DAIVID AND GOLIATH

INTRODUCTION

Probably one of the most familiar stories in the Bible is the one of David and Goliath.

It is a story of a shepherd’s bravery and his trust in God

It is a story about a young man being prepared

The Battle Scene

1 Samuel 17:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

Envision in your mind two mountains with a large valley running between them

On the one mountain you have the Israelites and on the other you have the Philistines – both come to battle

Goliath’s Description and His Challenge (1 Sam. 1:4-11)

While the Israelites and the Philistines were sizing each other up, the “champion” warrior came out of the Philistine camp.

His name – “Goliath of Gath” whose height was “six cubits and a span,” that is, 9 1/2 feet tall

1 Samuel 17:5–7 KJV 1900

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

Goliath was covered with the best armor of the day

His armor weighed a whopping 148 pounds

Goliath had a shield which was carried by one of the Philistines (vs. 7, 41), and his spear weighed 17 pounds.

Notice Goliath’s challenge …

1 Samuel 17:8–11 KJV 1900

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

Goliath in all his fierceness stood before the Israelites taunting them

Goliath wanted them to send out their champion to fight – and this would decide the battle

When the Israelites heard this – they showed themselves to be cowards – they were “greatly afraid”

David Arrives on the Scene (1 Sam. 17:12-30)

David the youngest son of Jesse went to the camp of the Israelites to carry food

As David came near and greeted his brothers, Goliath comes forth and taunts the Israelites, as he had been doing for the last 40 days – each time Israel trembled in fear.

Notice what David says...

1 Samuel 17:26 KJV 1900

26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

The people tell David that Saul has offered his in daughter in marriage and wealth to anyone who can defeat Goliath

David Volunteers to Fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:31-37)

David says, Let no man’s courage fail – he will fight

1 Samuel 17:36–37 (KJV 1900)

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

David seems to say in anger that Goliath will end up like this lion and bear – because he has “defied the armies of the living God” - a kingly attitude

David is Armed for the Fight (1 Sam. 17:38-40)

Saul puts his best armor on David, but David was unaccustomed to the armor and removed it

Instead of the armor, David took his staff, a sling shot, and five smooth stones he had gathered from the brook in the Valley of Elah

David Battles Goliath (1 Sam. 17:41-54)

David goes to meet Goliath, and when Goliath saw David...

1 Samuel 17:43–44 KJV 1900

43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

Notice David’s reaction...

1 Samuel 17:45–47 KJV 1900

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

1 Samuel 17:48–54 KJV 1900

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. 52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. 53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.

David was victorious!

Let us not look back at this great event in Hebrews history and learn a few valuable lessons that will help us to be more faithful today.

DISCUSSION

DAVID FOUGHT FOR THE LORD

1 Samuel 17:32 KJV 1900

32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

David has seen how all of Israel was afraid to confront Goliath

David knew it was up to him

Goliath had “defied the armies of God” and needed to be taken down!

Notice that David “RAN” to the fight (1 Sam. 17:48)

All fighting for the Lord was not always done in a physical battle. There are many great men and women in the Bible who were willing to fight for the Lord

Noah fought for the Lord even though he and his family were the only righteous ones left on the earth (Gen. 6-7)

Abraham was willing to do whatever the Lord required of him – without question (Gen. 12 and 22)

Joseph stood his ground for the Lord against Potifer’s wife. Joseph said, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God” (Gen. 39:9).

Elijah fought for the Lord to the point that Ahab and Jezebel wanted to kill him (1 Kgs. 17-19)

John the Baptizer literally lost his head for fighting for truth and morality (Mt. 14)

Peter & John in Acts 4 and 5 fought for the Lord even though the Sanhedrin warned them not to

Paul fought for the Lord to the point that he was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19)

We need to fight for the Lord just like these great men of the past have done.

Jude 3 ASV 1901

3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.

1 Timothy 6:12 KJV 1900

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 KJV 1900

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Hebrews 11:32–40 KJV 1900

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

These great men and women of the faith went through great hardships in fighting for the Lord – stoning, torture, imprisonment, and even death.

They had not received the promise, but we have, how much more then should we be fighting for the Lord?!

We need to be like David who fought for the Lord – even when no one else would

DAVID PUT HIS TRUST IN THE LORD

Lack of trust in God was the very reason that all of Saul’s army were afraid to meet Goliath in battle.

David, though, trusted in God and was willing to face an awesome task

David had trusted in the Lord before and was not let down

Without trust in God, David would have been just like any other Israelite

David’s trust in God is clearly seen in

1 Samuel 17:47 KJV 1900

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

We need this same type of trust today!

We need this type of trust in times of adversity

James 1:2–4 KJV 1900

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:12 KJV 1900

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Do we trust God enough to believe these verses?

We need to trust God over men

The Israelites were putting trust in themselves – and therefore were afraid

Man will let us down – God will not

Psalm 20:6–9 KJV 1900

6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; He will hear him from his holy heaven With the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: But we are risen, and stand upright. 9 Save, Lord: Let the king hear us when we call.

We need David’s attitude …

Psalm 7:10 KJV 1900

10 My defence is of God, Which saveth the upright in heart.

DAVID WENT INTO BATTLE PREPARED

1 Samuel 17:40 KJV 1900

40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

We know that David trusted in God, but we still see David collecting five stones instead of one – David wanted to make sure he was prepared

God was David's armor, but David still had to do his part in preparing himself

God always wants us to do our part

We are in a battle today and we must prepare ourselves

How? Put on the whole armor of God

Ephesians 6:13–17 KJV 1900

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

We acquire the armor through study and applying the word to our lives

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1 Timothy 4:13 KJV 1900

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

CONCLUSION

Are you ready to fight the Goliath’s of our day?

The Goliath’s of sin?

The Goliath’s of false doctrine?

The Goliath’s of apathy? Etc.

Will we be victorious like David?