One of the stories that I loved to hear the most was the story of David and Goliath. As the bible tells us the story begins with two armies arrayed against each other, it is decided that the best way to resolve the issue at hand is for each army to deliver up the best warrior for each and do battle in a single contest.

Imagine if you will, a hill covered with lite brush and dry sandy soil it is not too far in the distance, but far enough that you feel reasonable safe. You look and the entire top of the hill is covered with an army of Philistines. It is a warm day, the breezy is gently blowing the parched earth across your dry and chapped lips. The sun is shining brightly, and as a result when the opposing army move on the ridge the sun will reflect off of the armor and momentarily blind you.

Between you and the army is a small valley, and right before the bottom of the hill on your side is a small winding brook.

Down from the top of the hill, that the Philistines occupied, comes a giant, a ten foot tall man, an army in his own right. Goliath was his name, and as he plods down the hill you hear his cursing of the Israelite army, it sounds like it was coming from a bellowing bull. Goliath is dressed in armor of brass, the main parts of his anatomy protected by solid sheets of brass molded to fit the muscular sinews of this giant of a man. In addition; to the armor plating the rest of his body is covered by meshing in order to shield him from anything but a horrendous blow dealt by the enemy. So covered; the man Goliath rendered himself almost un-defeatible. In fact the only flesh that one could see is his two big eyes and his big ugly face.

In his right hand he held a spear that weighted about 30 pounds. As Goliath reached the bottom of the hill and the edge of the brook where Goliath stops and bellows out "I challenge you, King Saul, to fight me to the death!" again roared Goliath "If you kill me my people shall be your slaves for life. If I kill you your people shall be my slaves for life. To the Death King Saul, to the death!".

Said King Saul "Wait were you are" The Israelites, gathered around their leader in a huddle. "Who will kill Goliath" was the only sound that broke the tense silence. The soldiers paced back and forth trembling and sweating as they let their feet break the crust on the dry parched earth. Saul was somewhat of a giant himself for it is said that he towered over the others by a heads length, yet his fear kept him repeating "Who will kill Goliath" until the stillness was broken by a meek and timid voice of a young man named David. "I will kill the Goliath Sir" said David. David had brought a new spirit into the camp. The hard soldiers mocked him and exclaimed "look at him he is only a youngster, he's not a soldier but a sheepard boy and he says he will kill Goliath"

David was not even supposed to be here today other than he was delivering corn and bread to his three older brothers. He had been instructed to deliver the corn and bread and then return home and tend the sheep.

If you were a soldier what would you see if you were to look upon David? You would see a teenage kid dressed in a goat skin wrapping with a sling shot tucked under his belt and hanging freely at his side. David was wirely like a jungle cat and hard as a rock for he spent all of his time out doors climbing rocks as he herded his fathers sheep.

A fine specimen of youth maybe, but no such match for a ten foot tall giant like Goliath who came fully armed and very well seasoned in combat experience. And Yet David says "I will kill Goliath Sir". King Saul was flabbergasted "Do you really think that you can kill the Giant Goliath, Boy" He said.

After some discussion the Kings armor was offered to David, But David rejected it. Armed with his slingshot and the spirit of success, he started down the hill toward the brook that bubbled in the sunshine.

Goliath stood there waiting, big and unbeatable. In Davids mind glowed a clear and vivid picture of what he was fighting for, in his heart burned an intense desire to fight and win. David was ready. He bristled with morale. He had a secret weapon that gave him confidence and a cause that gave him courage. David was steeped in confidence, courage and a cause and blessed with the spirit he knew that he would be successful.

David stopped at the waters edge and picked up a few smooth stones. He fitted on in his sling and placed the other into his pouch. He knew that no matter how skilled you are at a particular skill you sometimes miss, and if he missed today he must be ready to try again very quickly. He was now prepared. David stepped into the brook and then waded across. He went to meet Goliath; Goliath did not move, he just stood there amazed that the Israelites would send down such an inferior foe. Goliath was a little contemptuous and a little abusive of this young lad that had accepted his challenge. After a short verbal exchange between them, David said to Goliath "Thou comest to me with a sword, a shield and a spear; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, The God of the armies of the Israelites whom thou hast defiled. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand"

With that conversation out of the way David wound up the slingshot, swung it over his head a few times the let go. The stone flew the air and then struck the giant on the forehead. Splat the stone had struck the giant in the only open and venerable place on the giants body. Goliath totted forward a few steps, leaned to the left then collapsed and fell flat on his face. David wasted not a moment of time, leaping in he loosened the armor and the plunged the thirty pound sword into the heart of Goliath.

Sauls soldiers had failed because the only way they could see to kill Goliath was to run a sword through a heavy protective covering that protected Goliath. The soldiers saw Goliath and thought how could anyone kill a man as big as this, David saw Goliath and though how could anyone miss a man this big?

Each and every one of us has Goliaths that we face in our lives. some of them are caused by our own sin, some caused by our race or religion, no matter what the cause however they are as real each and every one as the ten foot man that David faced.

As the two armies faced off that day one half of the army I would suggest felt very confident because they felt like they held all the cards; they had Goliath on their side. The Israelite army on the other-hand felt they were sure to be defeated as all the odds were against them. But that is satans way of dealing with problems, make them seem so big that they cannot be overcome and so why not give up.

As one views the battle of David and Goliath one can find similarities between the two great camps of yesteryear and those of today. If you were to have done a interview in the Philistine camp the morning before this great contest I believe that you would have heard voices of jubilation, hearts that were confident that they would be the victor's; because they had the man Goliath on their side. The Israelite army; on the other-hand would have probably appeared as a team that had lost almost every game that they had played in this season and would have just wanted to finish with some respectability. However; when the battle had ended the outcome was different than the expectations of all the analysists' at the onset. You see somewhere before the starting whistle had sounded the rules of the game were changed slightly, one team came aided with the help of an even more powerful force than that of the flesh. One side, the side to which David belonged came with all the blessings and power of God. As we read the scriptures we can see this principle demonstrated time and time again those who fight with the power of God win, and those who don't lose.

Just as in the days of old we fight in our lives the Goliaths of our day. There are many Goliaths that I could suggest, and I suppose that for each one of us they are different. I would in the few remaining minutes like to discuss one Goliath face by each one of us, the payment of an honest tithe. It is probably one of the simplest commands of Gods. There are no gray areas, nothing is left to the imagination as with some of the commandments. It is simply put in the 119 Section of the Doctrine and Covenants verse 4 "...those who have thus be tithed shall pay one tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever...".

In light of the world that we live in to day this law can be a very difficult Goliath to overcome. This is witnessed by the fact that about the same ratio exists within the church as did on that day on the hillside when David fought the giant Goliath. We have in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today about one half of the members who belong to the camp that refuses to pay a full an honest tithe and one half of the church that no matter what the odds against them they pay a full tithe.

We live in times that it is difficult to make ends meet...part of satans' plan that they don't so his proposition to us is that we don't pay our tithing first, but we pay from that which is left over. Usually the nothing part.What is it the financial doctrines of today have done it help make this Giant even greater we have unrealistic expectations that we never need to prepare for a rainy day, we have a rise in materialism due to advertising that we need every new gagdet that comes on the market.Our Goliath in this arena is based on the financial doctrines of the world which suggest that we spend far beyond our means to the point that we are subjected to sometimes very difficult decisions.

It would appear, However that there is one principle that we can learn from the story of David. It is this that we can fight this battle with the strength, power and blessings of the Lord, or on our own. Those are our choices. I would suggest to you that the blessings of heaven come from paying our tithing first then relying on the Lord to fulfill his promise and provide for our needs, not always our wants but our needs.

Elder James E.Talmage "The prime...purpose behind the establishment of the law of tithe is the development of the soul of the tithepayer, rather than providing of revenue."

Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said "We can pay our tithing! This is not so much a matter of money as it is a matter of faith. I have yet to find a faithful tithe payer who cannot testify in a very literal and wonderful way the windows of heaven have been opened and blessings have been poured out upon him or her.

I urge you bretheren and sisters, everyone of you to take the Lord at his word in this important matter. It is he who has given the commandment and made the promise. I go back to Nephi, who in a time of worry and concern said to his brothers, "Let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth.

With all my heart, I plead with the Latter-day Saints to live honestly with the Lord in the payment of tithes and offerings. I plead with youth to establish this habit while you are still young and to reslove to continue with it all the days of your lives."

The Lord himself has said " I the Lord am bound when you do what I say; but when you do not what I say; ye have no promise."

What is it that the Lord promises to those that are faithful tithe payers? It is found in Malachi 3:10-11.

"10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts."

 

That is our promise, our blessing if we will pay an honest tithe.

And if we don't

23 Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.

24 For after today cometh the burning&emdash;this is speaking after the manner of the Lord&emdash;for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.

 

What does this mean that if man will not pay his tithing? Elder Rudger Clawson explains "that the Lord is not going to send a ball of fire down from heaven and burn him up? No. The Lord does not do it that way. The Lord works on natural principles. This is what it means...: a man who ignores the express command of the Lord, by failing to pay his tithing, it means that the spirit of the Lord will withdraw from him; it means that the power of the priesthood will withdraw from that man, if he continues in the spirit of neglect of his duty. He will drift away into darkness, gradually but surely, until finally he will lift up his eyes among the wicked. That is where he will finally land; and then when the destruction comes and when the burning comes, he will be among the wicked, and will be destroyed; while those who observe the law will be found among the righteous, and they will be preserved. There is a God in heaven, and he has promised to shield and protect them. I tell you there is a day of burning, a day of destruction coming upon the wicked. And where will we be? Will we be with the wicked, or with the righteous?"

Tithing is one of the great tests of personal rightousness for member of the church. President Joseph F.Smith wrote:"By this principle [Tithing] the loyality of the people of this church shall be put to a test. By this principle it shall be known who is for the kingdom of God and who is against it.By this principle it shall be seen whose hearts are set on doing the will of God and keeping his commandments, thereby sanctifying the land of zion unto God, and who are oppposed to this principle and have cut themselves off from the blessings of Zion.... The law of tithing is a test by which the people as individuals shall be proved. Any man who fails to observe this principle shall be known as a man who is indifferent to the welfare of Zion, who negelects to do that which would entitle him to receive the blessings and ordinances of the gospel."

It is pretty obvious that in regards to tithing the Lords demand strict obedience.

From the life of the same Saul who was King when David defeated Goliath there is one more lesson that we can apply in regards to being obedient to Gods command to pay an honest tithing.

It is a story that is both magnificent and tragic. You see Saul could have been one of the greatest kings of all time, but he ended his own life by falling on his own sword.

The Lord commanded King Saul to go up against the Amalekites and "destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both men and women, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." sometimes a people become so ripe in iniquity that God must obliterate them and all that they have from the face of the earth.

Saul was easily victorious in the battle against the Amalekites', but he "spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of the oxen, and of the fatlings' and of the lambs, and all that was good."

The Lord was roth that Saul "hath not performed my commandments." He sent his prophet samuel to king Saul, who greeted him with a great lie. Saul exclaimed. "Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord."

Saul must have then chilled at the inquiry that came from Samuel, "What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" It is very hard to lie to the Lord or to his prophet.

Now listen to Saul's sniveling excuse: "...the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed."

The Lord requires obedience, not excuses. Samuel spoke with feeling. "I will tell thee what the Lord has said to me this night. When thou wast' little in thine own sight, wast' thou not made head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee King over Israel?

"Wherefore then didst' thou not obey the voice of the Lord,?..."

"Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams."

"The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, [that is] better than thou."

Thus the mantle was taken from Saul and the young sheepard boy David became Israel's King. It destroyed Saul.

The prophet Joseph Smith had learned similar lessons about obedience. The incident with Martin Harris and the lost 116 pages almost cost him his prophetic calling. At the end of his life Joseph attributes his success to this principle: "When the Lord commands I obey."

It is a fact that the Lord has commanded us to pay a full and honest tithe, the only question left is how will we respond.We cannot compel heaven's blessings with partial commitment, It is only with an absolutely obedient heart.

I hope that we can respond as the young sheepard boy did. That we may gain the same kind of strength that he had achieved from relieving on the Lord.That we may learn from the lessons of Saul to do as the Lord has commanded to be obedient, to pay an honest tithe that we may not offend God that we may not lose our right to be crowned king is my prayer.