David And Goliath

1 Samuel 17: 1-58


The Philistine army had gathered for war against Israel. The two armies faced each other, camped for battle on opposite sides of a steep valley. A Philistine giant measuring over nine feet tall and wearing full armour came out each day for forty days, mocking and challenging the Israelites to fight. His name was Goliath. Saul, the King of Israel, and the whole army were terrified of Goliath.
Goliath is a Philistine and there is a suggestion that he came from the tribe called the Anak who were living in Canaan the Promised Land for the Israelites. His name means Exile.
David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, from Bethlehem. He was a strong, healthy lad, apparently with an uncommon characteristic among his people of the time. He was a shepherd from an early age, and developed his courage and fighting skills by defending the flocks from the wild animals, including lions and bears, that preyed upon them. The free time that being a shepherd provided also allowed him to develop two other skills, that of music and poetry. David was a warrior, and a writer of psalms. His name means beloved.
Number eight in the bible means new beginning and his name indicated that there was already a prophetic calling in his life before Samuel anointed him with the horn (horn symbolises blessing) of oil. In the Hebrew times the eldest inherit and so David was seen to be the least of young man in the family. He was seen by his brothers and father as a shepherd boy and the last born. When your family troubles you, watch out as it could be that you have a special calling or that you will be somebody someday. If you study the Bible you will see that a lot of high profile people/leaders in the Bible faced great opposition in their calling. Pain is a friend to make you know that there is an enemy. When he killed the lion and bear nobody knew except his family. David may have felt good within himself as I know the good feelings I have when I overcome a situation that has bordered me. Just imagine David feeling great after killing those animals. Every victory in life is bringing you to a greater challenge and success. Responsibilities always bring hardship but the ending result is joyous because you are fulfilling your dreams. Every hero can weep but should not get bitter.

One day, David, who was actually then too young for the army, arrived with some deliveries for his older brothers. While there, David heard Goliath shouting his daily defiance and he saw the great fear stirred within the men of Israel. David responded, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?" Being uncircumcised indicated that the enemies had no covenant and protection from God. Fear consumed them because their eyes were on King Saul and not the living God. Men can only go so far as with men it may look impossible but with God all things are possible. When he heard Goliath, he immediately volunteered to fight him. It was hard for the people around him to accept him in. They refused him and even his own brothers were furious and said he was acting proudly. One important lesson we must learn from this is that we alone can hear our call from God. Since the task is to be done by us, no one around us will understand and they will always misunderstand us. There is a knowing deep down in you that say, yes, you can do it. Encourage yourself like David and make sure you are hearing from God clearly. The giant was to be brought down by David and none of the others. He was called for such a time to do this. God has given him boldness, strength and favour; therefore no one would have stopped him. When your call is of God, nothing can stop you from achieving that.
After turning down an offer of the king's own armour, which was too big for him, David went down to the creek and got five suitable stones for his sling. The sling and stones was the only thing that David had with him at this time. What have you got with you right now that you can use to bring glory and honour to God? God can use the little things to make you great. Give Him the least and best possession you have and you will be surprised to see it multiply.
The Bible declares that Goliath and his armour bearer stood upon the field of battle. He killed Goliath with a single perfectly-accurate shot, perhaps with a little help from an angel - the stone didn't just rebound off the giant man's thick skull as would naturally be expected, but actually penetrated with the power of a modern high-velocity bullet. Upon seeing their hero defeated, the Philistine army made a disorderly retreat (i.e. they just dropped everything and ran), giving the Israelites then in hot pursuit the victory.
Goliath’s name indicated where he was to be – exile. It made matters worse because he was cursing Israel and their living God. Goliath’s god was deaf and dumb, unable to move but David’s God was living and active. The Philistines worshipped dagon, god of Agriculture (1Samuel 5:2) We must be careful in what we say about God’s people and God, as we may end up being the victims. The Philistines defile God by carrying the ark of God from the Israelites and putting the living God on the same level as their god – dagon. We cannot put Jehovah God on our level. However, we can call on Him as daddy or Abba father and He will truly hear us. God has prepared and raised David up to fight Goliath. Each one of us was born with a purpose. God has set something out there and every day we may be walking towards it.
When David killed Goliath he took Goliath’s head and buried it outside the walls of Jerusalem. This place was then named Golgotha. On that same hill our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. This is our God showing us that he has defeated all the giants we are facing today. When we believe His word and know that we are God’s beloved like David we will bring down the giants (problems) in our lives.