In the Presence of Jehovah

1 Samuel 17:20-25

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.  22 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.

Presence of Persons

Saul and the armies of Israel found themselves in the presence of Goliath.  David came to deliver supplies and also found himself in the presence of Goliath.  Goliath had a way of canceling out Israel’s past triumphs and blessings.  In this moment of time, Israel forgot about the manna in the wilderness, the cloud by day and the fire by night; the rock that gave them water; the victory at Jericho;  Later, David wrote: Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

I am preaching today to people whose lives are surrounded by giants.

• The giant of disease towers over you.
• The giant of sin stands before you.
• The giant of depression or discouragement mocks you.
• The giant of fear has you in his grasp.

Presence of Jehovah

But David was aware of One bigger than Goliath who stood on his side that day.  He knew he was in the presence of Jehovah, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.  It is my job to preach to you about God.

Psalms 47

1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.  2 For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.  3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.  4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.  5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.  6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.  7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.  8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.  9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

There is a passage in Lance Armstrong’s book in which he writes about his friend who had cancer.  In the depths of her stuggle, she took a trip to Niagara Falls.  Her purpose, she said, was to get in the presence of something that was bigger than she was.  When you face a formidable foe within you, you need to remind yourself that there is something bigger than you or it.

You are in the presence of Someone bigger than you are.

• You did more than just come to church today.
• You did more than sing, clap, raise your hands, pray and worship today.
• You entered into the presence of Jehovah.
• You came into the presence of the One who towers over disease, sin, pain and turmoil

The message of David and Goliath is not about a sling.

• It is not about a little boy against a big giant.
• It is not just about courage in the menacing face of fear.
• The message is that it is time to wake up and recognize that you are in God’s presence today!

If you are in God’s presence, there are demands made upon you.

• God demands your worship.
• God demands your service.
• God demands your obedience.
• This where many people balk. (I will worship, I will serve, but I won’t obey.)
• Obedience is humiliating. (Every soldier has to learn to obey orders.)
• There will always be issues and orders that you don’t understand. Follow them anyway!
• God demands your soul! (Your everything, the essence of yourself)

Luke 12:16-20 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

But, if you are in God’s presence, there are blessings guaranteed to you.

Psalms 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.  4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.  5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.  6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.  7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.  8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.  9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.  10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 

Song: In the Presence of Jehovah

In and out of situations That tug-of-war at me All day long I struggle For answers that I need But then I come into His presence All my questions become clear And for a sacred moment No doubt can interfere

In the presence of Jehovah God Almighty, Prince of Peace Troubles vanish, hearts are mended In the presence of The King

Through His love the Lord provided A place for us to rest A place to find the answers In hours of distress Now there is never any reason For you to give up in despair Just look away and breathe His name He will come and meet you there

In the presence of Jehovah God Almighty, Prince of Peace Troubles vanish, hearts are mended In the presence of The King