God Controlled, Motivated, and Guided David
February 8, 2025
Commentary
When David was brought before Israel’s monarch, Saul tried to talk him out of what appeared to be a foolish course of action (vv. 31-33). Human logic might have implied that he was embarking on a fool’s errand, but his confidence in the God of his fathers was so strong it assured him of victory. In this section of chapter 17 we find several important principles that are needed for the trials of life: (1) Adequate Preparation (v. 34). David practiced with his sling shot for years while tending his father’s flocks. He also grew close to the Lord during that time. (2) Inner Confidence (vv. 32-39). David felt confident in himself and in his relationship with the Lord. The Spirit of God controlled, motivated, and guided David. He refused Saul’s armor and relied entirely on the Lord for success. If God calls us to use a sling shot, we should not try to use a sword. (3) Becoming Involved (v. 40). Neither his brothers belittling nor Saul’s well-meant counsel could turn David from the course of action he believed he should take. We need men and women in God’s army today who recognize the need to get involved and take action when they are confronted with difficulties.
Goliath walked up to David with a cocky spirit (vv. 41-44). Goliath insulted David for his youthful appearance and promised to kill him. But David told Goliath that he was coming in the name of the Lord, the one whom Goliath had defied (v. 45). Goliath and his army would be the ones dying today, not David (v. 46). As Goliath starts toward David, David ran to meet him. As he came, he put a stone in his sling and hurls it (vv. 47-48). The stone connects with Goliath’s forehead and he fell to the ground (v. 49). David didn’t have a sword so he took Goliath’s sword from his sheath and cut his head off (v. 50). When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they ran and the Israelite army pursues them (v. 51). Saul’s army pursued them to the very gates of their cities, about seven miles from the valley of Elah. As they returned to their own borders, the Israelites plundered the Philistine camps (vv. 52-53). David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored his armor in his tent (v. 54). Although David had played his harp for Saul many times, Saul inquired as to who this young lad’s father was that had just killed Goliath (vv. 55-58). One from David’s tribe, Judah, was destined to rule Israel (Gen. 49:8-12). Here we see the tiny seed of jealousy first planted which will eventually grow into hatred in Saul’s heart.
Application
Am I a person of action like David and ready to get involved when challenges bigger than me come in my path? I have the confidence that the same God that David had to go before me will take care of my enemies and give victory in all areas of my life and ministry.
1 Samuel 17:31– 58 (NET)
31 When David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, he called for him.
32 David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged. Your servant will go and fight this Philistine!” 33 But Saul replied to David, “You aren’t able to go against this Philistine and fight him. You’re just a boy! He has been a warrior from his youth.”
34 David replied to Saul, “Your servant has been a shepherd for his father’s flock. Whenever a lion or bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock, 35 I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose up against me, I would grab it by its jaw, strike it, and kill it. 36 Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 David went on to say, “The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Then Saul said to David, “Go! The Lord will be with you.”
38 Then Saul clothed David with his own fighting attire and put a bronze helmet on his head. He also put body armor on him. 39 David strapped on his sword over his fighting attire and tried to walk around, but he was not used to them. David said to Saul, “I can’t walk in these things, for I’m not used to them.” So David removed them. 40 He took his staff in his hand, picked out five smooth stones from the stream, placed them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag, took his sling in hand, and approached the Philistine.
41 The Philistine, with his shield bearer walking in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 When the Philistine looked carefully at David, he despised him, for he was only a ruddy and handsome boy. 43 The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you are coming after me with sticks?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, “Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the field!”
45 But David replied to the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel’s armies, whom you have defied! 46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you down and cut off your head. This day I will give the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land. Then all the land will realize that Israel has a God, 47 and all this assembly will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves! For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will deliver you into our hand.”
48 The Philistine drew steadily closer to David to attack him, while David quickly ran toward the battle line to attack the Philistine. 49 David reached his hand into the bag and took out a stone. He slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank deeply into his forehead, and he fell down with his face to the ground.
50 David prevailed over the Philistine with just the sling and the stone. He struck down the Philistine and killed him. David did not even have a sword in his hand. 51 David ran and stood over the Philistine. He grabbed Goliath’s sword, drew it from its sheath, and after killing him, he cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they ran away.
52 Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward, shouting a battle cry. They chased the Philistines to the valley and to the very gates of Ekron. The Philistine corpses lay fallen along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from their hot pursuit of the Philistines, they looted their camp. 54 David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put Goliath’s weapons in his tent.
55 Now as Saul watched David going out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the general in command of the army, “Whose son is that young man, Abner?” Abner replied, “As surely as you live, O king, I don’t know.” 56 The king said, “Find out whose son this boy is.”
57 So when David returned from striking down the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. He still had the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” David replied, “I am the son of your servant Jesse in Bethlehem.”