NBBC SS: 1 Samuel 17

Introduction: With a very familiar passage before us, this allows us the freedom to have more discussion.

Yet, I want for us to approach it without the expectations of what is going to happen. For example, though we know that David will fight Goliath, have we previously realized that Saul and the armies of Israel came prepared to fight against the Philistine military? If they came prepared to fight, why didn’t someone, including Saul take up Goliath’s challenge? (Hint: the passage will answer this!)

Importantly, 1 Samuel 16:13-14 become an important statements that inform our understanding of 1 Samuel 17.

1 Samuel 16:13–14 “13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him.”

The whole scene before us is therefore a commentary on the impact of the Spirit’s presence. Because the Spirit departed from Saul, how do we see him act and even emotionally respond to the circumstances before him? Because the Spirit “came mightily upon David” how do we see him speak to others and act in this passage?

We’re going to do something a little different today. We’re going to read the whole of the passage first before offering some observations. As we read, I want for you to note how much dialogue there is in contrast to activity/action.

1 Samuel 17:1–11 “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. 4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 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 (*impressive). 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.” 11 When Saul (2nd) and all Israel heard (1st) these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

Did you notice the statement indicating why the Philistines gathered for battle against Israel here?

There is none!

In fact, if you were to read the previous entries in the narrative referencing the conflict between the Philistines and the Israelites, you wouldn’t read a reason as to why the Philistines attacked Israel.

This isn’t because the Lord is incapable of sharing with us what was on the minds of the Philistines for, as we read in 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord sees the heart.

So now we have to ask, as I was prompted to, “Why were the Philistines attacking here yet again?”

When I entered that question into my AI powered research tool, it gave some very practical suggestions from other commentators.

The Philistines were militarily superior in both resources and administration.

The Philistines wanted to expand their territory, judging their attack sites.

Yet, these are implied from the actions of the Philistines, not directed to us from the writing that the Spirit preserved.

However, brothers and sisters, what we do read is that God’s Spirit departed from Saul.

What I find to be absolutely fascinating is that this episode with the Philistines follows on the heels of the Spirit’s departure.

With the Spirit’s departure, we see an evil spirit begin to torment Saul (cf. 1 Samuel 16:14).

Saul has had the kingdom ripped away, David has been anointed king.

The current king does not have peace

Why?

Because he followed his proud and selfish desires

We’re meant to understand not the natural circumstances of this conflict but the spiritual ones!

Saul has selfishly failed in obeying the Lord.

Now, he continues to have peace withheld from him, on the battlefield and personally (cf. 1 Sam 16:14)

Brothers and sisters, there is no peace without God’s Spirit.

Personal or otherwise.

Though our temptation here might be to think that peace is something that is external to us, peace is confidence in the Lord to face uncertain circumstances resting in the Lord’s control, resulting in self-control where one might be tempted otherwise.

This is possible only if God’s Spirit is within you.

God’s Spirit will be within you if the Lord Jesus gives Him to you.

And the only way that the Lord Jesus will give you God’s Spirit is if you believe on the Lord Jesus as your only Savior from your sins.

The disturbance caused by the Philistines was more than just due to rational reasons but related to the departure of God’s Spirit from Saul.

Notice also that the 1 Sam 17:1-11 concluded with referencing how Saul and the army were afraid (Cf. 1Sam 17:24).

What is fascinating is that the people and their king came to fight.

They “drew upon battle array” meaning that they had what they physically needed and were in a mindset to fight (cf. 1 Sam 17:2, 21).

There had been some fighting between the armies in this encounter as 1 Sam 17:19 references.

They were making war cries against the Philistines, meaning that they had not abandoned the fight but were still provoking the Philistines to military conflict (cf. 1 Sam 17:20).

Why are they afraid now but then, after Goliath’s death, they confidently pursue the Philistines, utterly defeating them and plundering their goods?

Following leadership that is not led by the Spirit can result in fear.

It was seeing the result of God’s Spirit having worked in God’s man, David.

We’ve seen this before, brothers and sisters.

They even saw it in Saul!

Remember 1 Samuel 11:6-7 where God’s Spirit came on Saul and he gathered an army and the people joined him?!

Brothers and sisters, when God’s people see God’s Spirit at work in God’s people, it provides further encouragement to do what the Lord has given you to do.

You may remember that when I shared with you from 1 Samuel 11 I had referenced Philippians 1:14.

In that passage, Paul mentioned that though he was imprisoned for the Gospel, his testimony for Gospel faithfulness emboldened other believers to courageous Gospel proclamation.

Notice, how Goliath is described here.

Goliath’s physical description is impressive.

This guy is tall.

This guy can carry a whole lot of weight; therefore, he’s strong.

Goliath also talks big here, confident that he can victoriously face whoever comes out from the Israelites.

Notably, where does the Spirit record about Goliath’s successful military exploits outside of this encounter?

We don’t!

In fact, in terms of Goliath’s impressive physicality, where do we read in this passage of Goliath making good on this impressive physique?

Saul references Goliath’s reputation by stating that Goliath has been a warrior from his youth as compared with David the shepherd (Cf. 1 Sam 17:33).

Yet, aside from his physical description, Saul’s statement about Goliath’s experience, and the army’s response, Goliath does little more than travel back and forth taunting the Israelites and hurrying to his doom on the battlefield with David.

By the end of the passage, the fact that Goliath does more talking than he does fighting, what is our impression of Goliath?

He turns out to be really nothing more than a windbag (Graphic of Goliath’s words as compared with Goliath’s description/actions).

When we hear this, you might be thinking, “But, Bill, Goliath was able to make an entire army with its king cower in fear; how is this possible?”

It’s true, Goliath presented a true threat to the people, or, at least, the single combatant.

What reduced Goliath’s intimidating presence, reputation, and threats to nothing more than just hot air?

It wasn’t David.

It was the One at work in David.

It was God’s Spirit.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord has not called us to face actual giants.

However, brothers and sisters, the NT points us to an intimidating circumstance in which God’s Spirit makes the difference giving us courageous words to testify of Jesus Christ before those that would pit themselves against our message.

Luke 12:11-12 - the Holy Spirit will teach us what we should say when faced with the need to be courageous in front of a hostile group.

Just like the Spirit’s presence with David reduces Goliath’s challenge to hot air so also the Spirit’s presence with us can empower us to be faithfully loyal to the Lord when pressured by a hostile group to be otherwise.

1 Samuel 17:12–19 “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. 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. David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem. The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand. 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. “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. “For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.””

We know that Jesse’s direction to David moves the narrative along to position David to hear the taunts and fight with Goliath.

Notice also what this narrative suggests.

How often has Goliath been coming to taunt the Israelites?

40 days.

What has Saul done in this time to resolve the threat of Goliath?

He’s fighting with the Philistines.

But, he hasn’t taken care of Goliath.

It could be that Saul was waiting for the right champion to arise.

However, Saul had proven himself capable of rising to military challenges against God’s people (cf. 1 Samuel 11).

What’s the difference here?

Saul does not have God’s Spirit working in his life.

Saul’s leadership failure in this matter resulted from proud choices he made in rejection of God’s leadership through the Spirit.

With Jesse sending food by David, at least as far as Jesse’s territory has the news of Saul’s inactivity reached.

In other words, Saul’s failure in leadership is widespread.

And this tragedy resulted from Saul’s foolish choice to follow his pride that led to the rejection of the leadership of the Spirit in Saul’s life.

1 Samuel 17:20–30 “So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army. Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers. As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them. When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid. The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.” Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” The people answered him in accord with this word, saying, “Thus it will be done for the man who kills him.” Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.” But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?” Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before.”

What do we notice David do here that no one else has done before (Cf. 1 Sam 17:26)?

He speaks up for the Lord.

Think about it.

Goliath taunts the people, for 40 days.

At some point Saul sent a message that the people relayed to David concerning what Saul would give to the victorious champion against Goliath (cf. 1 Sam 17:25).

What is the difference between David and all those that have spoken so far?

David has God’s Spirit.

God’s Spirit sets the priorities for David.

And, as in Luke 12, so should God’s Spirit do the same in us.

What are we to make of Eliab’s assessment of David here?

Eliab’s statement is ultimately proved false.

It’s possible that David had a reputation prior to this event.

What is true is that if David had a reputation prior to this event, the Spirit has changed David.

David is now more concerned about the Lord.

1 Samuel 17:31–40 “When the words which David spoke were heard, they told them to Saul, and he sent for him. David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and 1struck him and killed him. “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.” Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” And David took them off. He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.”

What are we to make of David’s statements to Saul?

Is David just being proud?

No; Who does David attribute his victories to?

The Lord.

Again, brothers and sisters, we must be cognizant of the fact that David makes this confession of the Lord’s working in his life before his king under the influence and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In fact, how does David begin his speech to Saul?

“Let no man’s heart fail ….”

What’s another way to understand this statement?

“Don’t be discouraged!”

Brothers and sisters, David wants to encourage God’s people here!

Who would be behind David’s effort to use his words to encourage God’s people?

The Holy Spirit.

Though we’re not David called to fight a giant, can we not speak the moment’s most appropriately encouraging words to our brothers and sisters?

Yes, brothers and sisters, we can.

We’re called to speak words that encourage our brothers and sisters to press on to increased Christlikeness (cf. Eph 4:29).

In fact, as you may recall from our study of 1 Cor 14, Paul labels the Spirit-led words of either encouragement, comfort, or building up most appropriate to the moment as prophesy (cf. 1 Cor 14:3).

I believe that David is doing just that here as the Spirit as come upon him mightily and he seeks to encourage God’s people.

1 Samuel 17:41–54 “Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.” Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. “This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground. Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron. The sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps. Then David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.”

What do we notice about what David calls attention to about Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45?

David calls attention to the articles of war that Goliath is clearly relying on for this victory.

Yet, is David relying on weapons for victory?

No!

He’s relying on the Lord.

And, David is convinced that, despite Goliath’s threats and military prowess the Lord is greater than Goliath!

Where does David receive this confidence that the Lord will defeat Goliath?

From God’s Spirit.

We see David’s confidence borne out in the success against Goliath.

Fascinatingly, Goliath falls forward, like Dagon did before the ark of God (cf. 1 Sam 5).

Further, the Spirit calls specific attention in 1 Sam 17:50 that David defeated Goliath without a sword.

The unexpected defeat of Goliath by a militarily inexperienced youth is all the direct result of the Spirit at work in this young man’s life.

Hence, experience neither prohibits nor prioritizes the Spirit’s working in someone’s life.

What matters is reliance and availability.

Brothers and sisters, we have seen the Spirit give David confidence amid circumstances where his countrymen and leader were afraid.

This not only made the difference in David but also in the Israelite army.

Brothers and sisters, God’s Spirit does not have to work in us to kill a giant to demonstrate that He’s working in us.

Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us that the Spirit’s working in us is demonstrated through the fruit of the Spirit.

When others see in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, they can recognize the working of God’s Spirit in us.

1 Samuel 17:55–58 “Now when Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” And Abner said, “By your life, O king, I do not know.” The king said, “You inquire whose son the youth is.” So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand. Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.””

God’s Spirit concludes this section with an interesting inquiry made by Saul.

I find this interesting given that you would think that Saul would have already made this inquiry when he employed David in his service for the purposes of relieving the irritations from the evil spirit that tormented him.

While we could speculate that maybe it was to know the family from which the victor over Goliath came from to whom Saul is now obligated to show the favors he previously elaborated on earlier, that is not necessarily concrete from the passage.

With the concluding note about David’s father, what is the impression that we get from this passage?

Jesse receives honor on account of the Spirit-led actions of his son.

In other words, David’s faithfulness to the Lord contributes to Jesse’s honor before the king.

Conclusion: As I’ve studied this passage, I couldn’t help but mentally compare the narrative progression of the passage to dramatic visual representations of the passage that elaborate on the action.

In truth, there is much more dialogue in the passage than there is action. This ends up doing a couple of things in the passage.

First, this builds the intensity of the showdown between David and Goliath. However, it also kind of makes the encounter lack luster for their confrontation takes only about 4 verses!

This leads to the second thing that the weight of the dialogue in contrast to the activity references does. It exposes the emptiness of words without the Spirit’s empowerment.

Goliath talks big but fails to deliver.

Saul’s words drip with fear.

The Israelites make war cries but cower as soon as they see Goliath.

Eliab’s rebuke is ignorant of the work of the Lord in David.

Only David speaks courageously in the power of the Spirit.

Brothers and sisters, if the words that we’re going to speak are going to have significance in the lives of others, they must be led by the Spirit that we rely on to empower living to please the Lord.