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1. Whether it is public speaking, spiders, snakes, never getting married, getting divorced, losing a job, sickness, or the loss of a loved one; we can all relate to fear.
2. We might not have the same fears or go through the same trials, but all of us have experienced fear when confronted by a trial; when our “What ifs” or “Worst case scenarios” become a reality.
3. Today, we are going to study a passage that is familiar to many of us – the epic battle between David and Goliath.
4. But we’re not going to study David’s actual defeat of Goliath.
5. Rather, we’re going to look at the epic battle before the battle to discover some of the enemy’s tactics as well as some critical principles from God’s Word to help us live victoriously When Trials Come.

1 Samuel 17:1-11, 16

Context
1. When we come to 1 Samuel 17, it is important to note that Israel’s first king, Saul, had been rejected by God because he disobeyed God’s command.
2. God had found someone to replace Saul, a man after His own heart, a young shepherd from Bethlehem by the name of David.
3. In fact, at this point, the prophet Samuel had already anointed David as king, but David did not begin his reign immediately.
4. God allowed Saul to reign as king to reveal that:
a. Saul was disqualified and rejected as king.
b. David was qualified and anointed to be the next king.
c. In many ways, this trial with the Philistines was a divine message to Israel that God’s favor was resting upon their next king, David.

Transition – With this context understood, the first biblical principle to help us live victoriously when trials come is…

I. Stand Your Ground (1-3)

• Unfortunately, many Christians withdraw and give up ground when trials come. Perhaps you can relate.
• But when trials come, that is the time when you must stand your ground.

A. Satan always seeks to steal ground from us (1)
1. Where did the Philistines set up camp?
a. The Philistines set up their camp in a town called Socoh. (1)
b. Where was Socoh located? In Judah.
c. Who gave Socoh to Judah? God.

Joshua 15:20-21, 35, This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families. Now the cities at the extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah… Jarmuth and Adullam, Socoh and Azekah

2. When the Philistine set up camp in Socoh they were declaring to Israel that Socoh belonged to them.
3. At first glance one might ask, “Socoh was just a border town. Why did it matter?”
4. It mattered because strong border towns are essential for the stability of any nation.
5. If a country is unable to protect its borders then it won’t be long before its capital is vulnerable as well.

APPL – Spiritually speaking, “stealing ground” from God’s people is a common tactic of the enemy!

John 10:10a, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…

• The enemy will look for vulnerable areas first.
• Then, little by little, the enemy will take and occupy as much ground as Christian is willing to give up!
• The enemy seeks to steal our vision, our hopes, and our dreams.
• The enemy also seeks to steal our testimony and destroy our relationships.

ILLUS – Do nations, companies, or relationships fail overnight?

APPL – The question is, “How much are you willing to let the enemy take from you?
ILLUS – Our thought life

Proverbs 4:23, Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

Philippians 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

B. Be a watchman on the wall (2-3)
1. Verses 2-3 reveal that King Saul and Israel had let their guard down and become complacent.
a. Israel should have fortified her border towns to make the Philistines think twice about picking a fight.

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