Read Ephesians 6:10-13

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

If we were going to choose teams for spiritual battle today and we had two OT kings as team captains, which team would you rather be on?  King Saul's or King David's? 

Saul was tall and strong - how come you don't want to be on his team?  David was smaller and kind of good looking and a musician - not exactly the first choice for going into a battle.  Why would you want to be on his team?

Part of our reason for choosing David is because we know the end of the story.  But if we didn't - as they didn't - how would we know who was really the strongest?

PS 118:14 The LORD is my strength and my song;

    he has become my salvation.

PS 81:1 Sing for joy to God our strength;

    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

  PS 81:2 Begin the music, strike the tambourine,

    play the melodious harp and lyre.

PS 59:9 O my Strength, I watch for you;

    you, O God, are my fortress, 10  my loving God.

PS 59:16 But I will sing of your strength,

    in the morning I will sing of your love;

  for you are my fortress,

    my refuge in times of trouble.

  PS 59:17 O my Strength, I sing praise to you;

    you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

PS 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.

PS 29:1 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,

    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

PS 18:1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

Why do you think that this was such an important issue for David the great song writer? 

He was a great warrior.  Killed many warriors with his own hands.  Killed thousands with the hands of his best soldiers.  So much so that the Lord did not grant him permission to build the temple, which was the desire of David's heart (I Chronicles 22:6-8).

Why all the praise to the Lord for His Strength?

David was about as strong as they come; but how did he get so strong?

If we answer this correctly, we will have the answer for ourselves.

David was only a man.  Flesh and blood just like all of us here today.  But he was so strong!  How?

David knew right from the start that the only real strength that he had was strength given to him from the Lord.

David was the greatest of all the Old Testament kings. 

Solomon was a good contender for the title of the greatest of all the Old Testament kings; he had an astounding start with his humble prayer for wisdom (where do you think he picked up that idea from?).  Read the passages and see if you can tell.

The throne of Israel was not forever called the throne of Solomon was it?  It is called the throne of David.

The Lord Jesus Christ is not called the son of Solomon was he?  He is called the Son of David.

When the Lord Jesus Christ establishes the Kingdom, who will be given the privilege of reigning over God's people Israel?

You know who.

How did David ever get that strong?

David found the source of all true strength. 

He did not keep this information to himself, he wrote inspired songs or what we call Psalms to declare with no doubt - who was the source of strength.

Not just when he was beginning, but right until the end.

David knew that the only real strength that he had was strength given to him from the Lord.

This subject is going to require another message to get a good taste of what the Lord has said about strength.

So, does anybody here want to arm wrestle me? 

I think that there is a good chance that several of David's men could have beat him at arm wrestling; yet nobody had any doubt about who was the strongest.

Strange isn't it?

Know where the real strength comes from.

Humbly receive this.

Gladly exercise it.