"THE CHALLENGE"

Proposition - As we come to one of the most familiar passages in Scripture we will examine three aspects of the challenge; 1) the preparation for the challenge, 2) the challenge itself, and 3) the reaction to the challenge.

Interrogative question - How are you responding to the challenges that you face?

1. The Preparation for the Challenge - vs. 1-3 -

1 Samuel 17:1–3 NASB95

1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.

CSB Study Bible: Notes (Chapter 17) 17:1–2 The heartland of Benjamin and Judah was approachable from the coast through six valleys. The Philistines already had come up the Aijalon Valley (13:23). During the days of Samson (Jdg 13–16), they had come up the Sorek Valley. Now they were coming up the Valley of Elah and already controlled Socoh and Azekah. If they got much farther up the valley, they could come up the ridge route into the hill country and threaten Bethlehem, Hebron, and Saul’s capital, Gibeah. The situation was desperate for Saul and his army.

2. The Challenge - vs. 4-10 -

1 Samuel 17:4–10 NASB95

4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

6 Cubits -

A Span -

1 Samuel 17:4–10 NASB95

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.

5000 Shekels of bronze -

Bronze Greaves -

Shaft of his spear like a weaver’s beam -

600 shekels of iron -

The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 17) Goliath’s armament was the best that the highly skilled Philistines could obtain, either by manufacture or by trade. The shield (Hb. tsinnah) was a large standing shield that covered the whole body. Most of his armament was bronze, except his spear’s head of iron—this was just the beginning of the Iron Age. It weighed 600 shekels (about 15 lb. or 6.6 kg). His coat of mail weighed 5,000 shekels (about 125 lb. or 55 kg). It is not surprising that the Israelites were dismayed. Six cubits and a span is about 9 feet 9 inches (3 m). At the site of Gath (Tel es-Safi), an early Philistine inscription has been found that dates to the tenth or early ninth century B.C. It is an ostracon, i.e., an inscription scratched on a piece of pottery. It seems that the name “Goliath” is written on the shard. Whether this is the Goliath of the biblical account is uncertain.

1 Samuel 17:4–10 NASB95

8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. 9 “If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.” 10 Again the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.”

3. The Reaction to the Challenge - vs. 11-19 -

1 Samuel 17:11–19 NASB95

11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. 13 The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem. 16 The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand. 17 Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers. 18 “Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them. 19 “For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.”

SO WHAT?

How are you responding to the challenges that you face?