1 Samuel Session 5

Delivered

UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT

USE THE FOLLOWING CONTENT TO PREPARE FOR YOUR GROUP TIME.

Context in the Bible is crucial. Not only does it set the scene, but it also establishes themes and patterns in the text. A major theme in 1 Samuel is faithful leadership. The leadership of Israel transitioned from judges (Eli and Samuel) to kings (Saul and David). Eli and Samuel are considered to be the last two judges; Saul and David are the first two kings. Regardless of our title in the kingdom of God, He wants us to be faithful.

In this session we’ll see how God uses faithful servants to deliver His people. One truth will be very clear: God employs and empowers faithfulness. He doesn’t require brilliance, He doesn’t need human strength, and He isn’t impressed by status.

David was faithful in simple tasks, such as watching sheep and taking supplies to his brothers. Ironically, it was his faithfulness in simple tasks that put him in situations where he had to trust God in major ways. If David hadn’t been watching the sheep, he wouldn’t have encountered the bear or the lion (see 1 Sam. 17:34-36). If David hadn’t taken supplies to his brothers, he never would have heard Goliath’s taunts (see v. 23). Faithfulness in simple tasks can put us in situations where we have to trust God in major ways.

Think About It

Q. Look in these verses for specific examples of trusting God and faithfully serving Him. If you defined heroism by these qualities, how would that change your perspective on everyday tasks?

1 SAMUEL 17:32-37,42-50

KEY DOCTRINE

The Kingdom

The kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over people who willfully acknowledge Him as King.

EXPLORE THE TEXT

CONFIDENCE IN GOD (1 Samuel 17:32-37)

32David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!” 33But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”

There’s a major difference between prideful confidence and godly confidence. Prideful confidence believes I can do it. I’m able. I’ll make it work. The emphasis is on self. Godly confidence believes God is able. God is sovereign. God is victorious. The emphasis is on God. Scripture teaches us to trust in God’s ability, not our own (see 1 Chron. 29:11-12; Ps. 135:6; Prov. 3:5-6). While Philippians 4:13 says, “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me,” the emphasis is clearly on “Him who strengthens me.” Jesus removed all doubt when He said, “You can do nothing without Me” (John 15:5).

David was confident that God would bring victory. Goliath didn’t taunt just any army; he taunted “the armies of the living God” (1 Sam. 17:26). In spite of the incredible odds against him, David had faith that victory is always in God’s hands.

Even though David was confident, Saul had doubts. David was just a youth, while the Philistine had been a warrior since he was young. Seeing the differences in age, experience, size, and preparedness, Saul thought the fight would be over before it started. From a physical perspective the odds were definitely in Goliath’s favor. From a spiritual perspective, however, Goliath never stood a chance.

Q. Saul questioned David’s experience in battle. How could David’s lack of battle experience have been a disadvantage? How could it have been an advantage?

34David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it.”

To convince Saul, David shared that God had previously enabled him to kill a lion and a bear. Let that thought sink in for just a moment. Very few people survive an attack by a lion or a bear. Apart from this account, have you ever heard of someone surviving an attack by both? The fraternity for lion and bear survivors has to be small.

David didn’t enter that fraternity by choice but by necessity. He was a shepherd (see 16:11; 17:15), charged with tending his father’s sheep. The primary duties of a shepherd are to guide, sustain, and protect the flock. Protecting the flock is a full-time job. Sheep are accident-prone and easy targets for dangerous animals and robbers.

David’s courage was remarkable. If the average person saw a lion or a bear carry off a lamb, he would probably write it off as a loss. David actually “went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth” (v. 35). The language suggests not only a willingness to protect the sheep but also an eagerness to take the fight to the enemy.

The final part of verse 35 is also incredible. “By its fur” can also be translated “by his beard” or “by the chin.” Two ancient translations, the Chaldee and Septuagint, translate the phrase as “the lower jaw” and “the throat” respectively. The picture is pretty clear. David grabbed the lion and the bear by their necks and killed them.

36“Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37Then David said, “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you.”

David drew from God’s past faithfulness to argue for God’s faithfulness in the future. God rescued David from the hand of the lion and the bear, and He would rescue him from the hand of this Philistine.

Saul had the power to reject David’s offer and find another warrior. For that matter, Saul could have fought Goliath himself. Based on former descriptions of Saul, he was literally head and shoulders taller than most people (see 9:2). But David made a compelling case. His insistence on God’s past protection was instrumental in changing Saul’s mind.

Although it might seem cowardly for Saul to send David into the fight, his decision was somewhat courageous. The conditions of the combat were extreme. If David lost the fight, the Israelites would become the servants of the Philistines (see 17:9). Saul needed a strong level of confidence in David’s ability to fight. David’s loss would have had an impact on the whole nation.

Q. How can God use our past as a foundation for our future? How can our past experiences help us succeed in trusting God for the future?

FALSE CONFIDENCE IN SELF (1 Samuel 17:42-44)

42When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. 43He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods. 44“Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!”

David was confident that God would prevail. Goliath was confident that his own abilities were unmatched. The Philistine probably felt invincible, based on his size and experience. Goliath’s pride was hurt when he saw that the youth David was his competition.

The Philistine either overlooked David’s sling or discounted the sling’s ability to inflict any real harm. Instead, he focused on the staff in David’s hand. The implication is that a stick might be appropriate for beating a dog (the lowest of animals; see 1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam. 3:8; 9:8; 16:9), but it’s insufficient for stopping a champion. Goliath continued his verbal assault when he cursed David. If Goliath’s size weren’t intimidating enough, his psychological assault could elicit fear.

Q. In what items or people do we sometimes place our confidence? What are the limits of each item or person? How do those limits point to our need to trust in God at all times with all things?

GOD’S VICTORY (1 Samuel 17:45-50)

45David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel’s armies—you have defied Him. 46Today, the LORD will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, 47and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the LORD saves, for the battle is the LORD’s. He will hand you over to us.”

Humility and confidence aren’t mutually exclusive terms. It’s possible to walk humbly while brimming with confidence in God. David was confident in God’s ability to act through him. In verse 46 David claimed the victory, predicted the timeline, shared the consequences, and verbalized the stakes. David turned many of Goliath’s arguments back on the giant.

If David’s taunts seem prideful in any way, his motives should clarify any confusion. David wasn’t fighting for personal gain or glory. David wanted all people to recognize the God of Israel and to know that He delivers His people. God doesn’t need weapons of war (see Ps. 44:3-7) or the power of people (see Zech. 4:6). God is the sovereign Deliverer, and the battle is the Lord’s. Every challenge, trial, and problem is an opportunity for God to show Himself strong before the world.

48When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Even though David had no sword, he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

The verbal assaults gave way to physical confrontation. Goliath moved closer to attack. David quickly ran to meet him in the same way he’d gone after the lion and the bear (see v. 35). He reached into his bag, grabbed a stone, and slung it with such deadly force that it crushed Goliath’s frontal bone and sank into his forehead. Goliath fell on his face to the ground. The scene is reminiscent of the way Dagon fell on his face before the ark of the Lord (see 5:4).

With a stone, a sling, and a faithful servant, God delivered His people from their enemies. We must also recognize that this account ultimately points to Jesus, the representative leader of His people. Jesus faced and defeated sin and death on our behalf. On the cross He delivered us from what we were powerless to defeat ourselves.

Q. How has God brought victory in your life when you were powerless in your own ability?

Q. What role did David’s relationships with the Father play in his decision making to face Goliath?

OBEY THE TEXT

Q. God calls faithful followers to take a stand against those who oppose Him and His people. Confidence in anything other than God will ultimately lead to sure defeat. God gives His followers opportunities to make His name known.

Q. In what ways are you being called on to stand with God? What actions can you take to make sure God receives honor in the process?

Q. Examine your life, looking for areas in which you’re more likely to depend on yourself than on God. Ask God to forgive you for not fully depending on Him. Ask Him for strength and humility to do so in the future.