David and Goliath (with tips to read)
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Introduction
Introduction
Bible is 66 different books from a bunch of different people written over over a thousand years. It is really a small library of books.
Hebrew Narratives
When we read the Bible especially these stories, we want to read them through three levels.
The 3rd Level (metanarrative) God’s universal plan of saving creation (the Gospel) specifically through a chosen group of people in the OT (israel) and in the NT (the Church)
Creation
fall of humanity
reality of sin
redemption through Jesus
The 2nd Level - How God is selecting a people for His kingdom through a covenant (agreement) in both OT and NT.
How he deals with them through history
How they contribute to the top level (metanarrative)
The 1st level or the lowest are all the stories (narratives) about each individual people.
Every story has some characteristics.
Characters
Plot
Plot Resolution
Protagonist- Main Person in the story
Antagonist - The person that is causing a tension
Agonist - People in the story who are involved in the story
The OT is not really an allegory - there isn’t a story with some secret meaning behind it. So be care when we read it not to read into it something that doesn’t exist - You’ll see this in a little bit
It is not a moral story - The Hebrew Narrative isn’t really trying to teach you some moral lesson although you will learn about the Character of God and what makes a good person who serves God and what doesn’t. We see this especially when the text explicitly states what God says or thinks.
The Hebrew Narrative simply says what happened.
NOT what should have happened.
So just because a person does something or doesn’t do something doesn’t mean God likes it or doesn’t.
Just because it doesn’t speak out against something in particular doesn’t mean that the Bible is condoning it.
You read a book on how the South utilized African slaves doesn’t mean the author approves of slavery.
Why do I say this - and hopefully not boring you. Because a lot of people read things in the Old Testament (especially about David) and read themselves into the story and that would be a huge mistake and has caused all sorts of problems for a lot of people
How to read 1 Samuel and all Hebrew Narratives.
How does this speak to How God is saving all of creation through Jesus?
How does this speak to how and why God was saving and using the Israelites?
What does this have to say about Saul, David, Israel and what do they have to say to me?
So when you see someone get punished by God in the OT it shows you - God doesn’t like that - don’t be like them
It shows you that God’s people are broken people who did stupid things and still God used them and loved them.
And it shows how God is always at work leading and saving His people.
So let’s look at David and Goliath
Now to understand the overall story of David and Goliath and really even David and us is to go back to the beginning of Samuel
Hannah Samuel’s mother prays and speaks this Poem in worship to God
Then Hannah prayed and said:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
“There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
“Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.
“The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry hunger no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
“The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
upon them he has set the world.
He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;
those who oppose the Lord will be shattered.
He will thunder against them from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
“He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Hannah is laying out the story of Samuel and a key theme that we are supposed to see lived out throughout the story and that is
God opposes the proud and he upholds the humble and ultimately God is over everyone and everything. We see this play out in all of the characters throughout 1 and 2 Samuel.
When we are introduced to David Israel has a King named Saul but Saul has some pretty big flaws and while he started off good he soon starts to fade because of his Pride and arrogance. He does something that he is explicitly told not to do and so God removes his anointing and places it on someone else.
Here is where we are introduced to David
1 Samuel 16:1–13 (NIV84)
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.”
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
So we get a picture of David here. He wasn’t who Samuel would have picked, he certainly wasn’t who Jesse picked - he wasn’t important enough for Jesse to even put in front of Samuel.
But God Chose David. There was a heart reality there was something internal about David that stood out to God.
That is not the way the world works. God is speaking here so we get a sense on how God goes about his decision - they may not look the way we think they should be there is something internal that calls out to God.
David was a flawed person but God still chose him. He was also young. Not in line for anything.
But God is the one that is choosing - it is up to Him.
So we have this person that God has picked as the next King but he is still young.
We are going to fast forward to another point in David’s life.
Narratives do this they usually go really fast and then they seem to slow down a bit and that is the case in the story of David and Goliath.
We get David’s anointing in 13 verses
then in 10 verses we get the first interaction of our two characters in this part of God’s story David and Saul and they are on the same team. David - God’s anointed is serving the one who rebelled and Saul likes him. They are cool Saul gives him a pass to stay and serve in the palace
Fast forward again and now we get this story sometime in the future (enough time for Saul to forget about David) and in 53 verses we get a description of all of these characters coming together and demonstrating (in my opinion) one of the things that God say in the heart of David.
We have Saul losing his anointing
David being chosen over his brothers for some unknown reason
David’s heart of serving Saul
And now all of these characters come together in one epic story to show the difference betwen David, His brothers and the failed King
Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
Set the stage -
Now it is going to describe Goliath
Why - to demonstrate the difference between this great warrior and the shepherd
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
So you’ve got this warrior that the Philistines used specifically for one on one combat.
He had this guy who also went into battle with him with a shield to help him fight.
So you have this guy that is 9ft 9inches tall with armor that weighs 125 pounds
With a spear that had a head on it (the point) that alone was 15 pounds
All that to say this was a big scary guy with big scary weapons that no one wanted any part of.
So this guy comes out cause he knows no one is going to do anything and he starts talking
Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
So now we have a character named Goliath and he is huge and scary but how would you describe his character, his attitude.
Is he proud or is he humble?
Enter in David - we were just introduced to David.
How was he characterized? Humble
Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was old and well advanced in years. Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
So the narrator re-establishes that David is the least in his family - even though he has been anointed King.
Why do we say that? Let’s look at the details that we really don’t need to know in the story at least we think. But when the author takes the time to give us those details they are telling a part of the story.
Jesse has a bunch of sons - Jesse is old- and his three oldest are serving in the Kings army - the ones who would inherit his property.
So you have the 3 oldest but David he isn’t even in the middle
He is the youngest - the expendable one who wasn’t even good enough to be shown to Samuel, who isn’t good enough to go off and fight in the war
No David went back and forth from the front lines to go back and work the fields. He’s taking food back and forth and letting his father know if his brothers are alive or dead.
So David leaves early in the morning and goes to check on his brothers and while he is talking Goliath comes out and started talking again.
But this time David heard it.
So David is with his brothers talking and Goliath comes out grabs David’s attention then he looks around no one is there because everyone ran away.
So David goes and finds them hiding out and kind of daring one another psyching one another up to go out.
“The guy’s coming out here someone should shut him up. You know you should go and do something about this The King said he would give a bunch of money, he will let the guy marry the princess and your family wont have to pay taxes.
But David says - hey what’s in it for the person that shuts this guy up, he keeps mocking God and making fun of you guys - you’re the army of God for God’s sake. Who does he think he is.
As soon as David asks a question his older brother lays into him
When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
We have already been introduced to David and he doesn’t seem to be the type of person that his brother accuses him of being.
We know he was asked to go to the battle, we know that he made sure the sheep were taken care of.
But his brother wasn’t judging his heart correctly because he was only looking at the surface (just like what Samuel said)
So David’s like “what’d I do”
So he asks someone else - smart move
Saul overhears and calls for David
Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.”
Once again the characters are drawing a sharp contrast between David and Goliath.
Is Saul looking at the surface or looking at David’s heart?
Once again who is proud- who is humble
We see these themes coming up again and again.
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
Now does David sound proud or humble here - proud
Accept for what he says next
The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
What does this tell us about the heart of David
Does David take credit
Who does David say defeated the lion and the bear
Who does David say will actually defeat the Philistine?
But Saul still doesn’t see it
He gives David his armor all of the trappings of a proper warrior
Did David have those when he battled the lion or the bear? How did David win? - God
So instead David used what God had given him - his staff and sling and then went to the river to grabbed 5 stones - cus you never know.
Now we think they are these small stones but they weren’t most archeologist believe that they were smooth round rocks about the size of a golf ball to a tennis ball and would fly at about 60 miles and hour for a quarter of a mile, imagine what that could do to you up close.
Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”
Again humble or proud?
Keep going
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
David is talking smack but does David think he’s the hero - no, who is the hero according to David.
There is a God in Israel
It is not be sword of spear that the battle is won - it is by God’s hand alone
Wrap Up
This is a battle of the Proud vs. The Humble. Those that oppose God and those that obey Him.
Those that think they are the hero and those that know it is God who own the day.
A lot of people ask how was David a man after God’s heart - it was because for David - God was the hero, God was the one who is the center of the story.
David does some bad things, awful things because David is a failed human being. But at the end of the day David repents, makes it right, and accepts God’s judgement on him because he knows that God is the hero, God is the one who is right.
But even with that - we can’t say that we are David - David is a type of Savior (in his good moments) if we want to read ourselves into this story - you aren’t David and Goliath isn’t your big thing that you conquer. You are the Israelite army sitting in the bunker afraid and just like with David - it is God that comes and saves the day.
As we go into worship - what are areas of our life that we need God to come in and save us. We can talk a big game and make people think that we can do it all, but in reality we are cowering away in the bunker because whatever that thing is that hammering us over and over again making us feel less than.
What are you allowing to appear bigger than the God you serve?
Let’s take that to him and ask him to deliver us from the hand of the enemy.
In fact, in the NT Jesus said he already did that
