1 Corinthians 9:20,21 - To the Jews I became like a Jew

9:20

So Paul lived like a Jew when amongst the Jews. He lived as one under the Law, so that he could win those under the Law. Paul was not looking at the Law as a means of salvation, but as the Law pointed towards Christ, he did not see the Law, given its proper place, as an obstacle. So he did not put any unnecessary obstacles in the way of Jews. The gospel itself is  a big enough obstacle, requiring man to humble himself.

9:21

Likewise, to the Gentiles he lived as one nut under the Law, so as not to put unnecessary obstacles in their way. For he did not want them thinking that in order to be saved they needed to be circumcised, or to follow certain food laws. They too needed to humble themselves, to repent and admit their need of Christ. Paul puts in a caveat, “I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law”. He did not want people thinking they could live  licentiously as many of the Corinthians did.

1 Samuel 17:34-40 - He chose five smooth stones

17:34-37

David then argues with Saul, presenting his case. David has been “keeping his father’s sheep”, and this involved killing lions and bears when they endangered the flock. David used the experiences of his life to learn to fight. He sees the Philistine as no different. This assessment is not based on bravado, but on the fact that Goliath has no respect for God, and has “defied the armies of the living God”. We should note that the “armies of the living God” had hardly distinguished themselves up to this point! Today we see many evil forces at work in society. Like David, we should not be dismayed, for they are defying the Living God.

Saul now agrees to let David go and fight.

17:38-40

Saul sought to put his own armour on David. David tried to walk around in the armour, but decided that he could not fight in them. It was not the armour that he would be relying on. We need to be aware of the way that God has taught us to “fight”. It is faith in the Lord that would give David victory, not any armour. Instead, David took what he was used to, so he had a staff and five smooth stones. Taking his sling he approached Goliath.

1 Corinthians 9:17-19 - What then is my reward?

9:17,18

Paul did not preach voluntarily, rather he had been conscripted into the role! He was “simply discharging the trust committed to [him]”. So was there no reward for him? No “payment” for him? Paul was fully invested in preaching the gospel. He was offering the gospel “free of charge”. He did not make use of his “rights”. The Corinthians should  be equally willing to forego rights if doing so will further the cause of the gospel.

9:19

“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” Sinful man is naturally self-centred, but once we are freed from sin, just as Christ did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, we do not consider our freedom something to be grasped, we do not consider our pride something to be boasted about. We live for Christ and for others. Of course, there is a way in which we do refuse to give up our freedom, as Paul chastised the Galatians for as they were going down the road of ting themselves up rules.

1 Samuel 17:32,33 - Let no one lose heart

17:32

We have no direct information on what Saul was thinking at this point, but going by what we know of him already he was probably feeling very despondent. David has a very different attitude. He sees no reason why anyone should lose heart because of this Philistine. Moreover, David will go and fight him. The reason for the difference is that David knows God and Saul does not. Knowing God changes our attitude and leads us to be ready to take action.

17:33

We see more evidence of the effect of Saul’s unbelief. He does not believe that David is able to fight the Philistine. It is worth noting that up to this point no one else has been found who was “able to fight the Philistine”. Saul’s assessment is based on the fact that David is a young man, and Goliath is an experienced warrior. 

1 Corinthians 9:15,16 - But I have not used these rights

9:15

“But I have not used these rights.” Paul now comes to the key point that he is making, and explains why he said what he has just said. He was not making all these arguments about his right to be paid in order that the Corinthians would give him some money! In fact he would rather die than receive money from them, or “allow anyone to  deprive [him] of this boast”. The Corinthians were too ready to delight in the things the world delighted in, e.g. boasting of  cleverness or status. Paul was motivated by different things.

9:16

The travelling philosophers and the like were proud of what they did, claiming to be so clever and eloquent. Paul could not boast of preaching the gospel, for he was compelled to preach. Paul had not chosen being an apostle as a career option, it was the Lord who chose him and told him he would be an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul had little option in the matter. If he did not preach the gospel then he would be in trouble.

1 Samuel 17:25-31 - Can't I even speak?

17:25-27

The Israelites were afraid, but the king had also offered a great reward for anyone who would kill Goliath. Clearly Saul did not consider himself up to the task. Saul would also give his daughter in marriage to the man, and the man’s family would be exempt from taxes. David wanted to be clear on what the reward was. He also had a different take on Goliath, seeing him as an uncircumcised man who was defying the armies of the living God. David saw that the key feature of Israel was that God had chosen them. We need to see ourselves as chosen by God. This is not to make us proud, but to recognise that our identity is in Christ.

17:28-31

David’s brothers had a different attitude. They were offended by David. This resentment may have gone back to the time that Samuel rejected all of them in favour of David. Eliab accused David of neglecting the sheep. Of course, David had not neglected the sheep, and had come up to the battle lines at the instigation of their father. Eliab accused David of being conceited and wicked. There was absolutely no basis for these accusations. David turned away from his brothers, and discussed the matter with other men in the army, and Saul heard about it and summoned David.

1 Corinthians 9:12-14 - Shouldn't we have it all the more?

9:12

So Paul has established on both practical and Biblical grounds that it is perfectly reasonable for a gospel worker to expect some recompense.  The clincher is then not “therefore you should pay me”, but “we did not use that right”. Paul’s overriding concern was to do nothing that might hinder the gospel. The Corinthians needed to have the same attitude.

9:13,14

Paul then essentially repeats his argument. Under the Law the priests were to be provided for by the rest of the community. The Law makes a big thing about this. The priests did not have a physical inheritance in the Promised Land, but the rest of the people were repeatedly told to make sure they provided for the priests. So “those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel”.