1 Samuel 17 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 1 Sam 17:1-11,26

1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armour of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield-bearer went ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.’ 10 Then the Philistine said, ‘This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.’ 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

26 David asked the men standing near him, ‘What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?’

A. Find Out:

1. Who confronted each other? v.1,2
2. How would you summarise Goliath’s description? v.4-7
3. How did Goliath describe Israel? v.8
4. What was Israel ‘s response? v.11
5. How did David view Israel? v.26b
6. What did he see this as? v.26a

B. Think:

1. By what were Israel overawed?
2. What did they forget that David obviously remembered?
3. What was circumcision for the Jewish men?

C. Comment:

     The enemy turns up and so Israel dutifully go out to face them. Unfortunately the enemy have a frightening weapon. Within this picture there are some important lessons to be learnt!

     First, Goliath dictates how the battle is to be fought and Israel go along with his words!  There is no reason at all why Israel shouldn’t have totally ignored Goliath and fought the battle normally and instead have six of their best men take on Goliath, but instead they became mesmerised by him.  Don’t let the enemy dictate terms!

      Second, Israel allowed the enemy to make them forget who they were. The enemy describes them as “Saul’s army” and it takes David to remind them that they are “God’s army”, a great difference! Not only that they are a people who are in relationship with God who are being confronted by an enemy that has no relationship with God, hence David’s reference to “this uncircumcised Philistine” (circumcision was a sign to the Jewish male of his relationship to God).  David sees this as an opportunity for victory for God’s people!

     Finally we need to get things in proportion. Goliath is big and powerful but God is infinitely bigger and more powerful.  Make sure you keep things in proportion!

D. Application:

1. Thank God for your relationship with Him through Jesus.
2. Problems may be big but God’s resources are bigger! Thank Him.

Passage: 1 Sam 17:12-25

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. 13 Jesse’s three eldest sons had followed Saul to the war: the firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

17 Now Jesse said to his son David, ‘Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.’

20 Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.

25 Now the Israelites had been saying, ‘Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.’

A. Find Out:

1. What was David doing at this time? v.15
2. How long had Goliath been challenging Israel ? v.16
3. What 3 things had Jesse asked David to do? v.17,18
4. What did David do with his flock? v.20
5. With whom did David leave the provisions? v.22a
6. Where did he then go? v.22b

B. Think:

1. How many tasks does David appear to have been involved in?
2. What does this say about David? How would you describe him?

C. Comment:

     Previously (in chapter 16) we saw that David went from time to time to minister to Saul on the harp. He also was appointed one of Saul’s armour bearers, but this was probably a part time job, possibly only needed when Saul went out to battle.

     Whenever David was home on leave, which seems often, he would return to looking after the sheep, which seems his main job. Now while three of his brothers are away at war, he is given the additional job of taking them supplies.

     This is a very industrious young man! Not only is he obviously considered trustworthy by his ageing father, but he shows every sign of wisdom as he ensures a shepherd is around to look after the sheep while he is away.  Also, as soon as he arrives at the battle front he ensures the provisions are left with the quartermaster before going to see the thrills of the battle.   What an example this young man is!

     Note also Jesse’s wisdom and diplomacy as he ensures that provisions are taken for the commander of the unit where the three brothers are.   Like father, like son perhaps.

     Finally let us note again the state of play in the battle: stalemate! For forty days Goliath has been coming out. The two armies face each other but there appears no actual battle. Israel are still being terrified by the taunts of this giant, but the Philistines are not so confident that they can fight to win.

D. Application:

1. Do we have the servant heart of David? May it be so!
2. Are we intimidated by the enemy? May it not be so!

Passage: 1 Sam 17:26-39

26 David asked the men standing near him, ‘What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?’

27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, ‘This is what will be done for the man who kills him.’

28 When Eliab, David’s eldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, ‘Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.’

29 ‘Now what have I done?’ said David. ‘Can’t I even speak?’ 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

32 David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.’

33 Saul replied, ‘You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.’

34 But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’

Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you.’

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. ‘I cannot go in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them.’ So he took them off.

A. Find Out:

1. What was Eliab’s response to David’s questions? v.28
2. What was Saul’s response to David’s assertions? v.33
3. How did Saul prepare David? v.38,39
4. Why was David first of all upset about Goliath? v.26
5. How did David’s past experiences reassure him? v.34-36
6. What had he known about those experiences? v.37 

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Eliab reacted like he did?
2. In what did Saul put his trust?
3. How did David differ?

C. Comment:

     As we have seen previously David was annoyed because God’s people were being intimidated by a godless person. His questioning leads to some interesting reactions in those nearby.

     First, there is eldest brother, Eliab, fearful of Goliath and mindful of his position in the family. He is angry that the youngest brother should have the temerity to brag in this way.  He comes from a position of wounded pride.

     Then there is Saul, king and supposed leader, fearful of Goliath and reasoning things on the basis of human strength.   David, in his eyes, is too small, too weak, too young and too inexperienced. (What did Paul say in 1 Corinthians 1:27?).   When David reveals there is more to him than meets the eye Saul, still working on human reasoning, gives him his heavy armour, after all that is how he would fight! David has a different perspective. As we have already seen, he works from the angle that they are God’s chosen people, that God is with them and will back them up. He also has a testimony; he knows what he has done in the past and he knows who it was that enabled him to do it! Not only that, he is convinced that God will carry on doing it for him! 

D. Application:

1. Am I as secure in my relationship with God as David was?
2. Am I as sure that God will turn up to deliver me from my giants?

Passage: 1 Sam 17:38-47

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

‘I cannot go in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them.’ So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield-bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 ‘Come here,’ he said, ‘and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!’

45 David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’

A. Find Out:

1. What could Goliath only see before him? v.42a
2. What did Goliath think of David? v.42b
3. What weapons was Goliath using? v.45a
4. But with what was David coming? v.45b
5. What did David say would happen? v.46
6. With what result? v.47

B. Think:

1. Who, humanly speaking ought to win? Why?
2. But why is David sure of a different outcome?
3. What lesson should be coming to us in this passage?

C. Comment:

     In this passage we see two entirely opposite ways of fighting battles. First there is Goliath who is very big, very strong, covered in mighty armour, has a mighty shield and has mighty weapons. Humanly speaking the odds are in his favour.

     Then there is David, a young man, smaller but no doubt strong, armed with nothing more than a sling and some stones (NB. Five stones – he isn’t presuming anything!).  He must surely be the under-dog.  But David has something else going for him; who it is who is sending him.

     Here is the crucial point about this whole affair. It’s not the combatants, but who they represent, who has sent them. Goliath, an idol worshipper is sent by Satan to destroy the people of God. David, chosen and anointed by God is sent by God to uphold His name and defend His people. The key issue is whose “sender” has the greater ability to provide for his man? All Satan can do is stir hatred in his man, but God stirs wisdom, courage and ability in His man. Seen in that light this is a “no contest”.  How often do the people of God need to see their battles in this light!

D. Application:

1. I am who I am because of who has called me and sent me!
2. I will do what I do by His enabling, by His wisdom, His grace, His strength, all of His enabling. Praise His Name!

Passage: 1 Sam 17:48-58

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath[y] and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.

54 David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.

55 As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, ‘Abner, whose son is that young man?’

Abner replied, ‘As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.’

56 The king said, ‘Find out whose son this young man is.’

57 As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.

58 ‘Whose son are you, young man?’ Saul asked him.

David said, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.’

A. Find Out:

1. How was David’s confidence shown? v.48
2. How did David kill Goliath? v.49,50
3. What did David then do? v.51a,b
4. With what effect? v.51c
5. What effect did that have on the Israelites? v.52
6. What is obvious from v.55-58?

B. Think:

1. What was the purpose in cutting off Goliath’s head?
2. What are we to put to death today? See Colossians 3:5
3. How might it have been that David was virtually unknown to Saul?

C. Comment:

     The battle is joined, and David simply takes a stone and from a distance slays Goliath with a sling. But that is not the end. This death needs to be confirmed so the watching armies can see it, so David cuts off his head. The effect is immediate on both armies, and a great victory is won by the people of God.

     Now we are not called to fight physical battles (Ephesians 6:12) but to wage warfare in the spiritual realm. We are called to put to death self-centred, godless thinking and behaviour. The picture of what happened to Goliath can perhaps help impact us at this point. When the truth comes to us it puts to death our self-centred, self-glorifying life style and we see our need of Jesus as a Saviour. But the head is the place of the intellect, the mind, the source of godless thinking and we need to see that, for us to be able to go on and live resurrection lives by the power and wisdom of God, that old source needs to be severed from us.  We must not let it have influence over the new life!

     Also note in passing that Saul has not yet really taken notice of David. David obviously in his eyes, is merely a servant harp player in the background, one of the team who looked after the kings armour. Only now does he start to come to the forefront and trouble is coming!

D. Application:

1. We fight against sin!
2. The key is in ourselves, no longer living by past thinking.