineth us;" at another, supreme regard for right— e.g. "Do justly;" at another, obedience to a superior will— e.g. "Not my will, but thine be done." But these and others of kindred nature are in Scripture summarised in the beautiful formula, "In the name of the Lord." David's conduct brings this principle into triple forth.

1 . The purpose of life is the purpose of God. That which God, by the revelations of his mercy and the ordinations of providence, is working out—the cutting off of evil and the establishment of righteousness—is the adopted and cherished purpose of life. In every calling, pursuit, enterprise, alliance, pleasure, secular or spiritual conflict, the true man goes forth "in the name of the Lord" to destroy the foe of God and man. He is conscious of a definite unity of purpose, and wills that it be identical with the one purpose of God.

2 . The power trusted to is the power of God. The Lord in whose name David went forth "sayeth not with sword and spear." The stripling did not expect Goliath to fall down dead while he lay at rest in his tent, but be went forth using those means natural to him as a youth, and this too because of the unseen hand which taught "his fingers to fight." God's strength is not a vast reserve locked up for use on some far distant day, when some new system of worlds has to be created, any more than that it has been all poured forth into laws and forces now acting. The Eternal Spirit is eternally strong, and as a Spirit is in such contact with us that, by placing ourselves in a certain attitude of loving trust, we receive from him according to our need.

3 . The glory sought is that of the Lord. The motive of David was not to become notorious among men, not to promote some private advantage, but that "all the earth might know that there is a God in Israel." Here the stripling warrior was governed by the same reference to God as was recognised by the Apostle Paul when he said, "Do all to the glory of God" ( 1 Corinthians 10:31 ). This abnegation of self, this joy in the honour of the holy name, this ambition to see men bowing in reverence to the Lord of all, enters into the private and public, the secular and spiritual, works of the renewed man. See the beautiful and impressive language of saints of different ages ( 2 Samuel 22:33 , 2 Samuel 22:35 ; 2 Chronicles 32:7 , 2 Chronicles 32:8 ; Psalms 20:5 ; Psalms 63:4 ; Psalms 115:1 ; 2 Corinthians 10:4 ; Hebrews 11:32-34 ).

II. The TRUE GOVERNING PRINCIPLE OF LIFE IS NOT UNDERSTOOD BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT UNDER ITS INFLUENCE . Goliath, judging others by the principles that governed his own conduct, disdained David: his abusive language shows that he had no conception of the nature of the inspiration that made the stripling so cool and brave. Some men live in a world not penetrated even by the vision of others. Spheres of life come into collision, but do not intersect. The scorn and contempt of the ungodly is a common fact ( Psalms 123:4 ; 1 Corinthians 1:18 ; 1 Corinthians 4:13 ). Christ and his apostles were treated with contempt, and their design of subduing the world was, and still is, by some referred to madness. Ridicule of prayer, of missions to savage men, of expectation of Christ's gospel being accepted by all, still abounds. Are not the people "few," the means contemptible—out of harmony with the age, and opposed to the principles of physical science? It is the old story of a boastful Goliath. It is the same revelation of profound ignorance. Verily, if there were no more in Christian men than in their foes, the conflict would soon be settled ( 2 Corinthians 4:4 ).

III. The TRIUMPH OF THE OUTWORKING OF THE TRUE GOVERNING PRINCIPLE OF LIFE IS ASSURED . David was sure that on that very day his foe would fall, and so illustrate the supremacy of the good man's principle. Events confirmed the truth. The issue of the great conflict between Christ's Church and opposing forces of evil is thus foreshadowed. We may go forth with the same assurance that at the end of the world's great day of battle we shall be in a position to say, "Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 2:14 ; 1 Corinthians 15:57 , 1 Corinthians 15:58 ). The same result may be looked for in respect of our own personal conflicts with sin; for though we may be weak, and pained by the scorning of the proud, yet, using our sling and stone in the strength of God, it will be found at last that we are "more than conquerors." And this, which applies to life as a whole, is of equal force in respect to any form of vice or moral evil we contend with day by day ( Psalms 44:6 , Psalms 44:7 ; Micah 7:8 ).

General lessons : —

1 . The continued boasting of the enemies of Christianity is an illustration of its spiritual nature and the truth of its predictions ( 2 Peter 3:3 ).

2 . The great need for Christians is to rise to the height of their powers and privileges as soldiers of Christ ( 1 Corinthians 16:13 ).

3 . Every triumph achieved for Christ over sins, or individuals, or obstacles is a pledge of coming victories.