In this chapter, David demonstrates his confidence in the power of God by killing Goliath. The chapter begins with the Philistines and Israelites facing off at the valley of Elah. “Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was a giant of a man, measuring over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet and a coat of mail that weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leggings, and he slung a bronze javelin over his back. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed fifteen pounds. An armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a huge shield.
Goliath stood and shouted across to the Israelites, “Do you need a whole army to settle this? Choose someone to fight for you, and I will represent the Philistines. We will settle this dispute in single combat! I defy the armies of Israel! Send me a man who will fight with me!” When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.” (1 Samuel 17:4-11)
Now David’s father was a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. David was the youngest of eight sons and his three oldest brothers were serving in Saul’s army. Since David was still a young boy, he went back and forth between working with Saul and helping his father with the sheep.
“For forty days, twice a day, morning and evening, the Philistine giant strutted in front of the Israelite army. One day Jesse said to David, “Take this half bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring me back a letter from them.” (1 Samuel 17:16-18)
David did as his father commanded and met his brothers on the battlefield. “As he was talking with them, he saw Goliath, the champion from Gath, come out from the Philistine ranks, shouting his challenge to the army of Israel. As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. “Have you seen the giant?” the men were asking. “He comes out each day to challenge Israel. And have you heard about the huge reward the king has offered to anyone who kills him? The king will give him one of his daughters for a wife, and his whole family will be exempted from paying taxes!”
Even though David is a boy, he understood that the reward sounded like a pretty good deal.
The text continues, David asked them, “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” And David received the same reply as before: “What you have been hearing is true. That is the reward for killing the giant.” But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and dishonesty. You just want to see the battle!” (1 Samuel 17:26-28)
King Saul heard David was on the battlefield and sent for him. David told Saul, “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll go fight this Philistine!” (verse 32)
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There is no way you can go against this Philistine. You are only a boy, and he has been in the army since he was a boy!” But David resisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!” (1 Samuel 17:33-37)
At this point, Saul gave David some armor. After putting it on, David decided to take it off. “He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them in his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across to fight Goliath. Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
David shouted in reply, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty -- the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone will know that the Lord does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The Lord will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:40-47) Do it, David! That’s what I’m talking about!
“As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it from his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face downward to the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a stone and sling. And since he had no sword, he ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill the giant and cut off his head.” (1 Samuel 17:48-51)
Wow! God used a boy to show the world who HE is!
The chapter ends with Saul wondering about David’s father, and with Goliath’s head still in his hand, David calmly states, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.” (verse 58)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us be like David! Help us be courageous, walking with boldness and confidence...knowing that YOU are on our side! We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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