1 Samuel 17

Intro:

I am not sure there is any more known story in the Old Testament than David and Goliath

Read 1 Samuel 17:1-5

I. vs. 1-11 An Imposing Figure

Battles between Israel and the Philistines were a common occurence until David

He was able to conquer them for good and they were never an issue again

The five philistine cities were to southwest of Jerusalem

They would come up the 1300 feet to battle Israel

vs. 1-3 Battlefield

They Gathered at Socoh

The battle took place in the Valley of Elah

There were hills on both sides with a large plain in the middle

A stream flowed through the middle

vs. 4-7 Goliath

The Philistines had a champion fighter

He was a giant

Six cubits = 9 feet tall

5000 shekels - 125 lbs

Javelin was 8.5 long

Spear head weighed 15 lbs

Goliath was from Gath and Joshua 11:22 says that a people known as the Anakim were still there in Joshua’s day.

That was some 400 years before this, but it shows how there may have continued to be men of unusually large size from the city of Gath.

vs. 8-10 Battle Challenge

Goliath was an imposing figure and he wanted to back it by challenging Israel’s best soldier

This was a common tactic used by armies

Instead of whole armies fighting and losing valuable men they would choose the best to fight each other

Goliath’s challenge was to have Israel become their slaves if they lost

He also added taunting to the challenge

“I defy the ranks of Israel this day.”

vs. 11 Israel was greatly dismayed

They actually ran to their tents and hid

This was Goliath’s exact intention in issuing the challenge.

The reason why he came out with full battle equipment and paraded in front of the Israelite army was that he wanted them to be dismayed and greatly afraid.

Goliath defeated the Israelites with fear alone.

Saul had a special reason to be afraid.

Goliath was the giant among the Philistines and Saul was head and shoulders taller than other Israelite men (1 Samuel 9:2).

Saul was the logical choice to square off against Goliath, and we can expect that others assumed that he should fight Goliath.

II. vs. 12-27 Battlefield Deliveries

It seems David was only called to the palace as needed, when Saul was afflicted by the distressing spirit.

Left the sheep with a keeper: This little observation shows the shepherd’s heart of David.

If he left the sheep to run an errand for his father he made sure the sheep were still well cared for.

The man who kills him, the king will enrich:

The situation had become so desperate that Saul needed to offer a three-part bribe including a cash award, a princess, and a tax exemption – to induce someone, anyone to fight and win against Goliath.

Other soldiers focused on the danger of the battle or the material rewards to be won.

It seems that David alone focused on the reputation of Israel and the honor of the living God.

This truly shows David to be a man after God’s own heart.

He cares about the things God cares about. He saw the problem in spiritual terms, not in material or fleshly terms.

IV. vs. 28-37 David Faced Some Obstacles

Eliab’s anger was aroused against David: We might have thought that David’s visit would please Eliab, especially considering all the things he brought from home.

But David’s words angered Eliab and there were many reasons why.

First, he was angry because he felt David was an insignificant, worthless person who had no right to speak up, especially with such bold words

Second, he was angry because he felt he knew David’s motivation (I know your pride and the insolence of your heart), but he didn’t really know David’s heart.

Third, he was angry because he thought David tried to provoke someone else into fighting Goliath just so he could see a battle (you have come down to see the battle).

Eliab himself was a tall man of good appearance (1 Samuel 16:7), and he may have felt David was trying to push him into battle

Finally, he was angry because David was right! When you are dismayed and greatly afraid or dreadfully afraid, the last thing in the world you want is someone telling you to be courageous.

You are not able…for you are a youth: Saul thought David was disqualified because of his age, size, and inexperience. This shows that Saul looked at the battle purely in natural, outward terms. The outward “tale of the tape” said there was no way David could win. The “tale of God’s tape” said there was no way David could lose.

You are a youth and he a man of war from his youth: Saul essentially told David, “He’s been a soldier longer than you have been alive. How can you ever defeat him?” Again, this shows that Saul only looked at the outward, not the spiritual dimensions of this battle.

Your servant has killed both lion and bear: God prepared David for this exact battle when David was a lowly shepherd. A lion attacked the lambs and David fought the lion. A bear came against the sheep and David battled with the bear. All along, God prepared David to fight Goliath. How long did David prepare to fight Goliath? All his life, up to that day.

This is generally God’s pattern for preparation. He calls us to be faithful right where we are and then uses our faithfulness to accomplish greater things. If David ran scared at the lion or the bear, he would never have been ready to fight Goliath now. But he was faithful then, so he will be faithful now.

Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them: David increases in boldness as the story progresses. First, he said someone should fight Goliath for a righteous cause (1 Samuel 17:26, 29). Then he said he would fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32). Now he says he will kill Goliath.

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: As a shepherd facing lions and bears, David had no idea he was being trained to fight a giant. In the midst of our preparation we rarely see how God will use it. Yet now, David can look back and know that the same God who delivered him before will also deliver him now. David knew that God’s help in times past is a prophecy of His help in the future.

V. vs. 38-47 David Readies for Battle

vs. 38-39 Untested Armor

Saul gives his armor to David to use in the battle against Goliath

He wanted to protect him

Saul was taller than everyone in Israel

It wasn’t going to fit David

Tested means that David had moved and fought in the armor\

vs. 40-41 Drawing near to battle

David grabs his staff, sling, five smooth stones, and draws near to battle

Five Smooth Stones

When you go in the power of the Lord the weapons don’t matter

The battle is the Lord’s

vs. 42-44 Goliath disdains David

Goliath disdains David because of his youth

The author was concerned that you remembered he was ruddy and good looking

“Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?”

Goliath was insulted by Israel’s choice warriors

He insulted David by his gods

Threatened to feed him to the birds and beasts of the field

Goliath has reason to be confident, but his arrogance discounts the power of Israel’s God

vs. 45-47 The Battle is the Lord’s

David responds to Goliath with humble confidence

You come at me with sword and spear, but I come at you in the name of the Lord whom you have defied

David is essentially telling Goliath you messed up when you cursed me by your gods

Now God is angry and He is the one who is going to win this battle

The Lord is going to deliver you into my hand

This day everyone will know that the Lord saves

VI. vs. 48-58 Goliath Defeated

David ran towards Goliath

His courage was found in the Lord

vs. 49

David strikes Goliath with the stone

The stone sinks into Goliath’s forehead and he falls on his face

David defeated Goliath without a sword

vs. 51

David uses Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head

This causes the Philistines to flee

vs. 52 Now Israel engages in Battle