SCRIPTURE: 1 SAMUEL 17
BIBLE VERSE:
“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)
DAVID AND GOLIATH (vs. 1-58)
The Philistines gathered their forces for war against the Israelites at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah to meet the Philistines. Both occupied a hill facing each other with the valley between them.
A champion named Goliath from Gath was 9 feet tall came out of the Philistine’s camp. He had a bronze helmet on his head, wearing a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing 5 thousand shekels. He wore bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. He had a shield bearer who went ahead of him. (vs. 4-7). Goliath shouted to the Israelites to choose a man to fight with him. The one who is defeated will become the subject and slave. Upon hearing this, all Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah had 8 sons. Three of his sons, Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah followed Saul to the war. But David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. After 40 days, Jesse told David to bring some roasted grain and ten loaves of bread to his brothers and 10 cheese to the commander of their unit in the camp. He told David to see how his brothers were and bring back some news.
The following morning, David left the flock with a shepherd and brought the food to the brothers. As he reached there, Goliath came forward and shouted his usual defiance and David heard it. The men told David that this man kept coming out to defy Israel. And the king will give great wealth to the man who could kill him. He will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s family from taxes in Israel.
Since David was willing to fight Goliath because he defied the name of the living god, Saul talked to David saying: “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him. You are only a boy and he had been a fighting man from his youth” (v. 33). But David told him that he had been a shepherd and had killed a bear and a lion. So he could also kill this uncircumcised Philistines because the Lord who delivered him from the paw of the lion and bear will deliver him from the hand of the Philistine. So Saul said to David: “Go and the Lord be with you” (v. 37)
Saul dressed David with a coat of armor, a bronze helmet with sword over this tunic. But David could not walk because he was not used to it. So he took them off and took his staff in his hand, chose 5 smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag with his sling in his hand.
Then he approached Goliath. When Goliath saw David, he mocked him saying: “Am I a dog, that you come at me with stick? Come here, I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.” (vs. 43-44). David replied: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. This day, the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today, I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give all of you into our hands” (vs. 45-47)
As Goliath moved closer to David, David ran quickly toward him. He reached into his bag and took out a stone, slung it and struck Goliath on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So, David triumphed over Goliath with a sling and a stone, without a sword in his hand. He then ran towards him, got his sword and cut off his head.
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah pursued them chasing the Philistines and plundered their camp. David took Goliath’s head, his weapons and put it in his own tent.
Samuel then asked Abner, the commander of the army whose son was that young man. Abner did not know. But he took David and brought him before Saul. When Saul asked David whose son are you? David said: “I am the son of Jesse of Bethlehem.
THOUGHTS:
‘When David wanted to face Goliath, Saul told him bluntly that “You are not able”. When David persisted, Saul wanted him to wear the heavy armor but David refused because he kept his faith in the Lord. He did God’s work in the way God wanted him to do it.
People saw Goliath as a giant but David saw him as a mortal man defying the Almighty God. he was willing to fight with him because he knew that God would fight for him,. When we look at impossible situation from God’s point of view, it helps us to put giant problems in perspective with the courage to face it.
David did not let criticism stop him from getting into action. To him, there was no reason to wait because God was fighting for him. People may try to discourage you with negative comments, but you must continue to do what is right. Be confident that doing what is right will please the Lord and do not mind whatever other opinions are.