1 Samuel 17:12-50 David & Goliath
+ Philistine army had gathered 4 war against Israel. 2 Armies faced each other, camped 4 battle on Opposite sides of a STEEP VALLEY.
SOMETHING IS MOVING DOWN THE SLOPE. SOMETHING BIG. SOMETHING HUGE. LIKE A TREE!.
Whatever it is, it is COVERED WITH GLITTERING BRONZE.
The thing got to the middle ground near the ravine & suddenly a shudder ran through the men of Israel.
THE BIGGEST MAN THEY’VE EVER SEEN.
?6 CUBITS & A SPAN? 9 FEET 9 INCHES TALL.
GOLIATH: CLAD FROM HEAD TO TOE IN ARMOR.
BRONZE HELMET & BRONZE ARMOR WEIGHED 125 POUNDS. BRONZE SHIN GUARDS & BRONZE JAVELIN SPEAR. SPEAR: Thick Wood Shaft like LOG.
Head of SPEAR had IRON POINT WEIGHING 17 POUNDS.
AHEAD OF HIM MARCHED A SOLDIER CARRYING A SHIELD LARGE ENOUGH TO PROTECT GIANTS ENTIRE BODY.
HE MOCKED ISRAELITES TWICE A DAY FOR 40 DAYS!
Having gotten their attention, this is what Goliath says:
“Why Do You Come Out & Line Up For Battle? Am I Not A Philistine, & Are You Not The Servants Of Saul? Choose A Man & Have Him Come Down To Me.
If He Is Able To Fight & Kill Me, We Will Become Your Subjects; But If I Overcome Him & Kill Him,
You Will Become Our Subjects & Serve Us.”
GOLIATH Said, “This Day I Defy The Ranks Of Israel!
GIVE ME A MAN & LET US FIGHT EACH OTHER” (vs8-10).
Goliath Proposes +Ancient Tradition of SINGLE COMBAT. A LITTLE GAME OF ONE-ON-ONE, WINNER TAKE ALL. ONE MAN FROM YOUR SIDE, ONE FROM MINE.
He would represent the Philistines & someone would represent the Israelites. They would fight to the death
& the army of the winner would win the entire battle.
This saved time & potentially Avoided Useless Bloodshed, but it only worked if someone accepted the challenge.
KING SAUL, & + whole army were terrified of Goliath.
One day DAVID, + YOUNGEST of 8 SONS OF JESSE,(17ff ) was sent 2 + battle lines by his father just to bring Roasted Grain, Bread & Cheese & 2 bring back news of his brothers.
David was probably just a YOUNG TEENAGER at + time.
David’s Oldest Brother ELIAB: WHY ARE YOU HERE?(28)
While there, David heard Goliath shouting his daily defiance & he saw + great fear stirred within + men of Israel. David responded, "WHO IS THIS UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE THAT HE SHOULD DEFY + ARMIES OF GOD?"
So David volunteered 2 fight Goliath. King Saul finally was Persuaded 2 let David fight against + giant.
King Saul tried AMOR, HELMET, SWORD on David (38) BUT DAVID CHOSRE TO BE DRESSED IN HIS SIMPLE TUNIC,
(NO ARMOR) CARRYING HIS SHEPHERD'S STAFF,
SLING & A POUCH FULL OF STONES,
One authority said they were usually ROUND, SMOOTH STONES that could be as large as a BASEBALL. IN THE HANDS OF AN EXPERT SLINGER,
THE STONES WERE LIKE A CRAIG KIMBREL FASTBALL. LEAVE SLING AT SPEEDS APPROACHING 100 MILES PER HR.
By this time David is coming near Goliath.
Behind his shoulder, the whole army is watching.
“Go get him David. You can do it.” As he walked, Goliath got BIGGER & BIGGER & BIGGER.
On the other side, the PHILISTINES STARTED LAUGHING AT THIS YOUNG SHEPHERD BOY COMING TOWARD THE GIANT ! Another fellow starts taking bets on
how long it will take Goliath to break him in two.
DON’T TELL GOD HOW BIG YOUR GIANTS ARE. TELL YOUR GIANTS HOW BIG YOUR GOD IS.
But before they could fight, there was
one more thing they had to do IN SINGLE COMBAT, The Fighters Would First Yell At Each Other, Sort Of An Old Testament Version Of Trash Talking.
So GOLIATH says to David, “COME ON OVER HERE & I’LL FEED YOU TO THE BIRDS & THE BEASTS.”
Notice how DAVID answers back in verses 45-47.
This is one of the great statements of faith in all the Bible.
You Come Against Me With Sword & Spear & Javelin,
But I Come Against You In + Name Of + Lord Almighty,
+ God Of + Armies Of Israel, Whom You Have Defied ... Today I Will Give + Carcasses
Of + Philistine Army 2 + Birds Of + Air
... & + Whole World Will Know That There Is A God In Israel ... IT IS NOT By Sword Or Spear That + Lord Saves;
4+Battle Is+Lord's& He Will Give All Of You Into Our Hands."
Notice What David Does & What He Doesn’t Do.
Doesn’t Return INSULT FOR INSULT. NO NEED TO BOAST.
After all, IN HIMSELF DAVID IS NO MATCH FOR GOLIATH. IT’S NOT A FAIR FIGHT.
BUT when you bring God into the equation, everything changes. Here’s the point:
DON’T TELL GOD HOW BIG YOUR GIANTS ARE.
TELL YOUR GIANTS HOW BIG YOUR GOD IS.
As Goliath moved in 4 + kill, David reached into his bag & slung one of his stones at Goliath's head.
FINDING A HOLE IN + ARMOR, + stone sank into + giant's forehead & he fell face down on + ground. David then took Goliath's sword, killed him & then cut off his head. When + Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned & ran. So + Israelites pursued, chasing & killing them & plundering their camp.
POINTS OF INTEREST FROM + DAVID & GOLIATH STORY:
• WHY DID THEY WAIT FORTY DAYS 2 BEGIN + BATTLE? Probably 4 SEVERAL REASONS. Everyone was afraid of Goliath. He seemed invincible. Not even King Saul, + tallest man in Israel, had stepped out 2 fight. Also, + sides of + VALLEY WERE VERY STEEP. Whoever made + first move would have a strong disadvantage & probably suffer great loss. Both sides were waiting 4 + other 2 attack first.
• DAVID CHOSE NOT 2 WEAR + KING'S ARMOR BECAUSE IT FELT CUMBERSOME & UNFAMILIAR. David was comfortable with his simple sling, a weapon he was skilled at using. God will use + unique skills he's already placed in your hands, so DON'T WORRY about "wearing + King's armor." Just be yourself & use + familiar gifts & talents God has given you. He will work miracles through you.
• David's faith in God caused him 2 look at + giant from a DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. Goliath was merely a mortal man defying an all-powerful God. David looked at + battle from God's point of view. If we look at giant problems & impossible situations FROM GOD'S PERSPECTIVE, we realize that God will fight 4 us & with us. When we put things in proper perspective, we see more clearly & we can fight more effectively.
• When + Giant Criticized, Insulted & Threatened,
David Didn't Stop Or Even Waver. Everyone else cowered in fear, but David Ran TOWARD+ battle. He knew that ACTION needed 2 be taken.
David Did + Right Thing In Spite Of Discouraging Insults & Fearful Threats. Only God's opinion mattered 2 David.
R U Facing A Giant Problem Or Impossible Situation? Stop 4 a minute & refocus. CAN YOU SEE + SITUATION MORE CLEARLY FROM GOD'S VANTAGE POINT?
DO YOU NEED 2 TAKE COURAGEOUS ACTION IN + FACE OF INSULTS & FEARFUL CIRCUMSTANCES?
Do you trust that God will fight 4 you & with you? Remember, God's Opinion Is + Only One That Matters.
For most + greatest giants are+ones we face on+INSIDE:
• DOUBT
• UNBELIEF
• FEAR
• ANGER
• GREED
• SLOTH
• GLUTTONY
• ENVY
• DESPAIR
• DISCOURAGEMENT
• SELF-CONDEMNATION
• FEAR OF FAILURE
• CRITICAL SPIRIT
“Faith is belief plus unbelief
& acting on the belief part.”
Faith Is NOT Talking About The Giant,
Analyzing The Giant, Or Praying About The Giant.
BIG TALK WILL NEVER SLAY GOLIATH.
Faith is taking that FIRST STEP—knees knocking, hands shaking—with fear & trembling
Going Into The Valley in the name of the Lord of Hosts.
You take that first step NOT BECAUSE YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO IT BUT BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU CAN’T. THEREFORE, YOU KNOW THAT
IF THE GIANT IS DEFEATED,
IT IS BECAUSE GOD HAS DONE IT THROUGH YOU.
