A Study in the Life of David: 1 Samuel 17:1-58

1 Samuel 17:29 NKJV

29 And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”

What qualifies someone to be a hero?

Have you ever done or seen something heroic?

In his book, The Spiritual Formation of Leaders, Chuck Miller explains, "The Bible is about real people and for real people.” He adds that too often we make the Bible a book of principles instead of real stories. “But God shares these stories with us because He wants the stories of His people today to intersect with the stories of His people then.”

Something unique about our belief system is we believe every word of scripture is inspired by God, accurate, and infallible. The Lord could have made the Bible a list of does and don’ts. He could have made it list of principles and proverbs. Instead, He made it full of people.

These people were real. They had similar emotions, thoughts, and feelings as we do. Their time and culture is ancient, but their lives can speak to us today. When we study scripture, we can find ourselves in various parts of the story.

Therefore, as we read scripture, we must not only view it from a historic lens, we must also search and find similarities with the character. When identify with the character, we derive the necessary principles God wants us to discover.

Based our study this far, how are we similar to David?

What principles can we apply from David’s life to our lives?

Background

For the first eleven verses of this chapter David is absent from the plot. The story is familiar to the Israelites, it was time to fight the Philistines. The Philistines were a constant threat to Israel. They had dealings with Abraham, Isaac, Moses, the Judges, and now Saul and David.

There was consistent division between the Israelites and the Philistines. It began with Abraham and Sarah entered the capital of the Philistines. He lied to King Abimelech and said Sarah was his sister instead of his wife. Abimelech invited Sarah home and almost committed adultery.

Later, Abraham’s son Isaac did the same thing with his wife Rebekah. The division deepened when the Israelites left Egypt. They had to go inland and find a different route to avoid the Philistines.

During the time of the Judges, the Philistines wanted to destroy the Israelites. Samson was tempted by Delilah, who was a Philistine. Later they stole the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites.

Battle with the Philistines was not abnormal, but this particular battle was. W The valley was a mile wide and it was separated by a stream of water. The Israelites gathered on one side and the Philistines on the other. e are introduced to one of the ways of battle. Instead of man-to-man conflict, the met in the Valley of Elah, for a one-on-one conflict.

The Philistines would send one warrior and the Israelites would send one warrior and whoever won the fight won the battle for the entire army. Goliath was the warrior the Philistines sent.

The Israelites gathered on one side and the Philistines on the other.

The oldest texts have Goliath at 9’6”, over a foot taller than the tallest person in medical texts. His armor weighed 175-200 pounds. The head of his spear weighed 20-25 pounds.

If we were in the battle, would we expect to win?

Story

What was David doing while his brothers were out to battle?

While the brothers went to war David stayed home. He was anointed to be king, yet he continued to stay faithful to his post as shepherd and musician before King Saul. He went back and forth from home to the palace, staying faithful in all he did.

Jesse sent David to his brother to take them some food. Up to this point it is unlikely that David knew of the nature of the battles or anything about Goliath. It had been forty days since the brothers went to battle. When David arrived to the site of the battle, he noticed the army of Israel running terror and fear of Goliath.

Saul, who should have led the people into battle promised the man who killed Goliath would get to marry his daughter and he would be exempt from paying taxes. David overheard this and wanted to know if this was true.

From this point forward, David had three obstacles to defeating Goliath.

His Family

Eliab, his oldest brother questioned David’s motives. He was angry at David for asking what seemed like a dumb question. He belittled David for leaving his “few sheep” and coming to see the battle. He accused David of being prideful and arrogant.

Why was Eliab so upset with David?

Why are those closest to us sometimes negative when we make progress?

King Saul

King Saul

King Saul heard about what David said and told his servants to bring David to him. Upon looking David over he determined he was too young to fight Goliath. In Saul’s eyes Goliath had fought in battle since he was a boy. Now this boy David wants to take on this skilled warrior? It didn't make sense.

David looked back at what God enabled him to do. He had protected his father’s flock and was unafraid of the Philistine. Saul relented but wanted David to wear his armor. Saul’s armor would not fit David. He refused to wear it and went to battle.

Refusing Saul’s armor symbolizes the difference in David and Saul. David, God newly anointed king, could not wear or walk in the old anointing Saul. God is beginning to make a distinction between their leadership. Saul trusted people and things. David trusted in God.

David went to battle, not with armor or a sword, but with smooth stones taken from the stream in the valley.

How many stones did David take to battle?

Goliath

When the great warrior Goliath saw David he was insulted. Why would they send this kid to fight him? Goliath had a shield, a sword, a helmet, and protective armor. Furthermore, verse seven tells us he had a shield bearer. A shield bearer would stand behind the warrior to protect him from all sides.

Now we get to the famous story. David refused to bow to pressure from Goliath. He had boldness and confidence in God and what He could do for Israel. It took one stone from the slingshot to kill Goliath. Immediately the Philistines fled. David, who only armed himself with five stones, took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head.

Some speculate David took five stones because Goliath had four brothers (). All in all, David’s trust in God enabled him to defeat the giant and give Israel a great victory.

What gave David the confidence to fight this battle?

Application

There is a reason David fought this battle early in his life. The news of David’s defeat over Goliath set him up for success. He noticed the giant had crossed the stream and was coming closer to the Israelites. Had David not defeated Goliath, the giant would have eventually come closer and closer.

When we get serious about God and determine to live for Him, giants will appear in our lives. They will not come in the form of a nine foot warrior. Instead the enemy will set traps that could detour us from our destiny. It is important to defeat the giant early. If we do not, it could surface at time when the battle will be more difficult.

There will be obstacles to defeating the giant. Just as David had to deal with his brothers who doubted him and Saul who thought it was impossible for David to defeat Goliath. The enemy will use negative voices close to us to convince us we are incapable to following our destiny.

What giants do Christians face?

What giants do Christians face?

What giants do Christians face?

Why does Satan attack those who are serious about God?

How do we defeat these giants?

Ephesians 6:

Ephesians 6:10–13 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NKJV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Challenge

Ask the Lord to show you the giants that are in our life.

If we know what giants we are facing, ask the Lord to give us boldness to not be intimidated.

Ask the Lord to give us boldness as we get in preparation with the battle, especially with any negative voice that is close to us.

When giants surface, through internal feelings or external pressures, pray and declare that God will help.

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