677. 1SA 17:45-51. DAVID AND GOLIATH
1Sa_17:45-51. David and Goliath
"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands," &c.’971Sa_17:45-51.
Very shortly after David had been anointed king, he had an opportunity of displaying both the moral energy of his mind, and the physical power of his arm.
The Philistines waged incessant war with Israel; and it appears at this time, that they gathered their armies together on a mountain, within sight of the camp of Israel. Here they defied Israel and their God.
One of the Philistines was most prominent in this work of defiance, and offered to settle the national contest by single combat. But dismay seized the camp of Israel, on account of the extraordinary size and fearful aspect of this daring Philistine.
At length, David was sent with provision to the camp of Israel. He heard of the proud vauntings of the Philistine; 1Sa_17:22. He saw, too, the panic of the Israelites, and he inquired, What should be done for the man who should kill him? Eliab, his eldest brother, ridiculed David’s purpose; ver
28; and others also joined in the contempt but on David; 1Sa_17:30.
At length, the wishes of David were related to Saul, and the king endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose; when he related to him the achievements of his youthful life, 1Sa_17:34. He also expressed his trust in God; 1Sa_17:37. And then David was equipped for the conflict; 1Sa_17:38. But afterwards, he put aside the weapons of war, and he took his staff, &c.; 1Sa_17:41. The Philistines eyed him with contempt, and their champion declared he would give his flesh to the fowls of heaven; 1Sa_17:44. Then said David to the Philistine, &c.; 1Sa_17:45.
Observe,
I. The enemy David had to encounter.
His name was Goliath, and he was a native of Gath. It is said, when the Anakims were routed out of Canaan, several fled to Gath.
Goliath was distinguished for his height. He was upwards of ten feet high. His coat of mail, weighed above two hundred pounds. The staff of his spear is described, 1Sa_17:7. The head of it weighed eighteen pounds: so that, he was a terrific enemy’97apparently too invulnerable. Besides, with his spear and sword, he would appear beyond the power of an earthly arm to touch him. There can be no doubt, that his spirit and fierceness were in keeping with his size and appearance.
Notice, then,
II. The conflict.
1. How David was armed for it.
He had no defensive armor. No offensive; except his staff, his sling, and bag of five stones; 1Sa_17:40. How apparently unfit for any perilous contest, much more for to conflict with the daring Philistine. A youth, a shepherd’97without warlike weapon; and the monstrous giant, with his complete armor, and deadly weapons of war.
Observe,
2. The language of holy defiance and prediction David employed.
1Sa_17:46.
Now, you will see here, that God both begins and ends the language of David. Nothing of self-vaunting.’97No self-trusting. "This day will the Lord;" 1Sa_17:46. Then at the end of the address’97"That all the earth may know," &c.
There can be no doubt that the spirit of God in David, showed him both his duty, and intimated the victory he should gain. So that his soul was encircled by God; and on God his soul relied entirely, for a final triumph. In 1Sa_17:47, he expresses his faith, not in his sling, nor in his dexterity’97but in God; and refers all to the will of God, who can save without the spear, or the sword’97for the battle is his.
3. The mode of attack which David adopted.
1Sa_17:48.
See the vaunting Philistine coming forth to meet the stripling! See David hastening his steps towards the formidable giant! He runs, takes the stone from his bag; and then, with all the power he possesses, he slings it at the head of Goliath; and behold, it smote him in the forehead, and he fell to the earth. And thus the victory, as he had predicted, was achieved.
Observe,
III. The subsequent course which David adopted.
The Philistine lies dead on the ground, and David has no sword’97so he takes the monstrous sword of Goliath, and draws it from its sheath, and cuts off his head therewith, 1Sa_17:50, 1Sa_17:51. Observe, this was succeeded by the total route of the Philistines’97they fled. Israel pursued, and the victory was signal and entire. The head of the Philistine is taken to Jerusalem, and David lays aside his armor in his tent.
Application
Learn,
1. How vain are power and might, when arrayed against God.
Here was a man that could have done any thing within human possibility, if earthly might could prevail. But, alas! what is man at best? What his ingenuity’97his courage’97his weapons’97his warlike prowess! &c.
2. That God can effect his purposes by apparently most unlikely means.
So he did by David, in this case. So he has often done. "For the battle is his." All events are under his control. And he can save by few or many’97by sword or sling.
3. The subject may remind us of the opposition which all God’s people meet with from Satan, &c.
He defies God and his people. He vaunts, intimidates, threatens, tempts, &c.; sometimes almost overwhelms. Yet he is but a creature; mighty, but not invincible before the power of God.
4. See the spirit in which we should resist the evil one.
In the name of the Lord. In his strength. With the sword of the divine word, and in the spirit of prayer: and so the victory shall certainly be ours.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS