1 Samuel 17:55-58 Who’s Son?

 ”As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” And the king said, “Inquire whose son the boy is.” And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”“

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭55‬-‭58‬ ‭ESV‬‬

a. Inquire whose son this young man is: This doesn’t mean that Saul did not recognize David. Perhaps Saul did recognize David, and he simply asked about David’s family background (inquire whose son this young man is). Saul promised his daughter to the man who killed Goliath, and Saul wanted to know something about his future son-in-law.

i. Or, it may be that Saul indeed did not recognize David. Some think that David played behind a screen or a curtain for Saul so Saul never saw his face. Others think that because of the distressing spirit, Saul was not entirely in his right mind. We also know that David did not spend all his time at the palace but went home to tend sheep (1 Samuel 17:15). It’s possible that David’s appearance changed during a time when he was away from Saul, so Saul didn’t immediately recognize him. When Saul called David a “young man” the word means someone who is full-grown, mature, and ready to marry.

b. David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine: David won a great victory, but not greater than the victory Jesus won at the cross. David’s victory over Goliath is a “picture in advance” of the victory Jesus won for His people.

· Both David and Jesus represented their people. Under the proposal of 1 Samuel 17:8-9, whatever happened to Goliath would happen to the Philistines, and whatever happened to the Israelite who fought Goliath would happen to the Israelites.

· Both David and Jesus fought the battle on ground that rightfully belonged to God’s people, ground they had lost.

· Both David and Jesus fought when their enemy was able to dominate the people of God through fear and intimidation alone.

· Both David and Jesus were sent to the battleground by their father (1 Samuel 17:17).

· Both David and Jesus were scorned and rejected by their brethren.

· Both David and Jesus fought the battle without concern for human strategies or conventional wisdom.

· Both David and Jesus won the battle but saw that their enemies did not then give up willingly.

· Both David and Jesus fought a battle where victory was assured even before the battle started. (Guzik)

Who’s Son?

Guzik’s comparison of David to Jesus is enlightening and interesting! 

After being chided by his older brother, I wonder what his brothers thought of their youngest brother now?

I’ve always enjoyed the history of David and Goliath but more so since my parents told me that I was named after king David. If you study David, you will see that he was a sinner too, as he committed adultery and murder and when he admitted his sin, the Lord forgave him even though he had consequences because of his sin.

”“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I am eternally grateful for Jesus who cleansed me of my sins!

Are you?

Blessings 

1 Samuel 17:50-54 Goliath’s Sword

 ”So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭50‬-‭54‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it: First, David made certain the enemy was dead. You cannot stop short in dealing with sin or your spiritual enemies; you must kill them dead. Second, David used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head.

i. Later David wrote in Psalm 57:6: They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. God loves to use the devil’s weapons against him.

b. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled: They agreed to surrender to Israel if their champion lost (1 Samuel 17:9). We should never expect the devil to live up to his promises. But the soldiers of Israel pursued and defeated the Philistines. David’s example gave them great courage and faith in the LORD.

i. David never read 1 Timothy 4:12, but he lived it: Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. David led by example and led Israel to a great victory.

c. David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent: Since it was many years later that Jerusalem was conquered (2 Samuel 5:6-10), this likely means David eventually brought Goliath’s head to Jerusalem. But David will use the sword of Goliath later (1 Samuel 21:9). David had some enduring reminders of God’s great work.

i. “Presumably David had the head pickled and hung it in his banqueting hall after he had captured Jerusalem.” (Ellison)

(Guzik)

Goliath’s Sword

Imagine the scene, the ruddy youth David pulls Goliath’s sword 🗡️ from his sheath and cut off his head! 

Goliath is said to be 9’ 6” tall so I’m sure his sword matched his size! 

And later when king Saul was pursuing David and trying to kill him he retrieved the sword from the priest.

”So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When you believe that the Lord can’t use you, Remember:

”But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;“ ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If the Lord can use a youth to take down a mighty giant, in relatively your giants you are facing today don’t seem as big do they?

Blessings 

1 Samuel 17:48-49 “God does it and we do it”

 ”So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭48‬-‭49‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine: What a scene! Goliath, enraged at David’s boldness, drew near to quickly kill David. David didn’t run away. He didn’t hide. He didn’t panic. He didn’t drop to his knees and pray. Instead, David hurried and ran…to meet the Philistine.

i. Many Christians struggle at this very point. Is God supposed to do it or am I supposed to do it? The answer is, “Yes!” God does it and we do it. Trust God, rely on Him, and then get to work and work as hard as you can – run right at the enemy. That is how the work of God is done.

ii. “The lazy-bones of our orthodox churches cry, ‘God will do his own work’; and then they look out the softest pillow they can find, and put it under their heads, and say, ‘The eternal purposes will be carried out: God will be glorified.’ That is all very fine talk, but it can be used with the most mischievous design. You can make opium out of it, which will lull you into a deep and dreadful slumber, and prevent your being of any kind of use at all.” (Spurgeon)

b. He slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face: David had the calm hand and careful aim of someone who really trusted God. He used the sling – a leather strap with a pouch in the middle – to hurl a stone, killing Goliath.

i. This battle was won out with the sheep. In those lonely hours alone with the lambs, David talked to God and took a lot of target practice with his sling. Now his communion with the LORD and his skill with the sling are both used by God. 

“In the use of the sling it requires much practice to hit the mark; but when once this dexterity is acquired, the sling is nearly as fatal as the musket or bow.” (Clarke)

ii. Everyone else thought, “Goliath is so big, I can’t beat him.” David thought, “Goliath is so big, I can’t miss him.” “A man of less faith might have been too nervous to take the proper aim.” (Blaikie)

c. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face: Just as the Philistine god Dagon fell on his face before the LORD (1 Samuel 5:2-5), so now the worshipper of Dagon falls on his face. (Guzik)

“God does it and we do it”

How true! If the young shepherd David didn’t practice with the sling and stones protecting the sheep from the lion and bear he would have never acquired the skill to drop the giant Goliath!

When my spouse worked at the Gospel Rescue Mission, she took care of the children of the mothers participating in the program during the day and she made a life size cutout of Goliath which was 9’ 6” tall. They colored it and hung it on the wall as she taught them the story of David and Goliath. Afterwards they used a piece of leather and small chocolate easter eggs and each one got to pretend they were David. One child successfully hit Goliath in the eye. 😳

“God does it and we do it” or are you enjoying the “softest pillow”?

Blessings 

1 Samuel 17:45-47 The Battle is the Lords!

 ”Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”“

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭45‬-‭47‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Then David said to the Philistine: We can imagine Goliath’s deep, deep, bass voice reverberating against the tall hills surrounding the Valley of Elah. The sound struck fear into the heart of every Israelite soldier, and probably even some of the Philistine soldiers! Then David answered with his teenage voice; perhaps even with his voice cracking. The Philistines laughed when they heard David practically screaming in his cracking voice and the Israelites were both horrified and embarrassed.

b. You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied: David makes a contrast between himself and Goliath without giving credit to Goliath himself. “Those are some pretty fancy weapons you’ve got there, mister. But I’ve got something far better than your weapons.”

i. To say, “I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts” is to say, “I come as a representative of the LORD of hosts, the God who has heavenly armies at His command. I am a sent man, a man on a mission from God.”

c. This day, the LORD will deliver you into my hand: David is bolder and bolder. It is one thing to tell Saul he will kill Goliath (1 Samuel 17:36). It is an entirely different thing to tell Goliath he will kill Goliath, and to say the LORD would do it this day. Adding I will strike you and take your head from you is a nice, vivid detail.

i. David was careful to say, the LORD will deliver you into my hand. David was bold, but bold in God not in himself. He knew the battle belonged to the LORD.

d. That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel: This whole incident made David famous. But that was not why he did it. He did it for the fame and the glory of the LORD, not his own name. He wanted all the earth to know that there is a God in Israel.

e. Then all this assembly shall know: At this point, it wasn’t enough for all the earth to know that there is a God in Israel. Israel needed to know that there was a God in Israel! Saul and the rest of the soldiers of Israel thought that the LORD only could save with sword and spear. They didn’t really believe that the battle is the LORD’s but David will give them proof.

f. He will give you into our hands: Again, notice David’s humility. It isn’t He will give you into myhands. David knows this was an “our” battle, that he fought on behalf of all Israel. If they weren’t trusting in the LORD, David would trust for them. (Guzik)

The Battle is the Lords!

Let David be our example for our battles! 

You are fighting from victory not for victory because Jesus overcame the world! 

”For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?“ ‭‭I John‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Whatever giant you are facing today, let God fight your battle for you.

Blessings 

1 Samuel 17:41-44 “cursed David by his gods”

 ”So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”“

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭41‬-‭44‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. So the Philistine came…and the man who bore the shield went before him: Obviously, because of Goliath’s size and experience, it was not a “fair” fight. Added to that, it was two against one because Goliath had an armor bearer with him.

b. When the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him: The idea behind looked about is almost that Goliath had to look around to find David. David was so small compared to this man that Goliath had a hard time even seeing him. But when he did see him, he disdained him. There was nothing – nothing – in David that struck fear or respect in Goliath’s heart. Goliath felt insulted that they sent David (Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?).

i. When Goliath asked, “Am I a dog?” it was worse than it sounds. The Hebrew word for dog (kaleb) is used in passages like Deuteronomy 23:18 for male homosexual prostitutes. Goliath felt that sending David was an insult to his manhood.

c. And the Philistine cursed David by his gods: If it hadn’t been established before, it is certainly settled now. This is not a fair fight. It isn’t Goliath and his armor bearer against David. It is Goliath and his armor bearer against David and the LORD God of Israel. The battle is over. Anyone with any spiritual understanding could finish the story from here.

d. Come to me: “Bring it on, little boy!” David will be more than happy to oblige Goliath’s request.

“cursed David by his gods”

Uh oh, this isn’t going to end well! 

“Damn it” isn’t God’s last name but this is more than taking the Lords name in vain! 

I only recall one other verse in the Bible referring to cursing God,

”Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”“ ‭‭Job‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Job didn’t curse God! But Goliath did curse David in the name of God! 

”Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”“ ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I wouldn’t want to be under that judgement, would you?

Blessings 

1 Samuel 17:38-40 Armor of God

 ”So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭38‬-‭40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. So Saul clothed David with his armor: Saul was still in the natural, in the flesh, in the things that are merely outward. He figured that if this boy were going to beat Goliath, he needed the best armorin all Israel – the armor of the king.

b. Tried to walk…. David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them”: Saul tried to put his armor on David, but it didn’t work. It didn’t work because Saul’s armor did not physically fit David. Everything was too big, and David could not move well with Saul’s armor. It also didn’t work because Saul’s armor did not spiritually fit David. Armor, military technology, or human wisdom would not win this battle. The LORD God of Israel would win this battle.

i. Often people try to fight with another person’s armor. They see God do something wonderful through someone else and they try to copy it without really making it their own. God’s work is never most effectively done in this way.

ii. Sadly, many people would say the same about the armor of God: “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” Are you more familiar with the weapons and armor of the flesh or the weapons and armor of the Spirit? “Press some people to their exercise of prayer, or any other piece of the armour of God, and they must say, if they say truly, as here, I cannot do withal, for I have not been accustomed to it.” (Trapp)

c. So David took them off: David had to renounce Saul’s armor. He had to vow, “I will not fight with man’s armor. I will trust in the LORD and His armor instead.” Often, we want a safe “middle ground” where we try to wear both kinds of armor. God wants us to trust in Him and Him alone.

d. A staff in his hand…five smooth stones…a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand: David used the same tools he used before as a shepherd to kill the lion and the bear. What God used before, He would use again.

i. A charming – but purely legendary – Rabbinical story says these five particular stones called out to David from the brook and said, “By us you shall overcome the giant!”

ii. Why did David choose five stones? He only needed one to kill Goliath. Some suggest – somewhat humorously – that it was because Goliath had four relatives who were also giants, whom David and his associates later killed (2 Samuel 21:18-22). (Guzik)

Armor of God

”Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—“

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭12‬, ‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Thank you for allowing me to send you this devotional as it helps me to put on the whole armor of God and by doing so it also helps me sin less.

Blessings