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)
2. David: Israel’s Unlikely Champion
a. Every great showdown has it’s hero. Some likely and some very unlikely. Illust: In “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” the unlikely hero is Jimmy Stewart’s character a bookish lawyer named Ransom Stoddard. The townspeople think Stoddard has shot the villain, but in fact it was Tom Doniphon, the character played by John Wayne. Stoddard is hailed the hero and nominated for public office. Doniphon goes home alone.
b. Goliath, the Philistine champion, is described in verses 4-11 in terms of his towering physical stature and his impressive defensive and offensive armor. David, Goliath’s opponent-to-be, is introduced in verses 12-15 by a very different description. Nothing is said here about David’s size, strength, or weapons. Rather, we are told his birth order – the youngest of Jesse’s 8 sons! We are told that his father is now very old. (verse 12). We are told that David’s three oldest brothers have gone to war to fight with Saul, and that David is left at home to care for the sheep (Illust: Still holding the light!), except for those times he needs to commute to serve as a minister of music for Saul (16:14-23). No offense but I wouldn’t want the average evangelical church’s minister of music to go out and face Goliath! “Yeah, God…like let’s just worship today. Skinny jeans, snood, while balancing his latte and trying to figure out which end of the sword to hold!
C. Applic: Whereas Goliath’s awesome appearance and weapons are emphasized, as we saw last week, (I Sam 15) God does not pick David based on his outward appearance, but rather based on his inner character and devotion.
II. Unexpected Battles and Unexpected Detractors
A. David’s Unplanned Visit to the Battle Site vv.17-25
1. At his Father’s Behest, David Visits his brothers in the Battle field.
a. Sometimes you and I find ourselves in fights we never went looking for. David did not go looking for this fight. Rather, his elderly father sends David on an errand of welfare for his older brothers. Vv.17-18 – Jesse has David take food to his brothers and to his brother’s officers. Fight comes to him.
b. David gets someone to look after his father’s and Saul’s flock of sheep, David leaves early in the morning and travels about 12 miles to where the Israelite army is encamped. Had he arrived just a few minutes earlier, things might have been very different. He would have found his brothers still at their camp, where he could have simply handed them the supplies Jesse sent, asked about their well-being, and then set out for home before they went to the battle line.
2. David’s motives are Questioned by his 3 Fearful Family Members. Vv.22-23
a. David arrives just as the Israelite soldiers are leaving their camp and rush toward the battle line, giving an impressive battle cry in unison as they charge -- approaching, but not getting too close (Like a scared dog!), to the Philistines. There, David finds his brothers, and there he sees Goliath repeat his challenge for the 81st time (see 1 Samuel 17:16). Goliath says what he always does, but this is the first time David has heard him. David listens to this giant’s challenge and his cursing of Israel and her God. He watches the frightened Israelites (including his brothers) draw back, their courage shattered by this man’s words and appearance. (Giants and giant issues in our lives strike fear in our hearts because of their appearance!)
b. V.24 – Notice the context for what will come next. David’s 3 older brothers will respond to his innocent questioning in condemnation because of their own fear. When men don’t act like men with courage, but respond with fear and fainting, they usually become aggressive and condemning of those who call their behavior into account. Your bravery condemns the cowardice of others. When you are called by God to face giants in your life beware of “friendly fire”. Often friends and family will curse and condemn you.
B. David’s Notorious Detractor vv. 26-30
1. David’s Oldest Brother Becomes his Greatest Detractor.
a. Eliab hears David’s righteous indignation (v.26) and his own lack of faith is condemned so he responds by verbally attacking his little brother and his supposed motives. V.28 –“Eliab’s anger burned” – Anger is a warning signal to us and most decision we make when angry are bad and most words we say when anger we often wish later we had not. Notice Eliab even ascribes motives to David’s actions: “insolence and wickedness” – No, David had come down because their father told him to and to bring them food. Here is a principle from ministry 101 “The people you help the most are the most likely to turn on you.”
b. Why does Eliab respond this way? Even though its been about a year since I Sam. 16:7, Eliab’s pride is still smarting after being rejected by God when Samuel came to anoint a new king. Despises his little brother.
2. Sometimes Those Closest To You Will Undermine You and Attempt to Dissuade You from Your God Designed Purpose and Calling. Often this takes place out of anger, spite, and jealousy. Eliab does not come out looking very good. When he hears David inquiring of some of his fellow-soldiers about the rewards Saul has offered the man who defeats Goliath, Eliab is greatly angered and proceeds to vent that anger toward David. He first accuses David of coming to the battlefield for all the wrong reasons. Specifically, he accuses David of wanting to be a spectator at the battlefront for his own entertainment, not unlike going to a circus. Eliab either does not know that David has come in obedience to his father’s instructions, or he mentally sets this aside. He then attacks David by accusing him of forsaking his responsibilities with respect to his job of caring for his father’s sheep. He indicts David for abandoning the flock and adds insult to injury by adding the word “few” (“few sheep,” verse 28), suggesting that David’s task is not only menial (taking care of the sheep), but trivial (just a “few sheep”). Isn’t it funny that in every area Eliab condemns David he is not only innocent, but rather, commendable.
C. Applic: Christian, I don’t know what your battle is that you are facing. I don’t know where you are taking friendly fire from…But can I encourage you, don’t just be innocent, be commendable! Keep caring for your elderly parents. Keep sacrificing for your children. Keep loving your wife. Keep going to work.
III. David with Israel’s Giant vv. 31-39
A. Saul: A Cowardly King
1. King Saul was Israel’s giant (A head taller than everyone else.) but he was acting like a coward.
a. Cowardice and fear was something Saul struggle with in life. (when first called and other examples) Cowardice will keep you and me from fulfilling our God-appointed commitments. Need to remember “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (I Jn. 4:4)
b. Illust: Have you ever been in that situation in an airport when…your gate is full of people, group of irate customers surrounding the desk, bewildered ticketing agents..finally come over the intercom: “Would anyone be willing to give up your seat on today’s flight for a voucher worth $100…$200… FREE FLIGHT? Why? Offering compensation for a mistake they have made. Someone else is going to take a travel hit, but if they take the fall and the airline looks good, they will be compensated. King Saul does just this: Reward, no military service, no taxes, daughter. King Saul should have answered Goliath’s challenge, but he was not in fellowship with God and as a result given over to fear. Illust: Christian, what are you afraid of? Health? Financial? “Perfect love casts out all fear.” (I John 4:18)
2. David: An Unlikely Hero (No to king’s armor.)
a. Illust: My father despised complainers. He had a phrase: “You got the easy part done, the complaining…now offer a solution!” Word of David’s courage comes to the king and he calls for David. However, when he sees David he states the negative. (Read v. 33) Now think about it…for forty days, morning and night Goliath lumbers out and screams defiance at Israel’s army and they run and hide. NO ONE has volunteered for 40 days and the king is a coward. Now a teenager comes and volunteers to fight! Praise God for the faith of young people! (I Tim. 3:12 – “Don’t let anyone..set anexample speech, life, love, faith, purity.”
b. Saul is locked up by his fear and only sees obstacles and impossibilities. Saul points out Goliath’s size and experience and David’s supposed lack of experience.
B. David Testifies of God’s Previous Faithfulness to him.
1.David Presents a Questioning King with a Resume of God’s Faithfulness in Previous Battle.
a. vv.34-36 – David details to the king his experience. He has killed bears and lions. True, so far he has never killed a giant, but David makes the astute observation: “this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them since he has taunted the armies of the living God.” David had a secret weapon that motivated his fighting: Passion for God’s Honor!
b. Young people can I point your attention to something very important in what David says? David learned the principles of killing giants when he was employed in what his older brother called “menial labor”. If you seek to honor God in your lives, young people, there need never be a wasted experience in your life! God can and does use even the most menial and mundane tasks to prepare you for a great future when one day He will use you to conquer giants! Be faithful today!
2. David’s Faith In God Becomes Contagious to a Previously fearful king
a. Saul almost unwittingly undermines David’s determination by offering him his armor. Vv.38-39 – Saul hurriedly offers David his armor when David convinces him that he can fight and win. Saul would’ve been at least a foot taller than David if not more! Needless to say, the armor didn’t fit. In fact it would be a hinderance in David’s fight. V.39 – David having trouble walking “for he had not tested them”
b. Friend, when you are fighting giants in your life don’t go to the battle with untested armor and weapons! What do I mean by that? Get to know God today. Learn how He works in your life. Learn His ways. (Illust) David’s past empowered the present. Based on his past experience, David knew the challenge he faced. He had tangled with wild animals while protecting his flock, and he knew God’s faithfulness. The Lord had helped and would help. When we face conflict, when we suffer loss, whatever our trials are, our memory of how God has helped us in the past gives us confidence for the future.
C. Applic: David was gutsy and bold; he didn’t hesitate to speak out, to confront the foe. Size didn’t matter. David knew that God would empower him. Courage stems from faith. I find it interesting that in C.S. Lewis’ Narnia books it is the tiny mouse Reepicheep, who is the most courageous of all the Narnians.
IV. David Kills the Giant vv. 40-54
A. When You Have to Fight a Giant you’d better have the right weapons. (The moves are different!)
1.David Carefully Chooses his Weapons.
a. David had rejected the king’s armor and weapons. He had not tested them. No experience. Rather, goes to the brook and picks out five smooth stones.
b. Many have wondered why 5 stones? Some think represents the Torah. Others because Goliath had 4 brothers. Maybe those were the five best stones. Doesn’t matter.
2. David’s Lack of Armor “Disarms” Goliath
a. The irony of this incident is that David’s armor (or lack of it) seems to “disarm” Goliath. Here is a man whose ego seems as large or larger than his frame. He is arrogant, proud, and blasphemous. He challenges the Israelites to send him their best warrior, and the winner takes all. Can you imagine the shock to Goliath and his ego when David comes forth? Here is a young man with no defensive armor at all, and seemingly no offensive armor. David does carry a sling, but he has not yet placed a rock in it, so he certainly does not appear threatening. What Goliath does see is the stick David carries in his hand. Goliath seems to jump to the conclusion that this is David’s only weapon. People carry sticks – even today – to ward off dogs that might harass them. Is this why David brings his stick, to deal with Goliath like a dog?
b. God is a covenant-keeping God, so Goliath was already cursed by blaspheming God and His people. Biblically speaking, a dark cloud already hangs over the head of Goliath, which would soon come off. We need to be humble when facing giants. Talk little about yourself but brag a lot about your God!
B. When You Have to fight a Giant You’d better know Who’s Battle it actually is.
1. David Doesn’t let Goliath’s Bold Words Frighten him. vv.43-45 Christian, if you have to fight battles with giants in your life don’t listen to Satan. He is a liar. You aren’t good enough, you aren’t smart enough, you are strong enough…That’s right Satan…I am NOT but my God IS!!! David doesn’t listen to any of Goliath’s rantings.
2. David Recognizes this Fight is Over God’s Honor. V.45
a. A few moments ago I said that David carefully selected his weapons…sling and five stones. The most powerful weapon in David’s arsenal wasn’t the sling and five stones. Rather, it was “the Name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel”.
b. Christian, can I remind you what Prov. 18:10 says? “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are saved!”
3. David Ran Forward to Face his foe. Vv.48-49
a. Illust: King of Rohan and Aragorn in The Two Towers. The fortress is breached. The Orcs are outside. All seems lost. Theoden : “What can man do against such reckless hate?” Aragorn replies: “Ride out with me!” The sun is rising.” This must have been one agonizing moment in time when the whole world seemed to stand and keep silent as David charged the giant. Then THUD! Like a giant Redwood falling in the forest.
b. The last words Goliath spoke were to curse God. (Many a pagan has done so to their doom.) Do you remember Goliath’s hometown? Gath. When the Ark of the Covenant was captured it was taken to Gath. Then Ekron and finally Ashdod to the temple of Dagon. The people found the statue to Dagon toppled, head and arms broken off, lying face down in front of the Ark. Goliath is in the same position. As will everyone be one day! (Phil. 2:10 At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.”
