David and Goliath

I do not have a full blog for this episode so I strongly recommend you listen to the audio above.

Here are some of the key points:

• 1 Samuel 17 provides us with the longest Davidic narrative relating to a single battle with a foreign enemy.

• 1 Samuel 17:4-7 is the longest description of military attire in the Old Testament.

  • This long description causes the reader to focus on outward appearance. (compare with what we learned on Heart Matter)

• 1 Samuel 17:11 - Saul and all Israel are greatly afraid of facing Goliath in one on one battle.

  • Deuteronomy 1:21; 9:1-4; 20:1-4; 31:8 all tell God’s people not to be afraid of their enemies.

• 1 Samuel 17:12-15 - Introduces David once again as the youngest son of Jesse, and he has not been staying with Saul full time (discussed on Mental Health, Music and the Bible), but rather goes back and forth from the presence of the king to care for his father’s sheep.

• 1 Samuel 17:16 Goliath has been showing up and defying and mocking the Israelite army for 40 days.

  • 40 days means this has been straining the resources of the Israelite monarchy.

  • Has kept men away from farming and caring for the animals adding to the financial difficulties.

  • 40 days is also a special number highlighting the thoroughness and completeness of the trial.

    • Genesis 7: 4, 12 - the flood - the rain fell 40 days and 40 nights.

    • Exodus 24:18 - Moses was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.

    • Exodus 34:28 - Moses was on the mountain with God again.

    • Deuteronomy 9:25 - Moses prayed 40 days and nights interceding for Israel.

    • Numbers 13:25 - Israelite spies spied out the promised land for 40 days.

    • Numbers 14:34 - Israel will wander in the wilderness for 40 years due to their lack of faith.

    • 1 Kings 19:8 - Depressed prophet- Elijah traveled 40 days and nights when fleeing Jezebel.

    • Jonah 3:4 - Jonah preached 40 days and the city will be overthrown.

    • Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2 - Jesus tempted 40 days in the wilderness.

• 1 Samuel 17:17-25 - Jesse sends David to bring supplies to his brothers and their captain and David witnesses Goliath and the fear of the Israelites.

  • we learn that the families of the soldiers supplied the rations for their relatives and others in the ranks.

  • David is depicted as a responsible shepherd (leaves the sheep with a keeper) and obedient son.

  • David learns of the benefits of defeating the Goliath.

    • Exemption from taxes.

    • marriage to the princess.

• 1 Samuel 17:26 - David supplies the army with the correct perspective. They were not the servants of Saul as Goliath claimed (1 Samuel 17:8) but rather they were the armies of the living God.

• 1 Samuel 17:27-30 - as David is asking around about the giant and his oldest brother Eliab becomes angry with David. Here it becomes clear why Eliab was not chosen to be king. He is afraid of the giant but claims to know David’s heart and that David only wants to see the battle. David argues that he has good reasons to be asking around and to be upset about the current situation.

• 1 Samuel 17:31-33 Saul hears about David’s willingness to fight the giant and calls him. David tells Saul that no one needs to be afraid since he will fight the giant. Saul disagrees pointing out David is too young (perhaps under 20, the age to join the army [Numbers 1:3; 26:2]) and that the giant had been fighting since he was young. Clearly, there is a significant gap no only in size but also in experience in battle.

  • Looking from the outside there is no hope for David to win this battle.

• 1 Samuel 17:34-37 - David argues about how he has faced both lions and bears who tried to kill his sheep. David argues that as God protected him from and gave him victory over lions and bears He will do the same regarding this giant.

  • David is looking at this based on his past experiences with God. God has delivered him before, and surely God will deliver him now.

Application

Like David, we develop our faith as we face trials. It is in the midst of great trials and tribulations that we learn that God is indeed mighty and faithful and able to save. If David had never faced the lion and the bear, if David had simply avoided them, or run away, or given up, he would have never developed the faith necessary to face Goliath.

David was not experienced in military combat, but he was experienced in facing challenges in the might of God. David had learned that God was mighty and faithful and David was aware of God’s promises regarding facing their enemies (Deuteronomy 1:21; 9:1-4; 20:1-4; 31:8). It is good to know the promises of God, and it is even better to experience God’s faithfulness. As David faced trials head-on, he discovered that he could claim God’s promises and that God was faithful in keeping them.

Do we doubt God? Could it be that we doubt Him because we always back down when things get tough? We run form the lion, we run form the bear, and then we wonder why we don’t have the faith to face the giant. I am not saying that anyone should seek out danger or conflict. I am saying we should not shy away from standing up for God and for what is right and true. We must boldly do what God calls us to do and when we do we will witness His mighty hand at work in and through us.

Today’s trials are preparing you to face tomorrow’s giants.