Bible Verse Synopsis 6-1-25
1st Samuel 17
Saul’s war against the Philistines continues. The inner battle for the land of Israel. The two armies stood on opposite mountains (hills) “and there was a valley between them.” - Verse 3. If Israel would have been with God only, this could have had great symbolism and it still does to some degree. The Philistines represented the sin of the world. Israel represents the saved by Christ. The valley is barren and none reside there. We have to accept Christ and then we can move from the sinful side (the Philistines) to God’s side (Israel). Have you crossed the valley yet?
The Philistines sent a champion to the valley to fight on their behalf. A giant of a man named Goliath, of Gath. Verses 4-7 describe his massive stature and strength by telling us of his armor and weapons. To carry all of this he must had had a high level of strength. If we can recall, giants are the spawn of fallen angels and men. Not a natural man but a demon spawn meant to destroy Israel. This is why he was so large and strong, he was not fully man! What things hold us back from being fully with God? What demons do we face?
Goliath challenges Israel to send forth their champion. If they were to defeat him, the Philisitines would surrender. “When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” - Verse 11. They had right to be afraid of Goliath if they were going to attack him by standard means. Our attack on evil should not be by the means of man, but through the Lord. Pray for Him to defeat our demons and carry us over the valley and be free from sin. What evil are we fighting that the Lord could save us from? Have you turned those evils over to Him?
David’s 3 eldest brothers served Saul in the army of Israel. David was left behind and tended the sheep. His father sent him on a mission to take his brothers food and to take Saul cheese and return with a token of his brothers to signify their safety. After 40 days, the giant speaks again. David just so happens to be in army of Israel when Goliath re-issued his challenge! Even after 40 days no man could rise to the occasion to fight the giant. The men of Israel fled from him and were sore afraid. They told David of the reward that Saul would fetch unto the man that killed the Philistine. Riches, Saul’s daughter as a wife, and free from tax were the rewards. All earthly rewards. Are we surprised that the rewards Saul offers are of the flesh?
Eliab begins to question David why he came. His anger kindled against David. “I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you are come down that you might see the battle.” This feels loaded with judgement and not the positive kind. David was confused. He was just trying to understand what was going on. Same as any of us. David must have been talking about how we would handle the scenario to those he spoke to. Because he spoke in this manner Saul summoned him. Why else would Saul summon David to him?
David tells Saul “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." - Verse 32. Saul, using the logic of man, says that David cannot fight the giant because he is young and small. David draws a parallel to his defeating of a lion and bear that took a lamb from his flock. David smote the animals and returned his lamb to the flock. When they arose against him, David caught the lion by the beard and slew him. “Your servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing as he defied the armies of the Living God.” - Verse 36. We see that David had the Lord behind him. No one but David had referred to the Lord in this entire chapter. Do you see the reason for Israel’s and Saul’s constant struggle against the Philistines? The lack of God in their lives! David was the light they needed. David possessed the courage and the Faith that Israel needed to overcome their sin and their enemies. Do you seek the Light of the Lord to overcome our sins and enemies?
Saul gives David the go ahead but first attempts to arm David with armor and a weapon. David starts to wear it, but soon takes it off. “I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them.” - Verse 39. David has no experience with the tools of man’s warfare. Instead David picked up his sling and his staff, went to the brook and put them in his shepherds bag. The giant mocked David and threatened him with his death. In the law of man the giant was superior but only 1 of these 2 men was of man, David was of God. The playing field was not level, but not in the way that most of those observing thought. In what ways has God given us a leg up on sin? Are you armed with armor of God or of man?
Goliath cursed David by his gods (verse 43) and in return, David proclaims his presence in the name of the Lord. This puts God directly against the pagan god of the Philistines. “This day the Lord deliver you into my hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from you.” Verse 46. David proclaims that the Lord wins not with sword and spear, but with His will. However that may be shaped. The Lord will deliver. As Goliath begins to charge against David, so does David charge Goliath. The faith David shows here despite the size advantage is amazing. Would you have this much faith to charge a giant? I’m not sure I would be able to! Verse 49 tells us “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.” David proceeds to cut off Goliaths head while standing upon him. This is symbolic of how we are to behave. Conquer and stand upon the giants we face in the name of the Lord. How can we give the Lord our troubles and allow Him to fight our battles? Without God, David would not be able to do what he did and neither could we to overcome our giants.
Saul did not recognize David as he had to ask his head of the guard who he was in verse 55. So Saul had David called upon him to answer his questions. What do we see from God that we fail to recognize?