I Samuel 17:32-52
“And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
And 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. ” (I Samuel 17:32-33)
For about seven hundred fifty years, Israel had lived with God’s promise in Exodus 23:31. “And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.” Repeatedly, he had given miraculous victories over their enemies, including Jonathan’s victory over the Philistines just a few years before. David was convinced God would do it again. If no one else was willing to try, he would go himself, just as Jonathan had done.
Like the other Israelites, Saul looked at Goliath. Not only was he almost twice as tall as David, but he was an experienced soldier, while David was completely without experience. There was no way David could defeat Goliath.
“And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy 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. David 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.” (I Samuel 17:34-37a)
While David was not experienced as a soldier, he had experience in fighting both a bear and a lion. He understood that it was not his skill, but God’s power that had enabled him to kill both of them, and he expected the same power to protect him from Goliath.
And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.”(I Samuel 17:37b-38)
With no one else willing to go, Saul was left with little option but to take David’s offer. Better to lose a teenage boy than to risk his own life. He at least wanted to give David the best possible chance, and since he had the best armor, he gave it to David.
“And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” (I Samuel 17:39-40)
Saul was the biggest man in Israel. His armor was way too large for a teenage kid, as well as being pretty heavy. David found he could hardly walk because it was so clumsy and fit so loosely. To try to fight using such ill fitting equipment with no experience would ensure his death. He would be far better off to use the weapons he had and was familiar with and trust God to give the victory, so that’s what he did.
“And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And 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.” (I Samuel 17:41-44)
Goliath was insulted that they had just sent out a boy to fight him, and that the weapons he had were just what he would have used to chase away a strange dog. There was no way he wouldn’t kill the kid. He cussed David out for insulting him in such a way and promised to leave his body unburied so the animals could eat it.
“Then 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. 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 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. 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.” (I Samuel 17:45-47)
David was aware of the difference in their approaches, and was not intimidated by the threats. Goliath was depending on the most up to date weapons, and a superior education at using them to give the victory. David was just coming in the power of God, recognizing it was God’s battle, and not his. While Goliath promised to kill David, David expected to kill the entire army, and when he did so, both Philistines and Israelites would know the power of God. They would understand that human power was relatively minor.
Too often today, we are like Goliath, depending on education and techniques to build the church or accomplish spiritual matters. Paul stressed using David’s approach in I Corinthians 2:1-5. “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” I suspect the Scopes Trial would have turned out differently had they trusted God rather than the legal skills of Clarence Darrow. Unfortunately many Christian’s faith is in the wisdom of their pastors or churches, rather than in God, because so much emphasis has been focused on techniques and programs rather than on the power of God.
“And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith.” (I Samuel 17:48-51a)
Goliath had considered David’s sling and staff as only good for chasing away a stray dog. Guided by God, a single stone from the sling hit an impossibly small unprotected area on his forehead and knocked him out. Having no sword of his own, David used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head, adding insult to injury.
“And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.” (I Samuel 17:51b-52)
If a single teen age boy could kill their mightiest champion with his own sword, how tough might the experienced Israelites be? It had only been a few years before that Israel had beat them when Jonathan started the fight. The Philistines panicked and fled. Israel killed as many as they could as they fled to the Philistine strongholds.
During my fifty years as a missionary kid, missionary and pastor, I have seen hundreds of men like Saul, depending on human wisdom and programs to accomplish the things of God. Many of them have little or nothing to show for their years of work. Only rarely have I seen guys like David, who just took God at his word and acted accordingly. Their results are correspondingly more substantial.
“And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
And 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. ” (I Samuel 17:32-33)
For about seven hundred fifty years, Israel had lived with God’s promise in Exodus 23:31. “And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.” Repeatedly, he had given miraculous victories over their enemies, including Jonathan’s victory over the Philistines just a few years before. David was convinced God would do it again. If no one else was willing to try, he would go himself, just as Jonathan had done.
Like the other Israelites, Saul looked at Goliath. Not only was he almost twice as tall as David, but he was an experienced soldier, while David was completely without experience. There was no way David could defeat Goliath.
“And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy 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. David 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.” (I Samuel 17:34-37a)
While David was not experienced as a soldier, he had experience in fighting both a bear and a lion. He understood that it was not his skill, but God’s power that had enabled him to kill both of them, and he expected the same power to protect him from Goliath.
And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.”(I Samuel 17:37b-38)
With no one else willing to go, Saul was left with little option but to take David’s offer. Better to lose a teenage boy than to risk his own life. He at least wanted to give David the best possible chance, and since he had the best armor, he gave it to David.
“And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” (I Samuel 17:39-40)
Saul was the biggest man in Israel. His armor was way too large for a teenage kid, as well as being pretty heavy. David found he could hardly walk because it was so clumsy and fit so loosely. To try to fight using such ill fitting equipment with no experience would ensure his death. He would be far better off to use the weapons he had and was familiar with and trust God to give the victory, so that’s what he did.
“And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And 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.” (I Samuel 17:41-44)
Goliath was insulted that they had just sent out a boy to fight him, and that the weapons he had were just what he would have used to chase away a strange dog. There was no way he wouldn’t kill the kid. He cussed David out for insulting him in such a way and promised to leave his body unburied so the animals could eat it.
“Then 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. 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 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. 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.” (I Samuel 17:45-47)
David was aware of the difference in their approaches, and was not intimidated by the threats. Goliath was depending on the most up to date weapons, and a superior education at using them to give the victory. David was just coming in the power of God, recognizing it was God’s battle, and not his. While Goliath promised to kill David, David expected to kill the entire army, and when he did so, both Philistines and Israelites would know the power of God. They would understand that human power was relatively minor.
Too often today, we are like Goliath, depending on education and techniques to build the church or accomplish spiritual matters. Paul stressed using David’s approach in I Corinthians 2:1-5. “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” I suspect the Scopes Trial would have turned out differently had they trusted God rather than the legal skills of Clarence Darrow. Unfortunately many Christian’s faith is in the wisdom of their pastors or churches, rather than in God, because so much emphasis has been focused on techniques and programs rather than on the power of God.
“And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith.” (I Samuel 17:48-51a)
Goliath had considered David’s sling and staff as only good for chasing away a stray dog. Guided by God, a single stone from the sling hit an impossibly small unprotected area on his forehead and knocked him out. Having no sword of his own, David used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head, adding insult to injury.
“And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.” (I Samuel 17:51b-52)
If a single teen age boy could kill their mightiest champion with his own sword, how tough might the experienced Israelites be? It had only been a few years before that Israel had beat them when Jonathan started the fight. The Philistines panicked and fled. Israel killed as many as they could as they fled to the Philistine strongholds.
During my fifty years as a missionary kid, missionary and pastor, I have seen hundreds of men like Saul, depending on human wisdom and programs to accomplish the things of God. Many of them have little or nothing to show for their years of work. Only rarely have I seen guys like David, who just took God at his word and acted accordingly. Their results are correspondingly more substantial.
This confrontation always gets me. The power and wisdom of God easily mock all human effort, like Paul would later say about the foolishness of the gospel insulting human wisdom. If it were up to us, it would be different. I have no doubt about this; but thankfully it is not up to us, and true victory in the Christian life doesn't come because I'm so smart, or strong, etc. It comes IF I am willing to yield to God's Spirit and permit Him to do what He said He would; namely, provide the victory.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Ian.
DeleteUnfortunately, though I know this, I frequently find myself reacting more like Saul than like David.