DAVID AND GOLIATH
1ST SAMUEL 17
After young David had been employed by King Saul
For occasional service of the court as musician and
Armor bearer, and many years after the defeat of the
Philistines at Michmash –THE war making heathens
Decided to start another war against Israel..
Their armies had marched to a village of the hill
Country between the mountains of Judah and the plains of
The Mediterranean which was about 11 miles south
Of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Here they were camped and ready for battle, they
Were along a range of low hills facing one of the
Fertile plains called Elah.
The armies of Israel were camping on the range of hills
On the opposite side of the valley.
Young David had such great confidence because of his experience of the Lords previous deliverance’s on his
Behalf,
God wasn’t going to allow his reputation to be damaged
by this Philistine.
And David had great faith that God would again deliver him from the evil SNARE!!!!
David had already been through an EYE OPENING
Faith builder,- with him going up against a Lion and
A Bear – and the Lord delivering him from both, He now had the confidence that he would be VICTORIOUS!!!!
Against this giant Philistine Goliath!!!!
Goliath was the champion of the Philistine Army – and he
Was known as a great warrior.
He was nearly nine feet tall and he wore armor made
Of metal which over-lapped like the scales of fish.
And He weighed over 300 pounds.
He protected his head with a helmet of Brass
And had the lower part of his legs covered with
Heavy metal guards.
He carried a spear over his shoulder and a five feet
Long sword that weighed twenty five pounds!!!
The way I understand this from my studies – back in
These days it was a normal occurrence that when two
Armies were in position for battle – but dared not to
Attack – a champion from each side would meet and
Battle it out in single combat
And further it was agreed that victory would belong
To the army whose champion won in this single combat
Every day Goliath marched out on the plain between the
Two armies and scornfully challenged the Israelites
To send out their champion to fight with him.
For Forty days he ridiculed and contempted the
Armies of the israelites – he taunted them telling
Them they were cowards – because they didn’t have anyone with enough courage to send out in battle.
During all this time King Saul who had once led
Israel in killing 40,000 Philistines in one day – sat
Cowering in weakness while this on soldier Goliath
Held the whole Israelite Army in Check!!!!
WHY?????
Why this Huge Difference??
Because in the previous victory the Noble Prince
Named Jonathan was anointed by the Spirit of God
And King Saul had taken advantage of the Confusion caused by his exploit to be triumphant.
At this point the lord had withdrawn from King Saul
And Jonathan was rejected by his un-grateful Father
And they no longer had the courage to fight and the Lord was no longer with King Saul!!!!!
PSALMS 124:8 SAYS:
Our help is in the name of the Lord
Who made Heaven and Earth!
PSALMS 63:7 SAYS:
Because thou hast been my help
Therefore in the shadow of thy
Wings will I rejoice!
In the mean time three of Jesse’s Sons were
Camped at the edge of the valley of Elah and young
David traveled back and forth from the Royal Palace
And his fathers home – caring for the sheep when the
King didn’t need him.
It was very likely that David wanted to Join his Brothers
In the army preparing to fight the Philistines
And He was always hinting of the fact – But neither
His Brothers nor the King thought it was a good idea
Because of his young age!!
Then one day Jesse sent David to the camp which was
A few hours walk from Bethlehem He took food and
Water and also checked on their well – being
It just so happened that he reached the camp just
As the two armies were facing one another ready
For battle!!!! He lift the things he had brought along
With the keeper of the army supplies and rushed
To be with his brothers….
While He was with them and they were talking
Amoungst themselves the Philistine Champion came
Out with his usual boastings and his usual challenge!!
LISTEN WHAT 1ST COR 1:27 SAYS:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
Confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak
Things of the world to confound the things which
Are mighty – (put to shame)
VS. 29 SAYS:
No flesh should Glory in his Presence.
The Israeli soldiers all fell back in fear but Young David
Was ticked off at this Philistines actions – some of the
Soldiers told him that this had been going on for forty
Days and forty nights!!!!
Ain’t that funny??? It rained 40 days and 40 nights
Noah opened the window of the ark after 40 days
Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness 40 days
In Exodus 24 Moses in the mountain 40 days
Exodus 34 the 10 commandments 40 days and nights
In Numbers 13 – they returned after searching land 40 days
1st Kings Elijah went in the strength of meat 40days
Ezek chap 4 says: And thou shalt bear the iniquity of the House of Judah 40 days
Jonah chap 3 says: Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall
Be overthrown
And now The Giant Goliath Boasting for 40 days & nights
I don’t know why I told you that
But its kinda Interesting!!!!
ANYWAY’S
They told Young David this had been going on 40 days and nights
And the King had offered a great reward for any man
Who was brave enough to try and slay the giant Goliath
David declared that he was ashamed of how cowardly
The Israelites permitted the heathen Giant to
Terrify them!!!!
And He said not only was this insulting to Israel BUT
Also to the living God and they must be wiped out!!!
2ND Chronicles 32:8 says:
With Him is an arm of flesh but with us is
The Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles!
David’s older Brother resented his statement and
Eliab also stated that he was neglecting his duties
In caring after his Fathers sheep
And he further stated that he had no business
Even visiting the army
Obviously Eliab remembered with envy the time when
Samuel had rejected him in favor of Young David for the
Sacred anointing
Then David showed reason in his reply,
Have I come without errand – Is there not a need
For someone to meet this defiance of our God??
Then He turned to others and made similar remarks!!
All the soldiers were delighted when David showed
Bravery and suggested He meet with the Philistine
Giant – And in haste reported his offer to King Saul
And when He stood before the king he said in Vs 32
Let no mans heart fail because of Him thy servant
Will go and fight with this Philistine.
EXODUS 14:14 SAYS:
The Lord shall fight for you and Ye shall hold your peace
Of course the King tried to talk him out of it!!
But David persisted in his demand
This Giant was trained and experienced but David
Re-called the Lion and The Bear
The Lord tried Him here preparing him for this next battle
So he tried on the kings armor and it didn’t fit of course
So David went with Gods armor!!
David decided to use a weapon he was more familiar
With and by using his sling he wouldn’t have to come
Into close grips with this man who was much larger
And much more powerful than Him!!!
As an expert with the sling he could take precise aim
And hurl a stone with the strength of God lending
This force to his arm!!!
On his way to the field of battle he picked up five
Smooth stones from the brook
He put them in his shepherds bag!!!
With his staff and sling in his hand
He marched out between the armies to meet the giant
Philistine
Can you imagine how insulting this must have been
To Goliath to face a young Boy in battle and his
Only armor was a staff and a sling!!!
Goliath announced he would feed his flesh to the
Birds and the beasts of the field
2ND COR. 10:4 SAYS:
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of the flesh)
But Mighty Through GOD!!!!!
David quietly answered Goliath with confidence and
God’s help and with assurance of victory that could only
Have been given to him by the Lord!!!
He boldly met the Giant with these inspired words
Beginning in VS 45
Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied
This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hands.
Then David took one of his smooth stones from his shepherds bag
2ND CHRONICLES 20:15 SAYS:
be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great
multitude; for the battle is not yours but GOD”S!!!
He placed the stone in his sling
And He hurled it with deadly aim at the forehead
Of the Giant
The stone pierced the skull of the Giant
And huge Goliath fell to the ground.
David rushed up, drew Goliath’s sword from his sheath
And slew him and cut off his head and carried it back to the camps of Israel as a trophy of his Victory.
Joshua 4:24 says:
That all the people of the earth might know the hand of
The Lord, that it is mighty: that Ye might fear the Lord
Your God forever!!!!!
When the Philistines saw their champion was dead
They fled and the men of Israel and Judah
Arose and chased the Philistines to the gates of
Ekron. They were taking three separate routes
Trying to escape death
Israel slew thousands of the fleeing Philistines.
David took the Head of Goliath to Jerusalem to let them
Know that they would fall also to Israel
David’s life so far had been of Faith UN-SEEN
And He was ready for anything
It was God He turned to for his victory
Are you ready to turn to God tonight for your VICTORY??
HE’S THERE FOR YOU!!!!!
HAVE YOU BEEN THROUGH YOUR BATTLES WITH
THE LION AND THE BEAR???
YOU WILL!!!!!!!!!!!
WILL YOUR FAITH IN GOD BE THERE?????
IT BETTER!!!!!
WILL YOU BE READY TO FACE THE GIANT
LIKE YOUNG DAVID DID?????
YOU BETTER BE!!!!!
