First Samuel

First Samuel was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Chapter Seventeen

 

This chapter may be one of the most popular chapters in the word of God. Certainly hundreds of thousands, if not millions of sermons and Sunday School lessons have been taught on David and Goliath. There is much devotional and seed-thought material contained in the account of this great historical confrontation. Goliath represents Satan, possibly the Anti-Christ, and possibly the "giant" of sin in our own lives that must be confronted head on and conquered.

 

OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER:

I. GOLIATH OF GATH (1-11)

II. GOLIATH CHALLENGES ISRAEL FOR FORTY DAYS (12-19)
III. "WHO IS THIS UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE?" (20-27)
IV. "IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?" (28-31)
V. "THOU ART NOT ABLE… FOR THOU ARE BUT A YOUTH"
VI. "THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S" (38-54)
VII. SAUL TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT DAVID (55-58)

 

I. GOLIATH OF GATH - (1-11)

Once again Israel faces its perennial enemy, the Philistines. We have seen confrontations in chapters (4 and 14) with these people. This time one man gains the attention of all, Goliath.

Goliath is presented as a well-seasoned combat infantryman. He survived many skirmishes to date, making him a safe bet one on one. Yet, not only does the man possess the military savvy to survive the most dangerous of games, he possesses some very basic physical advantages. Goliath was a "giant" of a man. The existence of giants is well documented, scripturally; see (Gen. 6:4; Num. 13-14; Deut. 2:10,20-21). Depending on the exact meaning of cubit, Goliath could have been anywhere from 8'6" to 13 feet tall. The approximate weight of his weapons and armor surely reinforce this fact. We could only guess at the man's weight, but if he were a lean man he would still have weighed 300 pounds and could very likely have been 450-1000 pounds!

Physically speaking the only possible match for Goliath would be the king, Saul. (9:2). This had probably crossed Saul's mind but he appears, at this time, to be unwilling to volunteer.

Goliath challenges everyone in the Israeli camp to a one on one showdown to settle the whole dispute. Wouldn't it be nice if wars could be settled this way? What man will submit because of another's defeat? The Philistine's didn't (51-53). Wars will not cease as long as man continues to try to bring peace. War is God's judgment on sin here, and Hell is God's judgment on sin hereafter.

 

II. GOLIATH CHALLENGES ISRAEL FOR FORTY DAYS - (12-19)

The challenge continues day and night for forty days. Forty is numerically representative of testing in the scriptures. Jesus was tempted forty days. Israel wandered in the wilderness forty years. It rained forty days and forty nights upon Noah and his family. Satan is a relentless enemy pictured in Goliath. The challenge never goes away, it must be faced head on. You'd think that Goliath would have gotten bored with his little routine. After forty days of name calling, I wonder if anyone really wanted to fight?!

David is commissioned to bring a care package from home to his brothers in the field. Jesse asks David to bring back a pledge, something to confirm that the boys are alright.

 

III. "WHO IS THIS UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE?" - (20-27)

David arrives at camp just as Goliath is going through his daily chores (23). David is stunned as he watches the king, his brothers and fellow soldiers back down from the big "blow hard". A reward is declared by the king. "Anyone who kills Goliath will earn for his family a permanent tax-exemption and unlimited expense account (25). David's response is that there shouldn't have to be a reward to find an opponent for the giant, they ought to be standing in line waiting for their turn. After all, he has defied the armies of the living God'.

David, unlike Saul (14:24), does not take the affront personally, he sees Goliath cursing and Note, in (Joshua 15:16,17) Caleb makes a similar offer. The offer "make his father's house free in Israel" (25). This helps explain Saul's inquiry of (vss. 55-58). Saul had committed himself to the family of the victor David. See how well he kept his vow in (22:1).

 

IV. "IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?" - (28-31)

We made a note in one of our earlier studies that the vast majority of humanity has no cause or purpose in life. Man needs a reason to live, it keeps him going from one day to the next. The Christian indeed has a cause - to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ through the proper dissemination and propagation of the word of God.

Eliab, David's brother, is probably embarrassed by his little brother's brazen remarks. He knows he's right, yet he will not accept the truth from one less than himself. The questions and accusations of verse 28 are oft used tools to divert attention away from oneself! Eliab's frustration is vented on young David.

 

V. "THOU ART NOT ABLE ... FOR THOU ARE BUT A YOUTH" - (32-37)

The young "whippersnapper" upstart David begins telling everyone how it should be done. It isn't any wonder that David wasn't taken seriously. Young, inexperienced and physically minute in comparison to Goliath, what could he do? Samuel, Saul, Eliab and Goliath all had one thing in common, they all under estimated the youth David. Alexander the Great conquered the world by the time he was 33. Although inexperience is certainly a disadvantage of being young, a young person has time, energy and desire in his favor. In this case, the faith of David was his greatest asset. Many older Christians allow themselves to slither into mold of lethargy, apathy and mediocrity in spiritual things. The young, excited, energetic Christian, often injects more spiritual enthusiasm into a church body than any ten of the "church pillars." "Look not on his countenance ... the Lord looketh on the heart."

 

VI. "THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S" - (38-54)

Even though Saul stands physically taller than his men, the challenge of the giant, he declines. He is not that far removed from spiritual things that he does not recognize true godly conviction when he sees it. David is given the sanction to fight.

Saul thinks that his personal armor will be a help to the boy, but it doesn't fit and it has not been proven to David's liking. There is a tremendous practical lesson to be learned. Don't try to be someone else, don't try to fight in someone else's armor. Didn't God have a suit of armor already picked out for David? Of course he did - Goliath's (54).

David chose his weapon. He had used the sling many times before. He felt comfortable with it and he knew it could do the job. A crisis is no time to try out a new weapon. As a Christian, we must develop confidence in our spiritual weapons. We must use them daily, so that they will be effective during the time of greatest need.

Notice that David does not want to vindicate or defend himself. God will honor the man whose motives are inspired by and for God and God's people. "...all the assembly shall know that the Lord saveth...." David knew that we don't fight our battles alone, nor are those battles ours.

Goliath has been sitting or lying down (48), helmet removed, he rises to meet his antagonist, David. Look at David's enthusiasm, he "hasted, and ran toward...." WHAM!! "The bigger they are the harder they fall." Could it be that the Lord put a little supernatural "zing" on the stone from David's sling?

 

VII. SAUL TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT DAVID - (55-58)

Saul's inquiry into David's father tells us two things. The first very obvious, the second much more subtle. Saul has made a promise to the family of the victor (25), he wants to find out who his father is so that he might fulfill it. This is the obvious. Secondly, Samuel's words of (15:28) are ringing in the ears of Saul, "a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou." Saul must've been a bit jealous of the young man who dared to attempt that which he would not.

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