READ: 1 SAMUEL 17:29-58 DAVID AND GOLIATH
Background: Well known
Israel are at war with the Philistines
Philistines have a great champion (Goliath) who challenges the COI to
send him a man to fight (1-1) with the condition that winner takes all
– the loser’s nation would serve the other
When David turns up –amazed that none are willing to fight
Offers to go – to the anger of his older brother
David repels the rebuke with one of his own rebukes
(v29) Is there not a cause?
Here David crosses the rubicon and cannot turn back
If there is indeed a cause (and there is: the ultimate cause of
the glory/God) then to turn back would be to indicate that the cause of
one's life was greater than the glory/God
This cannot be: We cannot consider ourselves to be of more worth
than the One who created us (as indeed He created all things for His
own pleasure/glory)
So the line was crossed and this passage brings us from the thrilling words to the carrying out of their implications
5 main points open up the passage:
1) THE ASSURANCE WHICH WAS GIVEN: v32
David's words were so stupendous that he was roundly rebuked by his brother (v28)
Appeared his words: full/bravado - plenty of hot air with little/no reality about them
However he was determined to see them through and so desperate was the
situation for Israel: his words were conveyed to King Saul who
immediately sent for him (v31) and this gave David an opportunity to
speak
David's manner is worth noting:
A/ Did not rebuke Saul for his failure
People had desired/king (8:20) go out before us to fight our battles.
Saul in this regard signally failed (v11)
For 40 long days, Saul had allowed the Philistine to insult the God/Heaven without any kind of positive response whatsoever
However David knew his place
It was Samuel's role to rebuke Saul…not his
B/ Although anointed King…David did not regard himself at this stage as any more than Saul's servant (v32/v34/v36)
There was absolutely no arrogance/pride (as accused: v28)
C/ His words were exceedingly simple and reassuring:
Let no man's heart fail him because of Goliath (v32)
These are pastoral words: Designed to reassure/comfort
Put first to have immediate effect
Many times in the Bible we meet with similar words in similar order: Fear not… etc.,
D/ Words were not mere platitudes but backed with a definite self sacrificing reason: thy servant will go and fight/Philistine
2) THE ARGUMENT WHICH WAS ANSWERED: v33-37
A/ Not unreasonable for Saul to answer as he did (v33) Concerned:
[i] David's welfare. Practically a suicide mission with no human hope/success
[ii] The conditions/battle were such (v8-9) that David's loss would be everyone's loss
So Saul had every reason to fear
B/ David was able to counteract with a 2 fold argument:
[i] David was no greenhorn when it came to bravery (v34-35) Note again the strong pastoral content:
A (mere) lamb/flock – something that could have been missed
But David is very meticulous
If he has been entrusted with something…then he will follow it through regardless
Might contrast him with his elder brother whose estimation of the sheep was low: v28
But the main point: He neither feared the lion/bear and bravely pursued
them and managed to slay the lion even at the closest/quarters
(A
military point needful for the fight/Goliath)
[ii] A better argument again: David used the spiritual implications to convince Saul (v37)
Did not happen by chance
Happened (like everything: Ecclesiastes 3:1) for a purpose
I think this was a very recent happening…even when David (although armour bearer) was not present up to then
In training elsewhere
Again: Note how David is carefully to elevate/thought: God will deliver me
I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. (Psalm 44:6)
C/ It was a very successful argument (v37)
Go…Lord be with you
3) THE ARMOUR WHICH WAS REJECTED: v38-40
A/ Evidently Saul was not of the same spiritual level as David
Although with the best/intentions…he is still thinking along the lines of conventional warfare
Thinks this is a battle/might
Bible was to declare much later on: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet
riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill…
(Ecclesiastes 9:11)
B/ David did try on the armour and would have gone…but he
felt very uncomfortable in the armour and saw it as a hindrance (v39)
Therefore he did a very practical thing
Discarded it…again graciously rendering a very good reason
Nothing impractical about faith
Nothing unreasonable about faith
Often above reason but never against it
He discarded all that would hold him back,
No matter how noble the thing was
No matter what history was attached to it
No matter what it could be used for at another time
Even the king's armour had to go
Let's be practical in what we do
Must think of those words in Mark 9:43-47
If thy foot/hand/eye offend thee…cut it off.
The glory/God is paramount
Everything else must go
C/ Instead/armour… David picks 5 smooth stones/brook (v40)
God takes the weak things to confound the mighty
Little is much if God is in it…
What is the strength of the Christian Church?
How have we survived for 2,000 years and will survive/prosper until end/time?
Not in our numbers…our political clout…our finances etc., but in the simple message we proclaim
In a dog-eats-dog world, we offer an alternative that to gain your life you have got to lose it (Luke 17:33)
World says that the strong shall inherit the earth
The country with the nuclear options
The great airforce with air supremacy and naval power
The millions of young men dedicated to their cause
The Bible: The meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5)
In the Book/Revelation, John saw the kings and the great men of the
earth call for the rocks/hills to fall upon them from the face of God
– but he also saw the servants of the Lamb rejoice/reign
4) THE AGGRESSION WHICH WAS EXPERIENCED: v40-51
This brings us to the actual battle itself
Up to now Goliath is unaware that his challenge (v10)
Give me a man been accepted
But this is to change when David drew near: Philistine (v40)
A/ Notice the propaganda of the enemy (v42-44)
Key words: disdain etc., Am I a (mere) dog?
And then the bloodcurdling threat (v44)
Never feel threatened by the world's propaganda
Remember: Greater is he in you…than he is the world (1 John 4:4)
Men can curse/swear by their gods…but they are no gods
Let them boast of their great educational achievements
Let them boast of their so called scientific advances
These are the self life gods that they trust in
A lot of it is mere propaganda, designed to discourage/mislead
Learn to disregard it as you would the yapping of a mere dog
B/ The warning i.e. as given by David(v45-46)
This was effectively Goliath's last warning
Last opportunity to repent of his vile sins before judgement/fell
Now or never! And from v48 it was never
Do not despise the riches/His goodness, forbearance and grace (Romans 2:4)
Certainly do not reject them
If the calls of thy Saviour have so wearied thee
Oh what, if they should weary Him?
C/ The faith:
Note how strongly David words His confession of faith (v45-46)
Thrilling words from our young hero!
He has seen God sitting/His throne and so He fears no defeat
I am very fond of these lines:
When statesman have had their last parley
And despots have made their last threat
When prophets are dumb with misgiving
And forces of conflict are set
When factions misleading and treacherous
Bring chaos where order prevailed
When freedom long cherished has vanquished
And leaders long trusted have failed
When God and His word are derided
And men call it useless to pray
Remember God is still sovereign
And He has the last word to say
D/ The sling:
Faith without works is dead
Faith always uses means and at the most appropriate moment…
David produces his sling (v48-49) and slung the stone/his might
And down went the great blasphemer
The world might laugh at this Book and deride it
But this Book will prevail at the last
Happy is the man who knows how to use it as effectively as David used
his sling – He will be the last man standing/field of battle
Always remember that he who laughs last, laughs the loudest
Amazing thing – the world doesn’t even laugh at the Bible
The world sneers at the Bible
A sneer is not a laugh
A sneer is a pathetic attempt to laugh
It disfigures the face and rasps the throat
Begins to die a slow death the moment its rasping sound/heard
E/ The sword: (v50-51) Significance this? Well:
[i] Sword/Bible is a picture of the Bible itself (Ephesians 6:17)
It is by the word/God that sinners are judged: James 2:12
OR
[ii] Bearing/mind the sword was that of Goliath and not David's
own (a point stressed: v50-51) does it denote how that the
sinner is condemned by himself i.e. just as Goliath carried (and
gloried) in his sword…yet he little thought that his glory would
be the implement of his own death/destruction
With all the arguments about election/reprobation…true to
say: no man is in hell who does not deserve because of his own personal
sin to be there
5) THE AFTERMATH WHICH WAS SIGNIFICANT: v51-58
A/ Philistines fled
Their great champion was dead (v50-51)
Brought into place/utter defeat
Their faith/Goliath was misplaced just as Goliath's faith in his own strength was likewise misplaced
Bigger they are…the harder they fall
What are men trusting in for their salvation?
Their good works? Prayers?
Honest although failed attempts to keep the 10 Commandments? All these will fail them
B/ After some enquiry (v52-56) David was brought to the King and we see
here again how (only on much stronger grounds) was he brought into the
palace (17:58-18:2)
For it was important that David should rise to be King
C/ Messianic side to this incident
David is a picture of Jesus Christ ("Son/David")
Just as Goliath was set to destroy Israel and Israel was totally
powerless to do anything about it…our "David" stepped into the
brink (Calvary) and won the battle for us!
Consider how He was crucified in weakness
All the powers/hell were unleashed against Him
Yet, he destroyed the works of the Devil
He conquered sin and death and hell in one mortal blow
His victory brought spiritual deliverance for the Israel of God
It brings deliverance to the seeking sinner also
But only if they will avail of it
Appeal
THE END