David And Goliath

`David series David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17:1-50

credit: This is an adaptation of Charles Swindoll's "David: a man of passion and destiny" Chapter 4. The flow and some exact text is from that chapter, however I added and edited it to make it my own sermon.

An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a casket containing a mummy.

After examining it, he called the curator of a prestigious natural-history museum and said,

“I’ve just discovered a 3,000 year-old mummy of a man who died of heart failure!”

The curator replied, “Bring him in. We’ll check it out.”

A week later, the amazed curator called the archaeologist. “You were right about the mummy’s age and cause of death. How in the world did you know that he died of a heart attack?”

The archaeologist said, “Easy. There was a piece of paper in his hand that said, ’10,000 Shekels on Goliath.’”

The story of David and Goliath is perhaps the favorite of all the Bible stories for many people.

Certainly it is one of the best known, and most inspirational.

Everyone loves a story where the underdog wins against all odds.

Goliath had all the things that would normally impress and intimidate:

David was not impressed

David was not intimidated.

David knew something no one else noticed:

- that in this time of crisis

- no matter how big the giant might be, And

- no matter how powerful he might be,

David understood, what we need to understand:

God is greater.

God is all-powerful.

That when we stand for God

God’s enemies ought to be scared

God’s enemies will be defeated

Now, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the battleground.

“Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.”

- 1 Samuel 17:1–3

The Valley of Elah was more like a vast canyon:

It was about a mile wide, and

on one slope was the army of Israel and

on the other, the army of the Philistines.

Now let’s consider the major characters in our text from 1 Samuel 17

First there was Goliath, whose size and appearance were so impressive that the writer describes him in exacting detail.

1. GOLIATH

“And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.”

- 1 Samuel 17:4

Goliath was somewhere near 9' 9" tall . . . an enormous man:

- standing on his tip toes he would be taller than 10 foot high

- he could probably reach up to 13 feet in the air

- Goliath was a big man, But it wasn’t just his size.

“He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.”

- 1 Samuel 17:5–7

Goliath was dressed for battle:

- his body armor weighed between 175 and 200 pounds.

- But Goliath also wore a bronze helmet, and

- bronze leggings (greaves) to protect his shins, and

- he carried a bronze javelin or spear slung between his shoulders.

- The head of his spear alone weighed six hundred shekels of iron, or about 20 to 25 pounds.

He also had a “shield-carrier” who walked before him:

Goliath had this fellow running in front of him,

carrying a man-size shield as double protection.

Certainly:

- Goliath was a battle hardened warrior

- having killed countless men

- been bloodied and victorious

With all that in mind:

- can you Imagine how frightening it would be to take Goliath on

- in a battle to the death?

- the odds would not be in your favor.

Notice what this warrior did.

He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.

“Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 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.”