1 Samuel 17

Chapter Introduction

It has well been said that there are people who make things happen, people who watch things happen and people who don’t know that anything is happening. David had insight into Israel’s plight and knew what was happening. He realized that it wasn’t a physical conflict between two armies, but a spiritual battle between truth and error, faith and superstition, the true and living God and dead idols.

Wiersbe, W. W. (2001).

Be successful (p. 97).

Victor/Cook Communications.

Goliath was the Philistine champion. He probably earned this moniker rather than receiving it for his size. Besides his size and strength, Goliath had the advantage of intimidation over normal men who see, evaluate, and weigh decisions based on what they see.

Many would say David is Israel's champion, but that’s wrong. Yahweh is Israel's champion, and the spotlight is on him through David's actions.

1 Samuel 17:1-3

We don’t know how much time has lapsed between the chapters. As this chapter begins, Saul has gone to war, and David’s ministry of music may not have been needed, providing him with the opportunity to return home.

From the previous chapter, one might wonder how this young shepherd boy, the son of Jesse, is qualified to be the king of such an important nation. We get a glimpse of the physical person, but we learn from Saul that those are not qualifications. The heart of this shepherd boy from Bethlehem will be revealed to us through his actions.

The battle lines were drawn across the valley of Elah. Saul and his men gathered on the south side of the Valley with the Philistine army on the north side at Ephes Dammim (nothing but blood, or boundary of blood). The armies faced off from opposing mountains with a valley between them.

1 Samuel 17:4-11

Goliath was a champion. We might better understand the word champion as a warrior’s warrior. His battles earned him the title or reputation, not just from his appearance, though his appearance, without a doubt, had been a factor. The name Goliath has become synonymous with size and strength.

Joshua had destroyed many giants from this region while conquering the Promised Land (Joshua 11:21-22). Though they remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. Goliath was from among these tribes.
Goliath was about nine and a half feet tall. Some later sources attempt to bring Goliath down in size to six and a half feet tall, though there’s no reason for not trusting the original text.
Goliath wore a bronze helmet. Helmets were not widely used at the time. Only the greatest warriors would have them.
He also wore a coat of mail that weighed five thousand shekels (120lbs).
In addition, he had bronze armor on his legs.
He had a bronze Javelin (kidon). This was a shorter spear of some kind.
He also had a spear or lance. The shaft was stout like a weaver’s beam. This spear had an iron head that weighed six hundred shekels (around fifteen pounds).
He had a shield bearer.

Extra-biblical writings say that Goliath slaughtered Hophne and Phinieas and carried the ark to Dagon. Saul and the Israelites knew of Goliath's reputation. When he came out and called to the army of Israel to taunt them, it struck fear in them.

This was a standoff across the valley. Whoever made the first move would have to cross the valley and up the other side, putting them at a distinct disadvantage. The idea of two armies fighting through the engagement of representatives was not seen in Israel. However, the Philistines and other Canaanite tribes likely employed this method. Goliath called for Israel to send him a man to fight, determine who would serve the other, and avoid much bloodshed. Saul and his army were terrified.

We can imagine these soldiers looking for a courageous leader to lead that they might follow. Instead, they had Saul. He was once a great warrior, but he was weak and afraid since the Lord’s Spirit departed from him. Saul stood a head taller than most men. He was the logical choice to fight Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:12-16.

David’s association with Bethlehem and his being an Ephrathite are his Jewish heritage, which becomes the source of his passion for his people, and maybe we should see this as a kingly qualification. David was the youngest of eight sons. The three oldest sons (Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah) were part of Saul's army. David was keeping his father’s sheep but went to the battlefield from time to time, or when summoned by Saul.

Both armies wished the other would enter the valley. This taunting scene was repeated daily for forty days. Each day, the armies faced off while Goliath spouted off. Each day, the soldiers looked to Saul and then to each other. None stepped forward. Eighty times, Saul’s army stood in fear with no answer.

1 Samuel 17:17-19

The army, engaged in a lengthy standoff, would run low on provisions. In God’s perfect timing, Jesse sent David to the battlefield with some food. David was to check on his brothers for his father.

1 Samuel 17:20-25

We can imagine the army once again facing off, ready for battle. They just needed a courageous leader to tell them to go. Once again, Goliath stepped out of the ranks of the Philistines to taunt them. David arrived at the camp about this time, dropped off the food, and went to the front to see his brothers and find out what was happening. It was then that David heard Goliath's threats and saw the men of Israel run away in fear.

These men justified their fears by speaking of Goliath. None were willing to stand. They were all emulating Saul, their leader who failed to lead. The man who killed Goliath would receive riches, and Saul’s daughter and his family would be tax-free. However, in their mind, anyone who went out to meet Goliath was as good as dead.

1 Samuel 17:26-27

The soldiers focused on the danger of the battle and the duration of the standoff. While David wonders who this godless man is who insults Israel and their God. The rest of the army saw a giant, and David saw a man defying the army of God. Perspective is critical when we face our enemies. Fear can drastically affect our perspective. Who is he that he would bring such a great reward? David was appalled that this man outside the covenant would speak so boldly. Saul was offering a reward for the one who could kill Goliath.

As all the men looked around to see if there were any takers, any heroes, they would have seen Saul standing head and shoulders above them all. Their fearful leader was the best match for Goliath using the measures of man. But Saul no longer had the heart for it. He no longer had the Spirit of God in him.

1 Samuel 17:28-30

The First Battle

Eliab’s resentment is similar to that of Joseph and his older brothers. What was the source of this resentment?

He felt David was a shepherd and should leave the battle to the soldiers.
He thought David was motivated by pride and arrogance, which was a wrong assessment of the heart.
1. This accusation could come from bitterness at being passed over for kingship.
Eliab was also a tall man and may have felt as though David was pressuring him to fight Goliath.
Maybe most of all, David was right! This man wasn’t defying soldiers. He was defying and mocking God’s people, and no one was doing anything about it.
1. What was the matter with this kid? Didn’t he know he was supposed to be afraid?

David’s response is telling of his relationship with his brother. This is the first battle David has to fight. He had to decide to love and fear God more than his brother. He was hurt but not deterred.

Stepping away from his brother's hurt and stepping out from the crowd paved the way for the next battle. It also heeped shame and guilt on every soldier there who didn’t step forward.

1 Samuel 17:31-37

Word got back to Saul regarding David's words. David said what Saul should have said: “Let no man’s heart fail because of him.” David felt compelled to fight Goliath like every man should, so he volunteered.

The Second Battle

Saul’s response became the second battleground. The king looked at David and told him he couldn’t fight Goliath. He was too young, unqualified, and untrained to stand before a man of war. Saul felt the shame as much as anyone, but it had become a way of life. His message was, “You can’t because I won’t!”

David saw Goliath as simply another dumb beast that was a threat, just another lion or bear threatening the flock. We get a glimpse of this shepherd’s heart, and it is contrasted with Saul’s heart. David assured Saul that he’d fought bears and lions. David had faith that God would deliver him from the Philistine just like He delivered him from the lion and the bear. His faith in earlier tests brought him to the point of a public test and testimony to the living God.

Saul blessed David. The shepherd boy would stand before the giant rather than the king or his army.

It appears Johnathon wasn’t present at this battle. His leadership would not have allowed this to happen, either. In God’s sovereignty, Johnathon was elsewhere so David could ascend from Saul’s shadow.

1 Samuel 17:38-39

We know that Saul was a big and strong warrior standing head and shoulders above others. We can imagine what David looked like when Saul tried to cover him in that oversized armor, trying to make David look and act like him. David threw off the armor. He had a different heart and the Spirit of the Living God. The Lord was his armor.

The man of God in the will of God is indestructible.

1 Samuel 17:40-44

In David’s hand was his staff – the tool of a shepherd; it was used to move and guide sheep as well as fight off enemies. It could provide a gentle touch to a sheep or a death blow to a wolf. David then chose five stones from the brook and put them in his bag. He approached Goliath with his sling in hand. Golian was around three feet taller than him.

The Benjamites were famous (as detailed in Judges) for using slings. David grew up near this area of the Benjamites and may have learned this from them. Accuracy came with practice, and the speed with which a stone could be delivered was a real threat. This wasn’t a kid's toy.

In 2 Samuel, we see that Goliath had four brothers, which may explain why he took five stones. After the first stone, David would have been open to attack, so it’s fair speculation that he was prepared to take on the brothers or others.

Goliath approached, and his armor bearer went before him. He was offended at David approaching him and mocked him. He expected a man of stature, a warrior with armor and weapons. Instead, coming at him was a good-looking kid with a sling. He mocked David for coming at him with a stick.

Goliath cursed David and God and promised to feed him to the birds and beasts.

1 Samuel 17:45-17

Goliath's laughter and mockery were forms of terrorism that didn’t work for David, who fearlessly approached the giant. David’s response to Goliath is incredible. David came in the name of the Lord. He offered his theological position and reason for entering into battle with him.

Goliath’s strength was his size, weapons, and skill – but these would be nothing when the Lord came against him. David let him know the Lord would defeat him that day. David would strike him and take off his head. David said it was Goliath who would feed the birds and beasts.

All the earth would know of the God of Israel!

He talked to Goliath like no one else had ever done. He didn’t just trash-talk him but told him precisely what would happen. This wasn’t for Goliath’s benefit. It was for all the other Philistines to see that what David spoke came about.

The Battle is the Lord’s. He would be the victor. He would be the hero of the day.

1 Samuel 17:48-54

The Third Battle

In contrast to Saul and the army, who ran away, David ran at Goliath. He initiated the attack. As he ran, he pulled one stone, put it in his sling, and sank it into the forehead of the giant. Game over. The battle was done before it got started.

Goliath fell face down. David stood over him. This was a scene no Philistine ever thought they’d see. David unsheathed Goliath’s sword, killed him, and cut off his head.

The Philistines were panic-stricken and ran.

The Israelite army must have been stunned. This army was starving for a show of courage and bravery. They needed a leader to follow. This little shepherd with a sling provided what they needed. When the Philistines ran, they gave chase, emboldened by the death of Goliath. It was ten miles to the gates of Ekron. The Philistine dead and wounded were scattered along the road all the way to Gath. When the army later returned, they plundered the Philistine camp.

David left Goliath's carcass for the birds, as he had said. He took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem (gross). Why he took it to Jerusalem is a bit of a mystery since it was still in the hands of the Jebusites. Was he sending a message to the Jebusites?

David took Goliath’s armor as a prize.

1 Samuel 17:55-58

This causes some to question the chronology of these chapters. But there are other possibilities.

Saul did recognize David but was asking for further information since he would give him his daughter.
When David played music for Saul, he was behind a curtain or separated somehow.
Saul was not in his right mind because of the distressing spirit.
David’s appearance could have changed, having matured or grown a beard.

David was called before Saul and presented himself to the king, still holding the head of Goliath. Saul wanted to know more about David since he would become his son-in-law.

The Big Idea

Goliath initiated a physical battle in which strength, size, skill, and armor came into play. But feeble and weak David elevated it to a higher level. David made it a spiritual battle and appealed to God, who would fight the battle. In this elevated battle, Goliath was a pipsqueak, weak, and ill-equipped to face off with God. This kind of battle was not new to David – he overcame the world by faith.

He would not always win every battle, but he would not be drawn away from faith to wallow in the quagmire of the world and its values. He was a child of God.

There were three battles and one Hero.

The battle of the mind. The internal fears and doubts. Establishing trust is the core principle of the mission. We must remind ourselves that the end is already determined if the Lord calls us.
The outward battle of the culture that says you can’t. You aren’t good enough, tall enough, talented enough, or whatever else. We must rest in the call. The Spirit of God moves us, equips us, and qualifies the called.
The final battle is to face what others fear and run from. It’s what our eyes and mind say, “You better not!” But God says, “Go. The battle is Mine.”

David was not the hero of the story. The Lord alone is the Hero. He conquered the unconquerable and saved when salvation was beyond grasp. This is what Jesus did for us. While we were dead in our sins, he came forth and faced our greatest fear and conquered it. Death was our giant. The penalty of our sin kept us cowering in our shame.

1 Samuel