FBCWest 737 | Exposed in the Valley of Elah
Recorded On: 11/08/2026
Bulletin
Hymn # 499 “When Morning Comes”
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalms 117
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate
Praise and Worship
“Your Promises”
“Raise a Hallelujah”
“Great I Am”
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“Exposed in the Valley of Elah”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“What an Awesome God”
Acknowledgements and Announcements
Sermon Notes
1 Samuel 17:1 Philistines gather for battle
1 Samuel 17:2 & 3 Israel gathers for battle on the opposite side
1 Samuel 17:4 – 7 The Philistines’ champion is described
1 Samuel 17:8 – 11 The Philistines’ champion issues a challenge, but Saul and Israel are afraid
1 Samuel 17:12 – 19 David’s father sends David to check on his brothers and send a “care package”
1 Samuel 17:20 – 22 David goes and leaves his baggage with the baggage keeper
1 Samuel 17:23 – 25 David talks to find out what is going on
1 Samuel 17:26 & 27 David asks what is in it for the man who takes up the challenge
1 Samuel 17:28 David’s brothers treat him with contempt
1 Samuel 17:29 David says it was just a question
1 Samuel 17:30 David asks the same question and gets the same answer
Psalm 46:1 – 3 God is our help
Psalm 23 No fear when the Lord is our Shepherd
Scritpures
Transcript of Service
Many people want to build character. Oftentimes they'll put their children in sporting teams so that it might build character. The problem is, building character only takes place when you build character. You need to be intentional about it. However, all too often when we face challenges, difficult challenges, instead of building character, it exposes our character. We're going to take a look at the Valley of Ela, of the Lord.
Character is exposed. And we're going to take a look at how we can not have that same result, but there are character be one that we would not be ashamed of. The event that we're going to talk about today is very well known. We've talked about it. The church talks about facing your giants. The world knows about it, maybe from the church or maybe from the discussion. And they view it as a little guy against the big opposing and how the little guy can stand up to the big opposing guy.
Sometimes I feel like, am I the only one who gets it? Because I don't think that's the teaching in this chapter. And I think the teachings in this chapter are so important that I'm splitting it up into two different messages.
And so I hope that those of you who hear this message will also hear the next one so that it will be complete. But the humble opinion, I think we've learned a long, long lessons in this. So permit me to appear to be a heretic, I guess, because I'm going to say things that, so if you have your Bibles and you should, turn to 1 Samuel chapter 17 and we're going to start with the first verse. This is this. Now, the Philistines gathered their armies for battle and they were gathered at Sokol, which belongs to Judah and they were camped in Aeska in Ephesus Damin.
Now first I want you to mention here that the Philistines are occupying the promised part of the promised land. They are occupying Israel's home turf. Not be doing that. They should not be permitted to do that. And as people who have experienced various battles and wars understand that when you fight on your home territory, you fight more vigorously because it's your home territory. It is real.
It's kind of content with the Philistines occupying part of Judah. And so in the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Battle of Elah and drove to encounter the Philistines. So they were going to be there to fight them. So at least they came to make a stand against the Philistines. And it says, and the Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, cleaned them. And that valley is the valley of Elah. And I know you're probably wondering why I've named this sermon exposed in the valley of Elah.
And so I'm going to kind of explain that briefly and shortly. And this is a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath from Gath whose height was six qubits in a span. So he was over nine feet tall. Now I'm going to come back to his name because his name is exceptionally important and I think that partially miss the teaching because he immediately go to his stature. He was over nine feet tall.
He had a bronze helmet on his head and was clothed with scaled armor which weighed 5,000 checkers of bronze. So his body is protected by the scale armor which means that it allows him freedom of movement in armor. So when we think of armor a lot of times we think of the middle ages and he's got the scale so allows him movement but are also because the scale double covered so that it's even more impregnable. And it weighs also apparently it's very strong because he's got this bronze helmet and this weighty armor. He also had bronze reaves on his legs and bronze javelins slung between his shoulders.
So his head was protected, his bodies protected, his legs are protected and he has this bronze javelins slung between which means he can take this weapon and do one of two things to it and throw it at the enemy and this bronze javelin is very heavy. So if it doesn't impel you it'll knock you down. It also going to be used with a shield and you can keep your enemy at bay and you don't have to ever let them get in reach of you. So if we were to look at him as a fortress we would think that he would be impenetrable. And it continues on and says and the shout of his spear was like a weavers and the head of his spear weighed 600 checkles of iron.
His shield carrier also walked before him. So not only did he have all this protection and that he's this mighty person but he also has somebody in front of him. So you got to get through the air to get to him.
So the fight is pretty strong and it's interesting if you take a look at the description of people in the Bible. This is the most complete description of any of them. And I think as a result people start looking at his size that he's a giant and then start thinking that the story is about this giant man. His name was and it was told to us first his name. His name means to expose or to reveal.
We're going to see in just a moment how he exposes and reveals to his so he stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, why do you come out to draw up in battles array? Am I not the Philistine and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. So you guys are the servants of Saul. Apparently that's true. What should have been true is that you are the servants of the most high God.
That you serve the God of heaven and earth but is very apparent as these exposing them that they are the servants of Saul and they will respond just like Saul responds. So he said basically what he's doing is, hey why are we have these two armies? Because what do I have? And we'll fight and a bunch of guys will die. And somebody will win or maybe it will be a draw. Why have all these people die? Just have one person die.
Either me or you. You pick your guy. I'm the champion of the Philistines. Then he says if he is able to fight with me and kill me then we will become your servants. But if I fulfill against him and kill him then you shall become our servants and serve us. Now there's two things about this.
We should never be obligated to deal with the terms of the enemy. We don't accept the terms of the enemy. Our response should have been we're going to charge and if you get in our way, you'll die.
Now maybe a whole bunch of us will die taking you out. But we don't accept your terms because on the second factor we belong to God. We were once the slaves in Egypt and God brought us here to the promised land and we are his. And as we say in the New Testament, I have been bought with a price. I'm not longer my own. I cannot offer you my servanthood because it belongs to him because he already bought me. So I don't accept your terms to even if I wanted to I can't because I belong to another.
So I can't serve you. I want to serve God. Again the Philistine said, I defy the reigns of Israel this day. Give me a man that we might fight together. So he's as people in athletics will say he's talking smack. He's talking to them, trying to get them all wild up so that they might respond to his speech, trying to get them to respond.
When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistines, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Now I want you to notice again, I'm saying why was Saul king? Saul was king because the people said, do we the other nations have kings? But we want our king to fight for us. Saul should be fighting for them.
That's the reason they made him king. But he was afraid. Why was he afraid because the spirit of God had left?
And because he was afraid and because of the enemy, the people were afraid. There can rip through a group of people faster than anything. And so they're afraid. So Goliath exposed who they were. They decided that Goliath was bigger than their God. That Goliath could defeat because they had no faith in their God. Even though God himself had defeated the Philistines over and over and over.
He had showed himself to them that they could trust him in battle. But they still didn't trust him. And so in the valley of Elah, they are exposed because Goliath, the exposure, revealed exactly who they were.
Fearful. There was little or no faith. But again, they're not dissimilar to you and I. We find ourselves with a great challenge.
And because of that great challenge, we often become fearful. Well, what happens if, what if, and that challenge becomes greater than our God? All too often, we find ourselves in the valley of Elah. Based with, to reveal who we are, to reveal our character, are we those who believe in God?
And say, I'm going to believe God though you slay me. But I'm not going to serve you because I serve you. Now, David was the son of Anifri, my, a Bethlehem in Judah.
His name was Jesse and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. So apparently he had seen better days. He's an old guy. And there's a lot of other sons, which we've been aware of. And David is the youngest.
The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. The names of the three sons who went to the battle with, were Elah, the first born. And the second to him was Abidda Dad and the third. And all these because Samuel came to Jesse's house, looked at the first seven sons. But the first one should be King and said, no, that's not a guy.
And so we are aware that these three guys specifically were passed over as well as four as well. It wasn't to David. And it says, and David was the youngest. Now, the three oldest followed Saul. So they were there at the battle.
They were the ones who had potential from King and were not selected. But David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem. So David, if you will, was like bivocational, bivopo-fessional. Part of his time was spent being a shepherd, tenning, not even his own, his father's flock. And then part of the time he was a musician for Saul to calm Saul down when he had demon fits. So David would go back and forth, again, not having to go. But two.
The third thing came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand. That's eighty times he blasphemed God. Allige them. Told them they were servants of Saul. Told them, we'll take you out and you'll be our servants. We still know one did anything. For you see your seafed fear can freeze you.
And we'll continue to put up with the ridicule rather than taking action. Then Jesse said to David his son, take now for your brothers and ephod of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to your brothers. So basically, I want you to take to your brothers a care package.
We kind of did that in our church during the times of battles in Iraq and against them. We would do care packages and send candies over it after the first time. You can't send candy and soap in the same box because then the candy tastes like soap.
So we learned, but we in our church would kind of do it kind of a ministry of sending to our troops, care packages. And that's exactly what Jesse's doing for his sons. Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand and look into the welfare of your brothers and break back news of them. So he's going, okay, I want you to give the special offering to the command. One maybe because of this position, maybe it's, well, if I give you something, maybe you'll treat my kids good or whatever. Don't know the reason, but he's making this offering. But the whole point is I want you there because I'm concerned about my three other sons.
So I'm sending you there and I want you to bring back what's going on. They're all and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines. But no, they're not. They're there in the valley of Elah. They're looking at the Philistines and listening to Goliath expose them. I guess Jesse had a more positive view of what's happening. So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with his keeper and took the supplies and win as Jesse had commanded him and he came to the circle of the camp while the enemy was going. I'm sorry, well, the army was going in and out the battle ray shouting the war cry.
Well, they were looking like they were doing something. They would put on their uniforms. They would get their swords or their spears and they would yell and scream, but nobody took on Goliath or the Philistines. They just yelled a lot and you can yell a lot of your problem. Doesn't mean it goes away, but you know, at least released by emotions. Israel is grew up in battle ray, army against army. Okay, maybe something's going to happen.
And David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper and ran to the battle line and entered in order to create his brothers. So he's there to do two things. He's wanting to see what's going to go on. They're a Ryan and battle. Maybe now they're going to fight and I got to see how my brothers are doing because that's what my dad asked me to do. So he goes and greets his brothers. And the men of Israel said, have you seen this man who is coming up? Sure.
The fire 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. Basically he's going if somebody is able to kill this guy, the king fighting our battles because that's why he's there. To make him rich. And also make sure that his family doesn't have to pay taxes. And then he'll give his daughter in marriage. Now the daughter in marriage is good in the sense of well, now you're guilty, but I guess it kind of depends on who the daughter is. Be careful what you ask for. And David spoke to the men who were standing by saying, what will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, the reproach from Israel?
Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should taunt the armies of the living God? Notice David is there just for a few minutes. He asked the second time question because out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, everything is confirmed.
So I don't want to know, I want to make sure what the offering is if someone kills him. But notice David says who's taunting the army? No. Who's it that's taunting the armies of the living God? David understands what's at stake.
And David understands who these people are supposed to be. They're not the armies of Saul, they're not the servants of Saul, they are the living God. And the people answered him and accord with this word saying, it will be done for the man who kills him. So it's confirmed. Now Aileb, his older brother, heard when he spoke to the men, and Aileb burned against David and said, why have you come down and with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?
I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart for you have come down in order to see the battle. I understand a lot of times the older brother has contempt for the younger brother. And maybe especially since he saw David, the youngest one being anointed king. And he's saying, and then he puts your few sheep, hit your dad's sheep, it's not even his sheep. And he's saying, you just, you want to see what's happening.
You don't want to put any skin into the game. So he just, he treats him with contempt. And when we are treated with contempt, we fold our tent and go home. He could have simply said, you know, thanks a lot, you're safe. My other two brothers are safe.
I'm going to go home and tell dad everything's fine and you're raised three jerks, but he doesn't. But David said, what have I done now? Was it not just a question? He's going, I'm just trying to find out what's happening. Everybody's yelling at the screaming, I hear this guy who's taunting Israel. Nothing sees him.
So apparently there's a price on Goliath's head and he's wanting to confirm what it is. And he turned away from him to another and he said the same thing and the people answered the same thing as before. So he confirms it three times. Now jumping way ahead, David never gets what's offered. Just kind of an aside. Now Israel was in the valley exposed. We've seen this event happening.
We prepare ourselves so that our faith is strong regardless of the circumstances. Our character, our faith or lack of faith is revealed or exposed. We are not ashamed. God is our refuge and strength, and we need to get away. It's to God not away from God. God is our refuge and he is our strength. Because we get very weak very soon. And notice he's a very present help.
He's a present help. He's helped now, not in the future, not some other day. He's a present help in troubles. Therefore here, though the earth should change and though the mountain is step into the heat, heart of the sea, though it's waters, those waters, war and foam, though the mountain is quake at its well in pride. That's where we face it is in God, not the circumstances.
It's not when good circumstances happen. I can yell hallelujah and when bad things happen, well, poor me, it's hallelujah. We understand who God is. And notice when it says in present Trump, there are a lot of times we find ourselves in circumstances because we messed up. Now, sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances through no false of our own.
God's promise isn't, well, I'll be there and when you do, now, be luck for it to you. He's a very present help. One other verse, Psalm 23, the Lord is my sh- I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leaves me beside quiet waters. Notice all of these things he does. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake, not because of who I am, but because of who he is.
I don't say, God, you should be impressed with me. Therefore get me out of this trouble. No. God gets me out of this trouble because of who he is for his namesake. Even though I walk to the valley of death, I fear no evil. Now notice, he says it doesn't matter what valley I walk through. Now we kind of have this expression. We may have this high spiritual or emotional experience we talk about being on a mountain.
And we talk about when we have a low spiritual point or a low emotional point or a difficult circumstance that we talk about being in a valley. David says, the most difficult valley we'll ever have to face is the valley of death. And guess what? None of us get out of this life alive. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. Even though I walk through the valley of Ela and face to life, I fear no evil. Why? You are with me.
You see, that's where they were exposed. They were depending on a champion to say. And they knew none of them measured up, not even the king. Oh, they yell and screamed like they were going to go to battle, but nobody did. And no one took up the offer. But David understood, I fear no evil for you or with me. You're wrong in your staff.
They comfort me. I am comforted by your authority and your power and your correction. There are three Hebrew children. We know by their Babylonian name, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abindigo. Because of their faith, they are thrown in a fire.
And then there's a fourth one and they walk out. There's not even smoke smell on their clothes. I believe that God, who is my God, is able to do that for me. Is not able to do that for me. I'll tell you what I do think. He got great glory of them walking out of that fire.
He might get greater glory in my situation to let me burn. It's not there or I was worse. It's how he gets glory. And how do I know that? Because in Hebrews, when it talks about the great men and women of faith, in names of a bunch of people, then it names a bunch of unknown people.
People who lost their loved ones by being burned, they were willing in their faith to sacrifice because they believed God. And it wasn't they believed God because they rescued them. They believed God because God's God.
So therefore, whether I live in, is irrelevant. What is relevant is that he's with me. And he comforts me. And he prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. And he would have an under my head with oil, my cup overflows. Who of us are believers who, that God has blessed us greater than we deserve. He has blessed us so much. We don't even know all the blessings he's blessed with.
And surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life. And not only do I have those blessings, well in the house of the Lord, for three and a half years until I get an eviction notice. And I would well in the house of the Lord forever. Which means if God, or do I spend eternity with God? If he doesn't kill me and I kill him, what do I do? I am blessed by God until he takes me home, who I dwell with him forever. As Jesus said, don't fear those who can kill the body and the soul.
See, this story is not about a giant and facing a giant. This story is about you and me. How much faith do we have in God? When we walk to the valley of Elaw. And that valley may be various circumstances, or maybe the valley of our own death or a loved one. It is God who gives us comfort, with us, no matter what.
And all of God's people say.