Goliath Challenges The Israelites
December 16, 2022
Commentary
Chapter 17 of this book is one of the most familiar in the Bible. This wonderful review of history concerning David and Goliath reveals more than human bravery. It reveals that even as a boy David had a heart for God. Sometime after David had commenced his role as Saul’s musician, the armies of Israel and the Philistines faced each other across the Valley of Elah (vv. 1-2). Israel is at war again with the Philistines, their perennial and perpetual enemy. This was a wide valley approximately 15 miles southwest of Jerusalem (v. 3). The two armies were at a standstill. They were poised to enter battle and did not want to fight. Apparently intimidated by each other, they decided that their differences should be settled by a contest of champions who would engage each other in combat. This would avoid great bloodshed because the winner of the fight would determine who the winner of the conflict would be.
The Philistines chose Goliath, who was a nine foot, nine inch giant. Israel could not find anyone who would match up to the size of this giant (vv. 4-8). Goliath was a pretty tall man. We could say that He was a big boy. He could have played center or forward on any basketball team. He said, “If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us” (v. 9). He continued, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together” (v. 10). Every day Goliath challenged the Israelites to send out a man to fight him, but after forty days, no one had accepted. When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid (v. 11). Had Saul been a godly leader, he would have claimed Deut. 20 and led his army to victory; but when people are out of fellowship with God, they can only lead others into defeat.
We all face giants in our lives. Giants represent that battle we are facing and struggling with. However we may overcome them with the power of God. They look huge and intimidating and make us feel vulnerable and helpless. Giants seem to always stand in the way and may include such things as smoking, movies, money, depression, boyfriends, pride, fear, music, etc., etc. They are intimidating and are there for the purpose of keeping us away from God. You know what your giant is and as we read on in this passage it will point out several steps to Victory.
Application
Weapons I have to fight the battles in my life are: (1) the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17), (2) the strength of Christian Fellowship (Ecc. 4:9-12), and (3) the prayer against temptation (Matt. 26:41).
1 Samuel 17:1– 11 (NET)
1 The Philistines gathered their troops for battle. They assembled at Socoh in Judah. They camped in Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelite army assembled and camped in the valley of Elah, where they arranged their battle lines to fight against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites on another hill, with the valley between them.
4 Then a champion came out from the camp of the Philistines. His name was Goliath; he was from Gath. He was close to seven feet tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and was wearing scale body armor. The weight of his bronze body armor was 5,000 shekels. 6 He had bronze shin guards on his legs, and a bronze javelin was slung over his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed 600 shekels. His shield bearer was walking before him.
8 Goliath stood and called to Israel’s troops, “Why do you come out to prepare for battle? Am I not the Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose for yourselves a man so he may come down to me! 9 If he is able to fight with me and strike me down, we will become your servants. But if I prevail against him and strike him down, you will become our servants and will serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “I defy Israel’s troops this day! Give me a man so we can fight each other!” 11 When Saul and all the Israelites heard these words of the Philistine, they were upset and very afraid.