David And Goliath

Title: David and Goliath: Facing the Giants in Your Life Script: I Samuel 17

Type: series on David Where: GNBC 9-22-24

Intro: Westerns are filled with the stuff of great final showdowns. If we’ve learned anything from watching westerns for more than a hundred years, it is this: If you ever find yourself in a western showdown, don’t draw first. Regardless of the setting and the combatants, the guy who does is always the guy who gets carried off the street. There have been many a famous showdown in Westerns: High Noon, The Gunfighter, Shane, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, (List several more.) However, my all-time favorite is when Rooster Cogburn put’s Bo’s reigns in his mouth, drawing his carbine and revolver and charges straight at Lucky Ned Pepper, Greaser Bob, Harold and Farrel Permalee it may be the second greatest showdown in history…. And today we get to examine the greatest!

Prop: Let’s examine 4 key components of David’s fight with Goliath.

BG: 1. One of most popular stories in Bible. Last week told you that liberal scholarship never even believed in “David” until 1993 Tel Dan stele find. Many critical of this story because Goliath 9’6”. Impossible! Yet recently 10’ skeletons found in Nevada. 2. Israel had feared giants before. Got 40 yrs of wandering for their fear. When pick up the story been hiding for 40 days.

Prop: Follow with me in I Sam. 17 to notice 4 important elements of David’s fight with Goliath.

I. The Setting for the Showdown. Vv.1-16

A. The Story’s Setting vv. 1-3

1. The Battle takes Place Because of the King’s Passivity.

a. Saul never seemed to take the initiative in precipitating a military confrontation with the Philistines. He certainly didn’t here. After their partial defeat and humiliation at the hand of the Israel (chap14) , the Philistines seem eager to not only regain the military dominance they once held over Israel (I Sam. 4:9), but their sense of pride. The two armies square off approximately 15 miles southwest of Jerusalem, on opposite sides of the Elah valley.

b. Why did this standoff continues for so long, with both sides feigning a fight with loud shouting and all of the hype of war, but with no real contact and no casualties. Bluff and bluster can often win battles. Illust: Back in HS there were two first cousins in my class. Johnny was brash and cocky bantam rooster who ran his mouth and always acted like wanted to fight As long as his cousin, Greg, was nearby. Greg was the biggest and strongest guy in the school and very protective of his little cousin. However, unless he was really riled up he was a gentle giant. Johnny was able to bluff because Greg had his back.

2. A Standstill settles in.

a. We read in v.16 that this posturing took place for 40 days. Saul and his army do not really want to fight, and neither do the Philistines. It is easier to understand the Philistines’ reluctance. They had some of the most advanced technology of the time: iron and bronze weapons, chariots, but these are designed for relatively level ground, not mountain slopes – they weren’t ATV’s! Israel had chosen battleground that would negate the Philistine’s technological advantage.

b. The Philistine leaders look around and see their positional disadvantage and then go thru their ranks to see what was their undeniable advantage: A giant! (Illust Like that scene in Princess Bride and a holocaust cloak!) The Philistine commanders propose an idea. Why should there be thousands of casualties. Pick one champion apiece and let them fight. One man dies. The losers become the servants of the winners. Sounds like a good idea if you are in the infantry!

B. The Story’s Villain and Hero vv. 4-16

1. Goliath: The Philistine Villian

a. Illust: Every great showdown has it’s villain. Who can forget Lee Marvin’s portrayal of a sadistically evil Liberty Valance who terrorizes the Western town of Shinbone.

b. Illust: I Sam. 17 introduces one of the biggest (Literally!) villains of all time! “If Goliath were a basketball player today, he could “slam-dunk” the ball standing flat-footed! If his height is not enough to terrorize the Israelites, his armor would send a chill up their spine. I have heard of women “dressed to kill,” but Goliath really does send a message just by the way he is outfitted. He wears a bronze helmet and a coat of armor weighing about 125 pounds, and his legs are also protected by armor. He carries a bronze javelin between his shoulder blades and has a spear heavy enough that some of us might need a friend to take up one end just to help carry it. The head of the spear weighs about 15 pounds. Besides all the protective equipment Goliath wears or carries, he has an armor bearer who goes ahead of him to hold up a shield.” He has been a soldier/fighter since his youth. (Bob Deffingbaum, I Sam. 17)