SLAYING a GIANT

 

1 Samuel 17:22-23

King James Version

22 And David left his carriage 

in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, 

and ran into the army, 

and came and saluted his brethren.

23 And as he talked with them, 

behold, there came up the champion, 

the Philistine of Gath, 

Goliath by name, 

out of the armies of the Philistines, 

and spake according to the same words: 

and David heard them.

You think a shepherd boy had any sense of fear?

In facing a roaring giant like Goliath?

Well, here's a thing about David:

1 Samuel 17:12

King James Version

12 Now David was the son 

of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, 

whose name was Jesse; 

and he had eight sons: 

and the man went among men 

for an old man in the days of Saul.

1 Samuel 17:14

King James Version

14 And David was the youngest: 

and the three eldest followed Saul.

In fact, young David was mighty miffed that Goliath dare challenge the armies of GOD.

1 Samuel 17:26

King James Version

26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, 

What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, 

and taketh away the reproach from Israel? 

for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, 

that he should defy the armies of the living God?

He was so miffed, he wanted to fight the Philistine himself.

1 Samuel 17:32

King James Version

32 And David said to Saul, 

Let no man's heart fail because of him; 

thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

But king Saul reminded David how young and inexperienced he was.

1 Samuel 17:33

King James Version

33 And Saul said to David, 

Thou art not able to go against this Philistine 

to fight with him: 

for thou art but a youth, 

and he a man of war from his youth.

To which, the valiant warrior replied:

1 Samuel 17:34-36

King James Version

34 And David said unto Saul, 

Thy servant kept his father's sheep, 

and there came a lion, and a bear, 

and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, 

and delivered it out of his mouth: 

and when he arose against me, 

I caught him by his beard, and smote him, 

and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: 

and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, 

seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

David's faith in GOD was so strong, that he added:

1 Samuel 17:37

King James Version

37 David said moreover, 

The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, 

and out of the paw of the bear, 

he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. 

And Saul said unto David, 

Go, and the Lord be with thee.

And what of the giant?

What was Goliath like?

1 Samuel 17:4

King James Version

4 And there went out a champion 

out of the camp of the Philistines, 

named Goliath, of Gath, 

whose height was six cubits and a span.

How tall was "six cubits and a span"?

We did say in a previous post that one cubit is 1.5 feet.

"Six cubits and a span" means, Goliath was 9.75 feet, or 9 feet, 9 inches.

That's enough to make today's basketball player swallow hard.

Not to mention the frightening attire of this veteran slayer:

1 Samuel 17:5-7

King James Version

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, 

and he was armed with a coat of mail; 

and the weight of the coat 

was five thousand shekels of brass.

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, 

and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; 

and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: 

and one bearing a shield went before him.

And he sure was screaming for blood:

1 Samuel 17:8-10

King James Version

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, 

and said unto them, 

Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? 

am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? 

choose you a man for you, 

and let him come down to me.

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, 

then will we be your servants: 

but if I prevail against him, and kill him, 

then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

10 And the Philistine said, 

I defy the armies of Israel this day; 

give me a man, 

that we may fight together.

Israel's reaction?

1 Samuel 17:11

King James Version

11 When Saul and all Israel 

heard those words of the Philistine, 

they were dismayed, 

and greatly afraid.

We all know the outcome of the battle.

But do you know the details?

Let Scripture regale us with the LORD's might.

Which He gave this future king of Israel.

But first, let's take note of this defender's weapon of choice:

1 Samuel 17:38-40

King James Version

38 And Saul armed David with his armour, 

and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; 

also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, 

and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. 

And David said unto Saul, 

I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. 

And David put them off him.

40 And he took his staff in his hand, 

and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, 

and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, 

even in a scrip; 

and his sling was in his hand: 

and he drew near to the Philistine.

Now, let's go to the thick of the battle.

With the young, tiny defender, facing his giant opponent.

No military history book could compete with how this battle was won out.

Let's eavesdrop on the exchange:

1 Samuel 17:41-47

King James Version

41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; 

and the man that bare the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about, 

and saw David, he disdained him: 

for he was but a youth, and ruddy, 

and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto David, 

Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? 

And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 And the Philistine said to David, 

Come to me, 

and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, 

and to the beasts of the field.

45 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.

46 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.

47 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.

And now, the battle itself:

1 Samuel 17:48-50

King James Version

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, 

and came, and drew nigh to meet David, 

that David hastened, 

and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, 

and took thence a stone, and slang it, 

and smote the Philistine in his forehead, 

that the stone sunk into his forehead; 

and he fell upon his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine 

with a sling and with a stone, 

and smote the Philistine, and slew him; 

but there was no sword in the hand of David.

The ironic finishing touch?

1 Samuel 17:51

King James Version

51 Therefore David ran, 

and stood upon the Philistine, 

and took his sword, 

and drew it out of the sheath thereof, 

and slew him, 

and cut off his head therewith. 

And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, 

they fled.

VICTORY for Israel!

VICTORY from GOD!

VICTORY for David!

1 Samuel 17:52-53

King James Version

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, 

and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, 

until thou come to the valley, 

and to the gates of Ekron. 

And the wounded of the Philistines 

fell down by the way to Shaaraim, 

even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

53 And the children of Israel returned 

from chasing after the Philistines, 

and they spoiled their tents.

But David wasn't finished yet.

1 Samuel 17:54

King James Version

54 And David took the head of the Philistine, 

and brought it to Jerusalem; 

but he put his armour in his tent.

Saul learns the identity of GOD's champion:

1 Samuel 17:55-58

King James Version

55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, 

he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, 

Abner, whose son is this youth? 

And Abner said, 

As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

56 And the king said, 

Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.

57 And as David returned 

from the slaughter of the Philistine, 

Abner took him, and brought him before Saul 

with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul said to him, 

Whose son art thou, thou young man? 

And David answered, 

I am the son of thy servant 

Jesse the Bethlehemite.

When a GIANT challenges, whether a real one, or a representative one, know which side you're on.

If GOD is your strength, you're on the winning side.

More about giants from this tab.

Image: Clipart Library