“David and Goliath”

 “Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.” (1 Samuel 17:1)

Background

Saul is still King, but he suffers from depression and fits of rage. To calm his rage, the shepherd boy, David, sits with Saul and plays the harp for him. Saul loves David and promotes him to armorer bearer. Saul is not much of a warrior. This often puts David back to tending his father’s flock.

Then the Philistines arrive again, gathering on one mountain, and Israel on the opposite mountain. There is a valley between them.

Goliath

Goliath is a very strong warrior. He is wearing a great brass helmet, chest and back plate, a huge spear, he also had a shield bearer. There is no doubt he was bigger than any other man on the field of battle.

“8And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.”(1 Samuel 17:8-9)

For the next 40 days the Philistine and Israel fight in battle. Every day Goliath repeats his taunting. Saul is terrified of Goliath.

David

While the battle is raging, David is tending his father’s sheep. Jesse, David’s father, sends him to the battle to see how his brother’s are faring. When David arrives he sees the battle being fought, and hears the taunts of Goliath.

“And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)

Eliab, David’s oldest brother rebukes David. To paraphrase, Eliab is telling David you are too young and weak to be here among the adults. The other adults treat David the same way.

David and Saul

The people around David tell Saul about what David had said. Saul sent for David to come before him.

“32And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:32:33)

David tells Saul about how when David was tending his father’s sheep a lion and a bear took a lamb from the flock.

“36Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” (1 Samuel 17:36-37)

Saul can’t argue David’s response. God had made Saul’s son, Jonathan, strong enough to destroy the garrison of Philistines. So Saul tries to outfit David with his armor. David sees things differently.

The Armor of David

Goliath is armored with the style of armor of that day. He is well protected from the conventional weapons of that day.

David chooses to remain dressed as he did when he was a shepherd. He is armed with a staff, a sling, and a pouch of stones.

In today’s world armored vehicles are surrounded by technological improvements on armor, but most of them are still vulnerable.

Big and slow, is easily defeated by small and quick.

The Battle

Goliath says, “43And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.” (1 Samuel 17:43-44)

David says, “45Then said David to the Philistine, 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.

46This 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 carcases 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.

47And 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.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

David charges toward Goliath and puts a stone in his sling.

Imagine the tension on both sides. Israel sees a small child heading to his impending doom. The Philistines sees their mighty champion standing tall against the impudent wimp.

David lets the stone fly.

A collective sound of Israel holding their breath, ready to flee, and the Philistines holding their breath ready to cheer.

The stone hits Goliath and penetrates his skull.

Fear and rejoicing turns to AWE!!

Goliath drops in his shadow. David does not have a sword, so he uses Goliath’s sword to cut off his head.

The Aftermath

Instead of rejoicing in the victory they anticipated, the Philistines ran. Their armies fell apart. Not just a withdrawal, but a full on retreat.

The army of Israel instead of deciding how to retreat, now is in a full on charge to catch the Philistines. Pushing them out of the valley, out of their mountains and into the Philistines cities.

Saul is not only surprised by David’s victory, he now wants to talk to David.

Stay Tuned…