Goliath Challenges the Israelites
1 Samuel 17:1-31 NLT
17:1 The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. 2 Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah. 3 So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.
4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! 5 He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6 He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7 The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.
8 Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! 9 If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! 10 I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” 11 When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.
Jesse Sends David to Saul’s Camp
12 Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea—had already joined Saul’s army to fight the Philistines. 14 David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army, 15 but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.
16 For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.
17 One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. 18 And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.” 19 David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.
20 So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries. 21 Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.
24 As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. 25 “Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”
26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”
27 And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”
28 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 deceit. You just want to see the battle!”
29 “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!” 30 He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer. 31 Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.
Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 17:1-31 NLT
Goliath Challenges the Israelites
17:1 The Philistines
1 Samuel 14:52 NLT
52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime.
- The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime.
now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.
Socoh and Azekah were towns of Judah.
Socoh was 14-15 miles west of Bethlehem near the Philistine border.
Azekah was a few miles northwest of Socoh.
- The Philistines were encroaching on Israelite territory.
Note the location of the Philistine cities Gath and Ekron on a map.
2 Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah.
3 So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.
Apparently both armies were intimidated by their opponent.
4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath,
Gath- one of the five major Philistine cities.
Came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall!
Gath was known for having giants as citizens.
Goliath stood between the two armies of the Philistines and Israel.
5 He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6 He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7 The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds.
His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.
- In human terms, Goliath was invincible.
8 Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! 9 If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! 10 I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!”
- Rival forces would sometimes agree to let selected individuals from each side decide a conflict.
Both sides assumed that the “gods” would use this to determine the winning side. This method was more “economical” and the lives of many soldiers would be spared.
This does not always work out as planned. See 2 Samuel 2:14-17.
11 When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.
- Goliath terrified Saul and the Israelite soldiers.
No one was willing to take on this Goliath.
Skip ahead to verse 24:
24 As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.
Goliath was the Israeli soldier’s worst nightmare come true.
- It appears that Israel forgot God’s covenant promises.
Exodus 23:22 NLT
22 But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you.
Deuteronomy 3:22 NLT
22 Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.’
Deuteronomy 20:1-4 NLT
20:1 “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! 2 When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. 3 He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. 4 For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’
Look closely at:
Joshua 1:7-9 NLT
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Some of God’s promises are conditional.
Obey God’s instructions.
Study scripture continually.
Meditate on scripture.
Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged.
Jesse Sends David to Saul’s Camp
12 Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea—had already joined Saul’s army to fight the Philistines. 14 David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army,
15 but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.
1 Samuel 14:52 NLT
52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
1 Samuel 16:21-23 NLT
21 So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer. (MacArthur stated that Saul had many armor bearers.) 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”
23 And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.
1 Samuel 17:55-58 NLT
55 As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?”
“I really don’t know,” Abner declared.
56 “Well, find out who he is!” the king told him.
57 As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. 58 “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said.
And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”
David spent time tending his father’s sheep as well as serving Saul “part time”. The intermittent nature of David’s service might explain why Saul was unfamiliar with the details of David’s life. David was present in Saul’s life during the times that “the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled Saul with depression and fear” (v. 16:14). Saul wasn’t in his right mind. (not rational)
David’s position with Saul was not “permanent” until chapter 18.
1 Samuel 18:2 NLT
2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home.
- David spent time tending his father’s sheep as well as serving Saul “part time”.
16 For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.
“Strutted”
Presented himself.
Took his stand.
Gave his challenge.
Taunted (v.23)
Clearly, this behavior for 40 days would be very demoralizing to the Israelite army.
- For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.
17 One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. 18 And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.” 19 David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.
20 So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him.
15 but David went back and forth
He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries. 21 Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.
24 As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. 25 “Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel.
The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”
- Saul offered a sizeable reward to anyone who would kill Goliath.
26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel?
- As we read on in the story, it is clear that David’s motivation is silence Goliath’s defiance of God, not to receive some huge reward from King Saul.
Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”
David viewed Goliath as a pagan, defying the living God.
1 Samuel 17:45 NLT
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
- David sees the issue clearly, unlike Saul and the other Israelites, David sees this as a spiritual battle.
Biblical principles we need to apply to our lives.
Colossians 3:23-24 NLT
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
David understood this principle. David was working for the Lord, not for King Saul.
Ephesians 6:12 NLT
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.” In other words, the fight is not against governments or people or companies or circumstances. Our battle is against the unseen world of spiritual evil that surrounds us.
- David’s motivation was to serve the Lord.
27 And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”
28 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 deceit. You just want to see the battle!”
Eliab was angry, perhaps resentful that David, rather than he, was anointed to be king (16:6-13).
- Eliab does not understand why his younger brother is willing to do something that all of the other Israelite soldiers are afraid to do.
29 “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!” 30 He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer. 31 Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.
