And David said, There is none like that: give it me.
Goliath’s sword
I. First, then, the history of Goliath’s sword. See it, in the first instance, hanging at the giant’s side. The man himself is mighty. Hark how he challenges the hosts of Israel. The after history of this sword is interesting. What became of it after David, having no sword of his own, put it to the giant’s throat and cut off his head with it? It was Goliath’s no longer; it was David’s, really. It is evident that he was not content to have it ornamenting his own residence--he would give it to the Lord. He found it in his heart to hang the sword in the Holy Place, that God might have the glory. What happened next? Why, long afterwards, when David wanted a sword, God gave this very weapon back to him. Nobody is ever the poorer for lending to the Lord. God gave the sword back to David in the hour of his extremity. Now I want to say to you, surely you remember some great deliverance of days gone by. You remember the weapons with which God enabled you to carve your way through obstacles which you supposed must overwhelm you. You are getting into a tight place again, are you? Well, call to mind the previous experience; grasp the old sword, and trust the same, unchanging God. Use the promise that helped you out before.
II. But we shall, I hope, get still further blessing when we think of this sword from a spiritual point of view. These things may well be called an allegory. The war is still waging. The Philistine is still in the land. And what is David’s sword? The sword is God’s Word, Divine Truth, the Gospel of the Grace of God. “The Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” We do not want another weapon. There is nothing to induce us to try another. We have watched the others trying them. They have had such poor success that it makes us the more content with the old Jerusalem blade. (Thomas Spurgeon.)
Tried Weapons
We propose to treat this text with special reference to the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
1. There is none like it for variety of adaptation.
2. As for argument, where can we find a blade more keenly argumentative?
3. I would impress all young readers with the comprehensiveness of the Bible, with its universality of adaptation to all the circumstances and necessities of human life.
4. There is none like it for ease of carriage. There are weapons that are very difficult to carry, but the sword of the Lord is not one of them.
5. There is none like it for universality of use. Children and sick persons can use it; the poorest man can avail himself of it; the busiest man may find a moment for its exercise.
6. The sick can use this sword of the Lord. (J. Parker, D. D.)
