I SAMUEL 17 Lesson # 18
FIGURING WITH GOD IN THE EQUATION
I. Introduction.
Note: We have met David as a shepherd boy and then as a musician and now we will meet him as a warrior.
Note: We will also hear from David for the first time. The text has yet to quote David but in this story he will speak for the first time (Davis, pp. 41-42). His speeches will be important because it will be on the mouth of this 15-year-old kid that the most direct theology of the chapter will be given.
II. Setting the Scene: The Giant’s Appearance And The Shepherd’s Arrival. I Samuel 17:1-22.
A. The Geographical Setting And The Appearance Of Goliath. I Samuel 17:1-11.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 17:1-11.
Note: The Philistines appear to want Israel to fight the battle through “proxy”. Each nation puts up one fighter and these two men fight on behalf of their respective nations.
Q How big do you picture this Philistine warrior to be?
An = His size is rather daunting. He could easily have been 9 feet tall. There was a tribe of unusually large people that the Bible makes reference to in this area. They are called by several names. Joshua 11:22 seems to refer to them and calls them the Anakim. It appears that such a group of people were seen by the spies of Israel, when they were still in the wilderness. See Numbers 13:33 where they were called Nephilim or sons of Anak (Anakim). It appears that the Philistines absorbed these people into their ranks and used them as mercenaries (this could be what Saul is referring to in I Samuel 17:33).
Q What does Goliath do in 17:10 that again in 17:25, 26 (2x), 36, and 45?
An = He taunts, defies or reproaches the armies of Israel.
B. The Arrival Of David. I Samuel 17:12-22.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 17:12-22.
Q How did David come to be at the battle?
An = He obeyed his father and did a menial chore. He brought food to his older three brothers. He was a “gofer” for his dad. He had played music in the court of the king, but this did not make him unfit for “blue collar” tasks, or for service to his older brothers.
Q Is arrogance ever the attitude we can have if we wish to be in the right place at the right time for God to use us?
An = Notice, David’s involvement in the royal music scene did not allow him to shirk his “sheep herding” tasks (see I Samuel 17:15). God’s musicians, no matter how prestigious their “gigs”, should not be above doing “waitress work”.
III. Pre-Battle: Encounters With Those Of Limited Vision or Perspective: I Samuel 17:23-39.
A. The Nation’s Perspective: Fear. I Samuel 17:23-25.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 17:23-25
Q What is the reaction of the men of Israel to the challenge of the giant?
An = It is fear, see verse 24. Notice also I Samuel 17:11. When Goliath speaks he brings fear into the heart of Israel. They see no hope in the situation. They are defied and can do nothing about it.
B. Eliab’s Perspective: David Is Arrogant. I Samuel 17:26-30
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 17:26-30.
Q What is David’s brother’s, Eliab, response to David’s questions?
An = He thinks David is a big-mouthed brat. Perhaps Eliab is still smarting from the choice of David over himself in the anointing or he cannot see his little brother’s heart. All he sees is a kid without fear and maybe that irritates him.
Q What is David asking about in 17:26?
An = David is inquiring about two things: what is the reward for freeing Israel from reproach and why should anyone be allowed to taunt the armies of the living God.
Note: David makes a logical deduction (not the only one he will make in this chapter). He correctly reasons that taunting of the armies of Israel is a taunt against the God of Israel and David understands God in a peculiar manner.
Q How does David refer to the God of Israel, what adjective does he use?
An = The God of Israel is a “living God”.
Q Is David detoured from his inquiry by his brother’s rude reply?
An = He asks again in verse 30 what is to be gained for fighting the Philistine.
Q What do we learn of David’s character in these five verses?
An = 1) He is persistent and not easily talked out of things. 2) He is bold. 3) He has a double character to him. He is spiritual and normal.
Q Is David, a normal boy, is he is interested in bucks and women?
An = Yes, he is. He can acquire a tax free status for his dad and a beautiful king’s wife for himself. He is not only interested in getting ahead, but he is interested in God’s honor. His Lord has been bad-mouthed, and he will not let it go. David cares about the honor of his Lord.
Q When someone tries to be courageous for the Lord, does it surprise you that someone from his own country or family misinterprets his motives?
Q Has this ever happened to you? Did it discourage you?
C. Saul’s Perspective: David Is Inexperienced. I Samuel 17:31-40.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 17:31-40.
Q According to 17:33 what does Saul think about David’s chances?
An = He does not think they are good. He thinks David is inexperienced and will be fighting against a man of superior experience and ability.
Note: Remember, Saul is the tallest man in the nation and perhaps knows that he should really be the one to fight the giant.
Note: It is also possible that Saul really likes this kid and does not want him harmed, even though Saul is in a tough spot.
Q Why does David feel he will be successful?
An = According to 17:34-37 David believes he will be successful because of past experience. David is actually experienced, though not in warfare, but in trusting God when a crisis arises. He has seen God come through before. He makes another logical deduction in that since God came through in the past, he can expect Him to come through in the present (see 17:37). David has relied on God and found Him trustworthy.
Q What is the final statement of David in verse 36?
An = Goliath has taunted the armies of the “living God”. David is quite interested in His Lord’s honor.
Q What is the best preparation for ministry, according to this story? What is the best preparation, experience-wise, that a young man or women should have to take on a tough assignment?
An = The experience of trusting on God in previous crises and finding God sufficient for our needs. This is something that academic training, or Book knowledge cannot help with. One must have risked on God in the real push and pull of one’s own experience. David learned about how to handle a great crisis while working at a “blue-collar” job.
Q Why did David refuse the King’s armor and chose a sling-shot?
An = He had not tested them. When in a crisis go back to what you really know. David knew sling shots. He later learned how to handle a sword. He did not stay with only one type of instrument. However, maybe when up against it we go back to what we know and put our trust in the Lord and go forward. It isn’t the instrument that counts anyway, it is God who helps us use them.
Note: Note that Israel, Eliab and Saul all think only on a human plain. It is only David who sees the situation through the eyes of faith. He sees one more element in the equation: God. Oswald Chambers says we often forget to figure God into the equation. David has a fuller view of reality.
IV. The Battle. I Samuel 17:40-54.
A. The Verbal Exchange Between David and Goliath. I Samuel 17:41-47.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 17:40-47.
Q What does Goliath think of David’s chances of success?
An = Not much, he plans on making bird food out of David.
Q Why does David think he will succeed? What does David think he has on his side?
An = He comes in the Name of the Lord of hosts. He is there to defend the honor of God. Notice, David is not an assassin. He believes in defending God’s honor in an honorable fight. A lot of people do mean, sneaky, low-down things and justify it as defending God’s honor, but this is not what David is doing. He is defending God’s honor against impossible odds. If there is no God, then there is no chance that he will succeed. What David does takes courage, not fanaticism.
Note: David has a different idea on how the birds are going to be supplied with food!!!
Q According to the end of verse 46 and all of 47 what does David think will be the results of his success?
An = That “all the earth may know” that there is a God in Israel (46) and that He is so powerful that He can deliver by non-conventional means (47).
B. The Battle Itself. I Samuel 17:48-58
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 17:48-54.
Q How does David make sure the giant is dead?
An = He cuts off Goliath’s head with his own sword. David is surely not afraid to mix-it-up. David is not squeamish.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 17:55-58.
Q Does it surprise you that Saul asks who David’s father is?
An = There are two ways to take this. It could mean that Saul has forgotten who David is, or that Saul has need of knowing David’s father’s name so he can honor the lad’s household with the promised tax-free status (see 17:25). Notice the questions all center not on who David is, but who David’s father is.
Note: If we are going to have the faith David had we will have to take risks. Two main things come out repeatedly in this chapter that help guide us to its main meaning:
1) David is motivated to fight the giant because he is in love with his Lord and therefore takes seriously the honor of the Lord’s people, their armies, because that reflects on the honor of God. 2) David is able to persevere despite the disbelief of Israel (24), Eliab (28), Saul (33) and the Goliath (43-44). David sees what they do not see: God in the equation.