Category: David & Goliath

1 Sam 17⁵⁴ “he put his armour in his tent”

Theme: “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure “. Psalm 119¹⁶² (NKJV)

Collectively the treasures we have covered with their different titles hopefully serve the purpose of showing the “endless treasures” (NLT) or “glorious riches” (Phil 4¹⁹ NLT) given to us in Christ Jesus.

Having gone through the past 10 sessions we realise the tremendous wealth of treasures that are in the word, waiting to be found. They are waiting for God to reveal them to us through His Holy Spirit. Our task is to be available, to read diligently and prayerfully.

There are more truths to be “dug up” from 1 Samuel 17 – For example, David took Goliath’s armour – the treasure – and put it in his own tent v54. Compare with the New Testament (2 Corinthians 4⁷) where it says we have this treasure in earthly vessels (or tent) to show it is of God and not of us. It also tells us (2 Corinthians 2⁶) it is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

To know God in this way, to see God’s glory and to be given the opportunity to share in the glory for ever is the greatest treasure. It’s all of Him and from Him and for Him.

1 Sam 17^34-35 “And David said unto Saul”.

In verses 34-37 we find David explaining to Saul what had happened when he looked after the sheep. It seems to be an unimportant part of the story but David explains how he had defended his father’s sheep against a bear and a lion. When the lion took a sheep from the flock he followed it and delivered the sheep from the lion’s mouth. Then he slew the unhappy lion when it came at him. David did not come to the situation “untried”.

He also said “The Lord that delivered me …. will deliver me ….“ Why we ask? It was because God had prepared him for it. So the basic idea is that God had prepared David during his life through the things he did.

These events happened as part of David’s training. The prior things he went through helped develop the abilities that would be useful later in life. In a similar way God prepares us for what we will encounter in our lives. In Golden Nugget, we saw how God prepared the things (the smooth stones) David would need to help in the fight. In these verses we see how God had prepared David himself.

God is known for caring and preparing us for future things. He goes ahead of us; He calms the seas; He softens the blows we face; He understands our coming difficulties; He knows how to guide and lead us through it all.

1 Sam 17¹⁶ “presented himself forty days”

Goliath came every day, in fact twice a day, for 40 days. He was persistent. He wasn’t going to go away. The truth is that problems don’t go away! You have to face up to your problems. (Not to be confused with the thought of choosing your battles to win the war.)

For “40” days it happened and would carry on until someone faced the issue. Until you come face to face, as David did, the problem won’t go away. But David went in the strength of the living God and so must we. Note we don’t fight the devil the way he wants us to fight (unproved with sword and spear) but fight him the way God wants us to fight (a proved sling with prepared stones).

Just think how we are to fight the devil. Goliath expected he was going to battle with another heavily armoured soldier. He expected hand to hand combat. Even Saul thought this by offering David the use of his armour. But David had absolutely no such expectation. He was not going to fight him that way. Why would he? He’s a shepherd. He’d spent his entire life using a sling to defend his flock against lions and bears. He was going to fight the way God had prepared him.

David ran towards Goliath v48 to tackle the problem. He stood his ground and didn’t run away. Our fighting the devil is “standing” as in Eph 6^11,13 In v11 we stand against the wiles of the devil and in v13 having done all stand, In the end David “stood” on the problem 1 Samuel 17⁵¹.

1 Sam 17²⁶ “Who is this ….. (that I hear), that he should defy the armies of the living God”.

Here is another aspect about what we hear – or rather what is said! Goliath speaks in vs8-9 to offer a deal, a bargain, a one-on-one contest between himself and a “man” out of the men of Israel. He does this every morning and evening for 40 days (v16). Then David heard him (v23).

You get the impression that the offer from Goliath is meant to be an orderly event! Whoever loses will simply capitulate and put down their weapons, surrendering to become slaves!

But look at what happens once the dual/fight is over and it’s obvious that David has won. In v51 it says “when the Philistines saw their champion was dead they fled! It wasn’t fair. They failed to keep their side of the deal that was offered!

So Goliath lied. It was all a lie. Remember the devil is a liar. He lied in from beginning when he challenged God, saying in Gen 3 v3 “hath God said”. So we see that we must not listen to the lies of the enemy as he will never keep his word or side of any bargain. In John 8⁴⁴ it says “he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it”. Lying is part of the devil’s character.

Truth is an attribute of God’s character. So we need discernment – a believing heart – to listen for the voice of truth. The truth sets us free John 8³².

1 Sam 17^{11+24 11} ”heard the philistine”, ²⁴ “saw the man”.

We are told in v.11 that as Saul and all Israel (including David’s brothers) “heard the Philistine” they were greatly afraid. They had listened with their natural ears. Similarly in v.24 “when they “saw the man” they fled in great fear. Again they had seen with their natural eyes. It was all in unbelief and fear.

However, David saw and heard it differently. He had a different response as he looked beyond the natural with its limitations and saw the possibility for the living God to win the victory. It was with the eyes and ears of a man after God’s heart (Acts 13²²) – the spiritual man.

As mentioned previously there are 3 categories of people in this chapter. Here are some of their characteristics:-

Philistines	Israelites	David
Fleshly family	Natural family	Spiritual family
Looked at himself	Looked at Goliath	Looked to God
WORLD/FLESH	SELF/NATURAL	SPIRITUAL/GODLY

David looked beyond his limitations and his natural ability. He preferred to hear what God said rather than what man said. He believed in a God who supplied what was needed. A God who will meet the need at the time it is required.

1 Corinthians 2¹⁴ Points out that the natural man receives not the things of God. Which means the spiritual man does.

1 John 2¹⁵ This tells us not to love the world or the things in the world. This means we can have the love of the Father in us.

1 Sam 17²⁶⁺³⁶ “uncircumcised Philistine … defy the armies of the living God”.

David’s assessment of the situation was simple. This uncircumcised Philistine had defied the armies of the living God. Now as we know uncircumcision/circumcision “is of the heart – by the Spirit” Romans 2²⁹ and this is the important thing for us.

Interestingly there are 3 categories of people in this chapter, the Philistines, Israelites and David. Some of their characteristics are:-

Philistines	Israelites	David
Uncircumcised	Circumcised	Circumcised
Trusted in the flesh	Trusted in themselves	Trusted in God

By his actions Goliath had shown his unspiritual state having defied the living God. Saul and the Israelites had shown their carnal state in failing to step forward to fight. David, by his actions showed his spiritual state putting first and foremost his trust in God. (David was a man after God’s heart but not spiritually circumcised.) A person’s actions can reveal if they are circumcised or uncircumcised. (Romans 2^28-29; Colossians 2¹¹).

Much could be said about these 3 groups. But simply un-circumcision can lead to certain thoughts, ways of thinking, attitudes and ways of thinking. Circumcision of heart leads to controlled thoughts, brings our life into line with God, corrects attitudes and deals with the thoughts and intents of the heart. Circumcision of the heart involves putting off the deeds of the flesh and trusting in God. We must see things (like David) from Lord’s perspective and put our trust in Him. This clearly involves obeying Him and not defying Him.

1 Sam 17²⁰ David went “as Jesse had commanded him”

David was obedient to his father. However, when he arrived at the camp to see his brothers Eliab, the eldest, accused David of wrong intentions (v28). People might question what you do even when you have the best of intentions and misinterpret your actions. This is why it’s so important to make sure we are acting in obedience to what God has told or shown us to do.

Being obedient isn’t something we learn to do just the once, it’s something that we are to do all the time. It’s to be a part of our character. Jesus learnt to be obedient through the things he suffered (Hebrews 5⁸) and there may be times when that happens to us.

Obedience then involves a response from us which might mean action or even inaction! David did as his father instructed him to do – an action. Sometimes being obedient involves not doing something – as with some of the commandments or when God tells us to wait.

James tells us much about faith and works (See James 2). Works arise from genuine faith. Works involve doing things or actions. If we have genuine faith it must be accompanied by actions. Action then can be in obedience to God’s word.

Our obedience proves or shows our faith to be genuine. It is a valuable quality to have. It is to be an integral part of us and surely the simplest and best way to live. We are to be “as obedient children” (1 Peter 1¹⁴).

1 Sam 17⁴⁹ “and he fell upon his face to the earth.”

Let’s look here as to how Goliath fell, how he landed on his face. We will all have the same position on the judgement day as every knee will bow – Phil 2¹⁰, Rm 14¹¹ – but for a different reason. Falling down has a number of references but what does it mean? It is often associated with worship as mentioned in Matthew about the magi who fell down (prostrated themselves) and worshipped Him. Not that Goliath was worshipping but he certainly was greatly humbled, which is another aspect of falling on your face. As Christians we bow the knee willingly in humility and worship, which are conjoined, and we acknowledging our smallness and His greatness.

Goliath’s falling was God’s action. It was all “in the name of the Lord of hosts” v45.The overcoming of the enemy gets God the glory not us. It’s in His strength and not ours that we overcome difficulties.

In prayer the battle is to be in an attitude of humility and worship. This is to be our heart. Battle on your face? Be before the Lord in this attitude – victory comes out of the battle.

1 Sam 17^{4-7, 38-39, 40} The right armour

In vs.4-7 it describes Goliath’s size and what seems like an uninteresting list of his armour.

In vs.38-39 it describes a failed attempt to equip David with Saul’s armour.

In v40 describes David’s “armour”.

Why is such a description recorded here? (“Why” is always a good question to ask?) By worldly standards it sounds impressively frightening and presumably it was good enough to do its job. Goliath totally relied upon it. Along with his height and strength he trusted his life with it. Oh the folly. Trusting in the wrong things – the human way, mans way. Goliath’s armour description is worldly and natural.

By contrast David couldn’t wear Saul’s armour as offered by the king. David had not “proved” the armour (v39) or was not use to it. Neither should we. You can’t take another person’s armour – it’s an individual walk we have with Jesus and He equips us.

David’s armour included the name of the Lord of hosts (v45). He looked to the Lord to deliver him (v.37). He had complete trust in God. But note he came just as he was. This speaks to us of putting “off” the flesh and putting “on” Christ, the new man. (Col 3⁸⁺¹⁰)

We must not rely on the worlds armour and not take another man’s armour but equip ourselves with God’s armour. In 2 Cor 10⁴ it says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds”.

1 Sam 17^{40 “}And he …….. chose him five smooth stones out of the brook”.

As David went and took the stones out of the brook he chose 5 smooth stones. These stones where there already ready and waiting. They had taken time, a very long time, to end up smooth so they would be ready for use now. God had already prepared them ready for David to use.

In each situation you face in your life know that God has prepared /planned it for you. In that situation God has also prepared/provided the way of release/deliverance. He has planned ahead for you.

What shall I do? Or say? Or pray? Realise that God put those stones there and smoothed them ready for use when needed. David didn’t carry them around or bring them with him in his shepherd’s bag. They were there ready for use. (Isaiah 65²⁴ “Before they call, I will answer”) So don’t worry. This speaks of a provider – Jehovah-Jireh.

These smooth stones were aerodynamic so they could fly fast through the air and sink deep.

Just as the stones had been prepared long ago to be there ready for use so to God prepares and plans and provides for us in the time of need.

God goes before you and has planned and prepared things that you will need to help you face different situations. Just as David’s sling was a powerful device so too is prayer. David took his staff, sling, bag with him. The stones were there already prepared and provided by God i.e. we bring ourselves and He provides the ammunition (prayers as the Spirit helps us in our weakness).