God Takes Sides - 1 Samuel 17:1-58

God Takes Sides - 1 Samuel 17:1-58

Some people believed God is not biased and is very neutral, contrary to popular belief, but God takes sides. And be rejoice because God has taken our sides.

David vs. Goliath: - God has taken the side of David

God definitely took sides with David for David said "You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (I Samuel 17:45) and because of this, Goliath was defeated because God sided with David.

I Samuel 17: Read the whole chapter

1 Samuel 17:1 The Philistines gathered their armies together for war. They met at Socoh in Judah. Their camp was between Socoh and Azekah, at a town called Ephes Dammim.

1 Samuel 17:2 Saul and the Israelite soldiers also gathered together. Their camp was in the Valley of Elah. Saul's soldiers were lined up and ready to fight the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:3 The Philistines were on one hill. The Israelites were on the other hill. The valley was between them.

1 Samuel 17:4 The Philistines had a champion fighter named Goliath, who was from Gath. He was over 9 feet tall. Goliath came out of the Philistine camp.

1 Samuel 17:5 He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of armor that was made like the scales on a fish. This armor was made of bronze and weighed about 125 pounds.

1 Samuel 17:6 Goliath wore bronze protectors on his legs. He had a bronze javelin tied on his back.

1 Samuel 17:7 The wooden part of his spear was as big as a weaver's rod. The spear's blade weighed 15 pounds. Goliath's helper walked in front of him, carrying Goliath's shield.

1 Samuel 17:8 Each day Goliath would come out and shout a challenge to the Israelite soldiers. He would say, "Why are all of your soldiers lined up ready for battle? You are Saul's servants. I am a Philistine. So choose one man and send him to fight me.

1 Samuel 17:9 If that man kills me, he wins and we Philistines will become your slaves. But if I kill your man, then I win, and you will become our slaves. You will have to serve us."

1 Samuel 17:10 The Philistine also said, "Today I stand and make fun of the army of Israel. I dare you to send me one of your men and let us fight."

1 Samuel 17:11 Saul and the Israelite soldiers heard what Goliath said, and they were very afraid.

1 Samuel 17:12 David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was from the Ephrathah family in Bethlehem, Judah. Jesse had eight sons. In Saul's time Jesse was an old man.

1 Samuel 17:13 Jesse's three oldest sons went with Saul to the war. The first son was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.

1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest son. The three oldest sons were in Saul's army,

1 Samuel 17:15 but David left Saul from time to time to take care of his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 17:16 The Philistine came out every morning and evening and stood before the Israelite army. Goliath insulted Israel like this for 40 days.

1 Samuel 17:17 One day Jesse said to his son David, "Take this basket of cooked grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers in the camp.

1 Samuel 17:18 Also take these ten pieces of cheese for the officer who commands your brothers' group of 1000 soldiers. See how your brothers are doing. Bring back something to show me your brothers are all right.

1 Samuel 17:19 Your brothers are with Saul and all the Israelite soldiers in the Valley of Elah. They are there to fight against the Philistines."

1 Samuel 17:20 Early in the morning, David had another shepherd take care of the sheep while he took the food and left as Jesse had told him to. David drove their wagon to the camp. The soldiers were going out to their battle positions just as David arrived. The soldiers began shouting their war cry.

1 Samuel 17:21 The Israelites and Philistines were lined up and ready for battle.

1 Samuel 17:22 David left the food with the man who kept supplies. Then he ran to the place where the Israelite soldiers were and asked about his brothers.

1 Samuel 17:23 While David was talking with his brothers, the Philistine champion fighter came out from the Philistine army. This was Goliath, the Philistine from Gath. Goliath shouted things against Israel as usual. David heard what he said.

1 Samuel 17:24 The Israelite soldiers saw Goliath and ran away. They were all afraid of him.