The Impossible Victor

1 Samuel 17

Immanuel – 6/4/23

The people of Israel demanded a king. They wanted to be like all the nations around them, with a king who would lead them in battle. In Saul, God had allowed them this king. And the Israelites were impressed, for Saul was an impressive looking man – a head taller than anyone in Israel.

But Saul consistently submitted to the demands of the people and his own rash impulses rather than obey the word of the Lord. As a result, the Lord had rejected Saul as king. God would raise up another king, a man after His own heart.

Last week we followed the prophet Samuel, being led by God, as he traveled to Bethlehem to find this new king, one of the sons of an unknown man named Jesse. In a secret ceremony Samuel anointed the most unlikely of candidates, Jesse’s youngest son, still a boy: David.

Today, we see the anointed king confront the rejected king, deliver Israel, and glorify Yahweh. But all these things occur through a very long story, with a slow and deliberate pace, carefully building tension until the climactic conflict, and then suddenly resolve with a giant face down in the dirt. And every step forward in this slow and deliberate story sharpens its theological focus.

Purpose

1. Progress through the building tension of the passage.

2. What is the theological focus of 1 Samuel 17?

3. How does this story relate to us?

Verses 1-3 describe the setting, but in such a way that begins to build the narrative’s tension. The highlands under Israelite control were resource poor. Conversely the low Philistine plain was abundant and fertile. The two nations, constantly in conflict, met at a major geographic intersection between them about 12 miles west of Bethlehem: the Valley of Elah.

These first three verses build tension because it presents the Israelites and Philistines in a stalemate. They stand on their respective sides of the valley unable to defeat the other. Neither side has the strength to overcome the other. Neither side believes they can win. They are equally matched.

The two armies are equally matched, but the Philistines possess a secret weapon – a giant.

Read vs 4

The Giant

Goliath is called a champion; meaning he is a battle-hardened, incredibly successful warrior. Since the Philistines and Israelites have been battling for years, it’s likely that every Israelite soldier knew Goliath of Gath well before the Valley of Elah.

Likely your Bibles say Goliath was six cubits tall, making Goliath over 9 feet tall. The Dead Sea Scrolls and several other manuscripts put Goliath at a much more realistic four cubits, meaning Goliath would have been nearly 7 feet tall: still enormous compared to the average height of the day (about 5.5 feet1).

Regardless, Goliath’s armor weighed about 100 pounds; his spearhead was roughly 13 pounds; his shield so large that it was carried by a separate person. Not only was Goliath a hulking mass of a man, but he was outfitted with the latest military technology of the day. Who could face such a giant?

Read vs 8-11

The giant’s speech is the first in a series of speeches. Notice how Goliath calls the Israelites “the servants of Saul;” not servants of Yahweh, but of Saul. Goliath implies he is servant of no one. He is a Philistine!

Verse 18 informs us that Goliath’s verbal assault is a twice a day routine, morning and evening, for 40 days. Like so many other places in the Bible, 40 is a number symbolizing trial and hardship. For 40 days Goliath wages psychological warfare, aimed with precision at the Israelite king. It works.

Remember, Saul was a head taller than all the other Israelites. He was now a proven warrior, victorious in numerous northern battles. Also remember the exact words of the Israelites when they demanded a king:

There shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may…go out before us and fight our battles. -1 Samuel 8:19-20

But facing Goliath, Saul’s height is dwarfed by the giant’s hulk. Saul finds no courage to go out before Israel. Goliath is too great a foe. Saul is utterly dismayed and greatly afraid.

Goliath’s entire speech is meant to communicate to us, the readers, that Saul is an utter failure as a king. He is gripped by the fear of man, a fear that has metastasized and crippled the Israelite camp. As it is for the king, so it is for the people. Truly, they are the servants of Saul.

The Shepherd Boy

Then, in verse 12, appears the secretly anointed one, the man after God’s own heart, David, the youngest son of Jesse.

David’s three oldest brothers are soldiers in Saul’s army. Verse 15 tells us that David had made a few trips out to the front lines to bring his brothers provisions, but it appears that it has been a while since the last trip. Jesse, concerned for his sons and wanting news from them, sends David once again.

In perfect obedience to his father, David gathers his father’s provisions to deliver to his brothers in the valley of battle.

It just so happens, by no coincidence at all, that David arrives in the middle of an unfolding drama. As verse 21 says, David comes into Saul’s camp just as the Israelites and Philistines are taking their stand against each other, armor and weapons gleaming in the morning sun. But because neither side has the strength to dominate the other, once again, as is tradition, Goliath parts the Philistine ranks, walks into the open valley and hurls his abuse at Israel. David watches all of this, and then he watches as Israel’s army retreats before the Philistine giant.

Then, to his shock, David hears of the camp’s infection of cowardice from the fleeing soldiers. The King is hiding in his tent, doing nothing except offering riches, freedom, and his daughter to anyone who will kill Goliath. The soldiers do nothing but run away, too afraid to face this foe.

But unlike the fearful king, David is defiant, impassioned, and fearless – despite having already walked a quick 12 miles that morning. He delivers a speech that begins to shift the narrative.

Read vs 26

David sees what no one else in the Israelite camp can see. Most profoundly, David sees that this is not the army of Israel nor the army of Saul. This is the army of the Living God, they should not fear! Goliath stands in opposition to God. And very intentionally, God enters the narrative through David’s mouth.

The second thing that David sees is that Goliath is one of the uncircumcised: meaning, he is not in covenantal relationship with God. He’s effectively saying, “God is not on the side of the Philistine, He’s on our side! And if God is for us, who can be against us!”

You see, so far all of Israel has been effectively acting as materialistic atheists. They are not crying out to God. They are not seeking He who commands the host of heaven. Instead, they are relying on their own strength, their weapons and armor, and the king that doesn’t look so tall anymore. Yet all the Israelites can win for themselves is fear and failure.

David has no concern for the powers – or lack thereof – of Israel’s army. He looks to the power of God. Unique in Israel’s camp, David sees with the eyes of faith, and thus he speaks.

David’s oldest brother, Eliab, hears of all this and he is immediately incensed. He tells David he should be back at home tending to the sheep, and that he’s only present because he wants to see a good show. Eliab has nothing but resentment and disregard for David. How clearly this vindicates God, having seen into the heart of Eliab and rejecting him as king.

So David moves on from his brother and delivers the same God-centric speech to other soldiers. The boy is an evangelist!

Saul catches word of some kid making zealous speeches in camp. Saul likely thinks such youthful and naïve speeches should not be delivered to his soldiers, and perhaps he is touched by a bit of curiosity. When he summons David, we get the Bible’s first dialogue between the anointed king and the rejected king.

Two Kings

The anointed king takes the initiative and boldly speaks first.

Read vs 32-37

The first words David speaks to Saul are words of salvation. He is humble, calling himself Saul’s servant; but he is overflowing with confident bravery, saying he will go and fight with this Philistine. He speaks rather dismissively of Goliath.

On the other hand, Saul believes only in what he can see: a battle tested giant which will not be slain by youthful bluster alone. Saul has been defeated by Goliath’s psychological attacks. But there is more than meets the eye to this young man. He has slain a lion and a bear – more fearsome foes than any giant.

But David has not defeated these beasts on his own. The Lord has delivered them into his hand. Literally, verse 27 reads, Yahweh who delivered me from the paw…will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine.

Yahweh is God’s covenant name. David is essentially saying, “The same way the God of covenant has delivered me in the past, He will deliver me this day!” It’s an unwavering declaration of faith. David looks beyond what can be seen, to what has been promised. Like Exodus 14:14, where God promises to fight Israel’s battles.

Commentator David Firth writes, “What Saul could not recognize, David makes clear: victory for Israel does not lie in the finest military technology or the greatest physical strength. Victory comes when the nations remember Yahweh’s presence.”2

Such faith has not been found in all of Israel.

Only after David’s speech, so filled with faith and passion, does Saul remember Yahweh. He says, “Go, and Yahweh be with you!” Though it does seem Saul only takes up Yahweh’s name out of religious etiquette. He doesn’t want to sound totally irreligious.

But still relying on earthly tactics, in verse 38, Saul attempts to fit David with his own armor. It shows that Saul is quite intrigued by this young stranger; for offering his own armor is quite an honor.

Sunday school stories have told us that the armor was too big for David, but nothing indicates that in the text. In fact, Saul would truly be an idiot to outfit someone with oversized armor. What is implied is that David, young though he is, is actually quite tall; tall enough to wear the armor of a tall man.

I know I have met 15, 16, 17 year old boys – about David’s age – that were taller than me.

In verse 39, David rejects Saul armor on the basis that he has had no time to test it. This likely means that David cannot move naturally, he doesn’t want to feel constricted.

The people wanted a king to be like all the nations around them. David will be a king entirely unlike the kings of other nations. He takes his trusty shepherd’s staff, he gathers river stones from the stream running through the valley, and he goes out to meet the giant. Yahweh will be his protection and his weapon, not these earthly, advanced implements of war.

David originally heard Goliath’s taunts in the morning. He must now be headed into the valley during the Philistine’s evening abuse. After 40 verses, the narrative draws to its climax.

David and Goliath

And suddenly the narrative shifts to the perspective of Goliath. For the first time someone approaches: an unarmed, inexperienced, teenager. He doesn’t look like a fighter. He’s a pretty boy. Filled with arrogant contempt, the giant hurls his insults at this boy.

Read vs 43-44

Can you hear the thick irony? Goliath curses David by his Canaanite gods, yet he does not realize that he has fallen under the curse of the Living God. It is his massive flesh that will soon be carrion in the field. Yahweh will see to it.

By faith David knows it, and he is not intimidated in the slightest.

Read vs 45-47

Do you not love the confident conviction of David?! And there is not a shred of arrogance in his words because he is not self-assured, his assurance comes from the Name: the God of the armies of Israel, the true King, Yahweh. He will not be defied!

And when David strikes Goliath down then all the earth will know that the God of Israel is the True and Living God.

The grasp that this teenager has on the situation is so much higher than Israel’s, than Saul’s. David’s goal is not simply to kill the giant, or even deliver Israel. His goal is to glorify God in all the earth. This, right here, is the theological center and the main point of the story of David and Goliath.

Indeed, David is a man after God’s own heart: a heart that he would later express in song.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger…O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! -Psalm 8:1-2,9

David knows, like Saul never does, that Israel exists as a witness to the nations of the glory and power and presence of Yahweh. So not only does David want to glorify God to the nations, he wants Israel to be called up into its great purpose of proclaiming the realities of God – like a kingdom of priests unto God.

Then comes the moment to which all has been building. After finishing his evangelistic speech, it’s time for action. David charges Goliath. Like lightning, the glory of God flashes forth from David’s sling and the giant falls. The boy has killed the giant. So great is Yahweh’s power that His foes are slain before they can even fight.

Then, just as David said in his speech, he takes Goliath’s own sword and beheads the cursed Philistine. The rest of the Philistines fled in a panic. I guess Goliath’s words were just words, for the Philistines surely will not become servants of the Israelites.

After Israel routes their enemies and plunders their camp, verse 54 says that David took Goliath’s head to Jerusalem. Remember, Jerusalem is not yet called Jerusalem. It is Jebus, controlled by the Jebusites. This verse can be interpreted in two ways. Either, David took Goliath’s head to Jerusalem years later as a token, or David took Goliath’s head to Jebus as a warning to the Jebusites.

Either way, David’s defeat of Goliath proclaims to the Israelites, the Philistines, the Jebusites, and we 21st century Americans, that the God of Israel is the True and Living God.

Before all of Israel, and before Saul, David has proven himself. Even after Saul brings him into his tent for questioning, Saul has no idea that he speaks to his replacement, to the true king of Israel. The narrative ends with David and Saul still strangers from one another, like there is some unseen barrier between them. Soon this will grow into a bitter jealousy festering within Saul’s heart.

Today

The story of David and Goliath has been a favorite of God’s people ever since that day in the Valley of Elah. Sadly, in our modern egocentric age, we have made this story all about us: how we can slay the giants of our lives, how we can overcome obstacles that appear too great for us, how we can be David.

But if we make ourselves the focus of the story, and put ourselves in the place of David, we abominate this Scripture. This is not about you. This is not ultimately about David. This is about the mightiest Anointed King, He who slays foes far more terrible than giants, He who has already won the final victory. Every bit of this story is foreshadowing Jesus Christ the Son of God.

We are the trembling Israelites, powerless to defeat our enemy. And what is our great enemy? Sin and Satan and a godless world are all our enemies. But these are just the Philistines standing behind Goliath. The enormous, unbeatable, hulking enemy which we all face is eternal death – the unending expression of the wrath of God.

And out of our ranks came one man, sent by his father, a man after God’s own heart, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God. Before death could ever strike, Jesus slew it in a flash of God’s glory; not emanating from a flung stone, but from a stone that had been rolled away. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the death of death. He rose in victory!

Now, just as the Israelites were enlivened by David’s victory and routed the Philistines and plundered their cities, Christ’s victory is our call to action! We are to join in battle and plunder the forces of darkness. How do we do this? We bring sin into submission, break down the strongholds of Satan, and proclaim the gospel to the world.

Even though Christ has slain the giant, the fight to chase down the enemy is a difficult one. There will still be suffering, and disappointment, and it may even seem like the skirmish you are engaged in is a losing one. It is when we begin to rely on the things of this world where we start to fail, where fear creeps in, where we forget that we are the people of the covenant.

But you cannot forget, by faith you must never forget, Christ has defeated our foe! Yahweh is with us! The sword of the Spirit is in our hand! If God is for us, who can be against us!?

Again, let us bring sin into submission, break down the strongholds of Satan, and proclaim the gospel to the world.

Just as Yahweh used human agents to transform the circumstances in the Promised Land, so is He using human agents today to transform the circumstances of the whole planet. It might not look like it right now, but neither did it look like it when a massive giant shouted down the Israelite army.

1(2023, May 28). Human Height. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

2Firth, David G. (2009). 1 & 2 Samuel. Pg 199. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press.