The Philistine forces opposed the people of God. (v3) They grouped on each sid eof a valley. Always Israelites are divided from their enemies. Goliath was their champion, on whom all their hope rested.  He cut an impressive figure with his bronze helmet, coat of ironmail, bronze leg supports, and a bronze javelin between his sholders. The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, his iron spearhead weighty, and a shield-bearer preceded him. (v4-7) An impressive sight. The people of Israel were terror-stricken.

Goliath taunted the Israelites. ‘Why have you come out to line up for battle? He cried.

He belittled them with his Philistine origin, a superior race, while they were only servants of king Saul. He was spoiling for a fight. He made a colossal blunder when he boasted, ‘Choose a man for yourselveds, and let him come down to me’.  Goliath presumed he would win, not knowing God’s plan for his downfall.  Satan thought he, too, would win in the 40 day temptation in the desert, and on the cross, not knowing that Christ would devastate him.

Goliath challenged the living God when ‘he defied the armies of God’,  craving mostly for a man to scrap with him. ( v 10) Some Communist leaders have defied the eternal God.  They have since died, their words proving hollow. Some leaders have rebelled against the God of the universe, but their breath has ceased.  Goliath’s threats reached all Israel, who were dismayed and greatly feared.’  Now fear paralysed Israel.

The bile stated the family history of patriarch Jesse, from Bethlehem, father of 8 sons, three of whom were onlookers in the battle, while the youngest son, David,  learned the art of caring for the sheep at home.  Character is forged in the furnace of daily faithfulness in the menial duties.  Joseph learned it in te years in prison; Moses discovered the value of 40 years of shepherding in the desert; Prime Minister, Daniel, served painstakingly even to his ninetieth year in the Persian court; while  our dear Lord spent 30 years learning the art of carpentry. God views apprenticeship seriously.  

Goliath sternly tried the people of God for 40 days. How often in scripture were God’s saints tested for such a period.  Noah was secure in the ark, when the first rain fell for the same period; Scripture shows how a woman requires 40 days for her reproductive organs to return to normal after childbirth, which I confirm medically; Joshua and Caleb spied on the Promised land for 40 days; Jonah gave this same time span for the people of Nineveh to repent; here Goliath terrorised the Israelites; while our dear Lord endured the threats and taunting of satan in the desert, while fasting for 40 days.

Contrast the task of the shepherd boy David inbringing parched corn, l,oaves of bread and chesses to his brothers with the champion at the end of this thrilling account.  David was willing to bear such humble fare to his brothers, despite their cowardly retreat from the villain. God was moulding this youth.  Are our children  also humble in service?

David was faithful to his God in rising early (v 20), discovering what many busy people have lost, that God waits to meet us in the soft light of  sunrise. Read the journals of the mighty men of faith and discover this invariable habit.  He delegated his sheep to another shepherd, being accountable to his father. He arrived to find the army preparing for battle and shouting their empty responses to Goliath. (v21)

David enthusiastically left the security of the carriage, handed over the provisions and greeted his elder brothers. Then Goliath snorted his threats and blasphemous challenge. He daily taunted them, which grated on David.  Worse followed when ‘ all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him, and were dreadfully afraid.’ (v24)

Goliath was monstrous, ‘ surely he has come to defy Israel. The man who kills him the king will enrich with greaqt riches; will giv ehim his daughter; and give his father’s house ( taxation ) exemption in Israel.’ (v25)  David confirmed the promise of the king for the ‘man who kills the philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel.’(v26)

David called him ‘uncircumcised’, having never entered into the covenant through this simple operation,’ that he should defy the armies of the living God.’

David’s  angry older brother Eliab was envious, ‘why did you come down here?  With whomhav eyou left the sheep?  Then he further condemned him ‘ for his pride and imnsolenc eof heart, an ddesire too see the battle’. ( v28)  How unnecessary the insult and oppositionof a jealous brother as David prepared for the intense struggle with Goliath. In christian life, we must watch destructive attitudes of heart, guarding with prayer and encouragement those who are warring a good warfare for our Lord Jesus.

We marvel at the faith of David in the Lord’s power as he was brlought before the king,’ Let no man’s heart fail because of him.  Your servant will go and fight with the Philistine.’ (v32) Yet further discouragement from the king, You are but a youth.  You are not able to go and fight against him; and he a man of war from his youth.’ (v33)

David was not daunted by such negative restraint. He tolde how God had protected him, Your servant use dto keep his father’s sheep. When a lion or bear came and tooka lamb out of the flock, I ent out after it, and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its  mouth, and when it rose against me, Icaught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.‘(v35) Here a teenager witnesses to his king.  Oh, the power of our testimony.

‘Your servant has killed both lion and bear, and this uncircumcised Phiulistine shall be l.ike one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.; (v36)  David’s eyes are onhis Lord, ‘ The Lord who delivered me will del.iver me from the hand of the Philistine. ‘ His faith is positive, influencing the king. Saul said to David, ‘Go and the Lord be with you.’

Saul mistook David, endeavouring to fit himwith his massive armour. , his bronze helmet on his head, and clothed him with a coat of mail.’ (v38).  Saul’s confidence was in the flesh, not intrhe Spirit. ‘David fastened his sword to hisarmour, and he tried to walk but he had not tried them. So David took them off. ‘ (v36)  We cannot carry another’s reputation or bask in their achievements.  We must trust in the Lord.

David followed Moses’ example, taking his staff in his hand.’ The staff spoke of spiritual authority and pointed to heaven, the source of all his strength. He detoured taking five smooth stones from the brook, which  had been polished with the currents of centuries.  Coincidentally, our Lord Jesus took the five smooth stones of the Word of God when HE faced the brutal onslaughts of satan , that is, the first five books of the Bible to counter the onslaughts of the enemy.

He looked homely with his shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling in his hand. (v40) Fearlessly, he drew near to the Philistine.’  David was destined for one of the great faith victories of the Bible.

A dear friend faces a battle with cancer.  Her goliath is the malignant cells which have already spread to another organ. With her husband, she is looking to the Lord to guide the physician (the chemotherapist) in his choice of treatment. They have the five smooth stones of biblical trust wrapped in their knowledge of the Good shepherd, Who gives His life for the sheep.  It will be a faith victory.

How are you trusting your Lord in the face of your Goliath?