1 Samuel Chapter 17
David and Goliath
A. Goliath Challenges Israel
1 Samuel 17:1–10
“Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered together at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”
The scene opens in the Valley of Elah, a wide, fertile valley located southwest of Jerusalem. The Philistines, who were long-time adversaries of Israel, gathered their armies at Sochoh, an area that belonged to Judah. The Israelites encamped opposite them, separated by the valley, each army occupying a mountain ridge facing the other. This topography created a natural battlefield, one that allowed each side to observe the other’s movements clearly. The stage was set for a confrontation that would reveal both the fear of man and the power of God through faith.
A. The Valley of Elah and the Setting
The Valley of Elah still exists today, with rolling hills and open terrain stretching across Judah’s land. It served as a natural corridor leading from Philistine territory into the heart of Israel. The Philistines’ encampment at Ephes Dammim (“boundary of blood”) symbolized their continual hostility and readiness to spill blood in warfare. The Israelites, led by Saul, positioned themselves on the opposing hill. Though they were “in battle array,” their courage would soon be tested by one man whose presence struck terror into their hearts.
B. The Appearance and Power of Goliath
Goliath is described as a “champion” from Gath, standing six cubits and a span, roughly nine feet tall. His massive stature and armor made him appear invincible to ordinary men. He wore a bronze helmet and a coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels of bronze—about 125 pounds. His legs were protected by bronze greaves, and he carried a bronze javelin across his back. The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels, approximately fifteen pounds. Even his shield-bearer went before him, emphasizing his rank and importance. Goliath was not only a warrior but a walking fortress of intimidation.
Historical accounts show that men of great size were not unheard of. Poole notes that ancient historians such as Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny recorded the existence of men seven cubits tall. In more modern times, Robert Pershing Wadlow, who lived in the early twentieth century, reached eight feet eleven inches at the time of his death. Goliath’s size, though extraordinary, was within the realm of human possibility and underscored his role as a formidable physical adversary.
The Bible records that Goliath was from Gath, one of the five principal Philistine cities. According to Joshua 11:22, “There were none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.” This reference shows that remnants of the Anakim, a race of giants, remained in Gath for generations, likely contributing to the lineage from which Goliath descended. His existence serves as a reminder of Israel’s earlier failure to fully eliminate the Canaanite giants as commanded by God.
C. Goliath’s Challenge
Goliath’s challenge was both military and spiritual. He stood and “cried out to the armies of Israel”, declaring his disdain for them and their God. His words, “Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul?” show his contempt for Israel’s king and people. The term “champion” literally means “the man between two,” referring to a combatant who fought in single combat to represent his army. This was common in ancient warfare, intended to minimize casualties by resolving disputes through a single decisive duel.
Goliath’s terms were simple but arrogant: if Israel’s representative defeated him, the Philistines would become Israel’s servants, but if he prevailed, Israel would serve the Philistines. His taunt, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together”, was an open insult to God’s people. The word “defy” carries the sense of reproach or blasphemy—it was not only an affront to Israel but also to the LORD Himself, who had chosen Israel as His covenant nation.
This moment reveals the spiritual conflict underlying the physical battle. Goliath stood as a picture of the world’s strength and pride, relying on carnal might and intimidating power. Israel, on the other hand, was called to rely upon faith in the LORD of Hosts. Yet at this point, Israel’s faith had faltered, and fear had taken hold of their hearts. It is a vivid illustration of how unbelief can paralyze even God’s people when they lose sight of His sovereignty.
2. The Fear of Saul and All Israel
1 Samuel 17:11
“When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”
The scene shifts from Goliath’s bold challenge to the response of Saul and Israel’s army. The reaction is immediate and uniform—“they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” The Hebrew word for dismayed conveys the idea of being shattered, broken in spirit, or filled with dread. This was precisely what Goliath intended. His towering stature, gleaming armor, and defiant words were designed to cripple the morale of Israel before a single weapon was drawn. The Philistine giant had already won a psychological victory. Before swords clashed, fear had penetrated the camp of God’s people.
A. Fear as Goliath’s Weapon
When Saul and Israel heard Goliath’s words, their hearts melted with fear. This was no ordinary challenge—it was a deliberate act of intimidation. Goliath’s purpose was not merely to fight but to dominate through terror. His imposing presence and taunting speech created paralysis among Israel’s soldiers. The same tactic is still used in warfare today—breaking the will to fight before battle ever begins. The devil employs the same method against believers. Scripture teaches that the enemy often seeks to overwhelm the mind and heart with fear and discouragement so that faith is neutralized before any spiritual engagement occurs.
Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear does not come from God, but from the adversary who seeks to destroy faith. When fear controls the believer, the heart forgets the greatness of God and magnifies the power of the enemy. Goliath’s words became larger in their ears than the promises of God, and thus, faith was silenced.
B. Saul’s Particular Fear
The text singles out Saul: “When Saul heard these words…” His fear was more pronounced than the rest because he, of all men in Israel, was most expected to answer the challenge. Scripture describes him in 1 Samuel 9:2, “And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.” Saul, being the tallest and strongest among his people, should have been Israel’s champion. The people had chosen him because of his physical stature and outward appearance—precisely the kind of man expected to face a warrior like Goliath.
However, Saul’s heart was no longer fortified by the Spirit of God. In 1 Samuel 16:14, Scripture records, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” When the Spirit of the LORD departed, courage departed with Him. Once empowered by God to lead Israel to victory, Saul now stood powerless, stripped of divine confidence. Without the Spirit’s presence, even the mightiest man in Israel trembled like the rest.
C. The Decline of Saul’s Leadership
Earlier in his reign, Saul had been a fierce warrior. 1 Samuel 14:52 records, “And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.” Once, he inspired courage and commanded the respect of valiant men. But disobedience had led to his spiritual decline, and now, faced with a true test of faith, he faltered. The difference between Saul’s early victories and his present fear lies entirely in his relationship with God. When the Spirit was with him, he was bold and victorious. When the Spirit left, he became timid and ineffective.
The fear that overtook Saul and Israel was not merely a natural reaction to danger; it was the fruit of spiritual weakness. A man or nation that has lost fellowship with God will always find itself unable to stand against the enemy. Fear becomes dominant where faith has been abandoned.
D. Application and Reflection
This verse reminds believers that fear often wins the battle long before any confrontation occurs. Goliath’s roar echoes in every generation through circumstances, opposition, or temptation that seem larger than life. But faith, grounded in God’s presence, silences fear. The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 4:4, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” When God’s Spirit dwells within, no external threat can overcome the believer’s confidence.
Saul’s failure illustrates a timeless truth: without the Spirit of God, even the strongest man becomes weak, and with the Spirit of God, even the weakest man can be mighty. Later, David would stand before the same Goliath, not with armor or height, but with faith. The contrast between Saul’s fear and David’s courage underscores that spiritual strength is not measured in physical might but in trust in the LORD of hosts.
B. David Comes to the Camp of Israel
1 Samuel 17:12–15
“Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”
The narrative now shifts from Saul’s fear to David’s humble faithfulness. David, the youngest son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, enters the story as a quiet servant rather than a warrior. While the armies of Israel stand frozen before Goliath’s challenge, David continues in his ordinary duties—tending sheep, serving his father, and occasionally assisting Saul when summoned. The text contrasts Saul’s paralysis with David’s steady obedience.
A. David’s Humble Circumstances
Jesse, David’s father, is described as an “Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah.” Bethlehem, though small and seemingly insignificant, would become the birthplace of Israel’s greatest king and ultimately of the Messiah. Micah prophesied in Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” The location itself foreshadows God’s pattern of exalting the humble and using the small to accomplish great things.
David was the youngest of eight sons. His three eldest brothers—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah—had joined Saul’s army. David, being too young to fight, remained home to care for the flock. Even though he had already been anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13), he did not boast or rush ahead of God’s timing. Instead, he quietly returned to his responsibilities. God often tests His servants in obscurity before using them in prominence.
B. David’s Faithfulness Between the Palace and the Pasture
The verse states, “David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.” David’s service to Saul had not yet become permanent. He came to the royal court when the king’s torment required his music and returned home when the need passed. This rhythm between palace and pasture shaped David’s character. He did not despise the humble duties of shepherding even after having tasted royal life. The same hands that strummed the harp before a king now cared tenderly for sheep.
This reveals a deep spiritual truth: faithfulness in small things prepares a man for greater things. Jesus taught in Luke 16:10, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Before David could shepherd a nation, he proved himself as a faithful shepherd of sheep.
C. David the Youngest and the “Firstborn” of God
The text emphasizes that “David was the youngest.” Yet in Psalm 89:27, God declares concerning David, “Also I will make him My firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.” This divine title shows that firstborn in Scripture often speaks not of physical birth order but of rank, honor, and inheritance. Being God’s “firstborn” meant that David would hold preeminence among kings as the chosen one through whom God’s covenant line would continue.
Likewise, the Apostle Paul used this same concept in Colossians 1:15, saying of Christ, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” Paul was not implying that Christ was a created being, but that He holds supreme rank and authority over all creation. As David foreshadowed the true King, Jesus Christ, the title “firstborn” points to divine preeminence, not origin. David’s anointing and later kingship become prophetic symbols of the Messiah’s eternal rule.
2. David Brings Gifts from Home and Comes into Israel’s Camp
1 Samuel 17:16–21
“And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; and carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.”
For forty days, morning and evening, Goliath taunted the armies of Israel. The number forty in Scripture often symbolizes a period of testing or trial, such as Israel’s forty years in the wilderness or Jesus’ forty days of temptation. Here, Israel faced forty days of humiliation and faithlessness, waiting for someone to trust God enough to stand against the giant.
A. The Long Test of Fear
“The Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days.” The daily repetition of Goliath’s challenge reveals Israel’s sustained paralysis. Morning and evening, as the day began and ended, the people of God were reminded of their defeat. This prolonged exposure to intimidation magnified their fear. It is often in the daily, repeated battles that faith must endure the fiercest test.
B. The Shepherd’s Care and Responsibility
The phrase “left the sheep with a keeper” highlights David’s integrity. Even when running an errand for his father, he ensured his responsibilities were covered. His concern for the flock, no matter how routine, reveals the heart of a true shepherd. This same care would later characterize his leadership as king. In John 10:11, Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” David’s concern for the sheep foreshadowed the greater Shepherd who would one day lay down His life for His own.
C. Obedience and Initiative
David “rose up early in the morning” and obeyed his father’s command without hesitation. Faithful obedience in the mundane prepared him for the miraculous. The text shows no reluctance or delay. His errand was simple—deliver food and bring news—but this act of obedience placed him exactly where God wanted him for the unfolding of His divine plan.
D. The Scene at the Camp
When David arrived, the army was already assembled and shouting for battle. Yet, as in the preceding forty days, the shouting masked fear and pretense. The soldiers shouted across the valley, attempting to stir courage through noise, but when Goliath appeared, they retreated again. It was an army with ceremony but without faith.
This picture mirrors the state of many who profess belief yet lack spiritual power. They may shout, sing, or appear ready for battle, but when confronted by real opposition, they falter because their confidence rests in themselves, not in God.
David entered this atmosphere of fear and ritual with a heart full of faith. Though he came as a messenger and shepherd, God had prepared him to be the instrument of deliverance. What began as an errand for bread and cheese would soon become the stage for one of Scripture’s greatest demonstrations of faith.
3. David Sees Goliath’s Challenge and the Fear of Israel’s Soldiers
1 Samuel 17:22–24
“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. 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. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.”
David arrives at the scene of battle and quickly encounters the same spectacle that had paralyzed Israel for forty days. After leaving his supplies in responsible hands—a mark of his orderliness and care—he runs to greet his brothers. As he speaks with them, the familiar, booming voice of Goliath fills the valley once again. The text says, “And David heard them.” This simple phrase marks a pivotal turning point. What thousands of soldiers had heard and feared for over a month, David now hears for the first time, yet his response will be entirely different.
A. Israel’s Fear and Helplessness
The verse records, “All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.” The phrase sore afraid (or dreadfully afraid) conveys extreme terror. Every time Goliath appeared, the soldiers fled instinctively, proving how deeply fear had conditioned their hearts. Not one man among them—including Saul—found courage to step forward. This repeated behavior shows the power of intimidation. Fear had become habitual, and faith had become absent.
Their fear was not just of Goliath’s strength, but of what he represented—a confrontation that exposed the emptiness of their spiritual confidence. The nation that once sang of the LORD who parted the Red Sea and brought down Jericho’s walls now trembled before one man. It is a sobering image of how unbelief can strip a people of their courage when they forget the God who fights for them.
B. The Contrast of Faith and Fear
David’s presence among the fearful soldiers sets up a divine contrast. He comes from a life of worship, faith, and simple obedience, while they have spent forty days under the shadow of fear. The shepherd boy, who had faced lions and bears with trust in God, now stands among soldiers who have seen battle yet lack faith. The difference between them is not training or experience but perspective. Fear sees giants; faith sees God.
This principle is echoed throughout Scripture. In Romans 8:31, Paul declares, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Fear magnifies the enemy; faith magnifies the LORD. Where Saul’s army saw an unconquerable adversary, David will soon see an opportunity to glorify God.
4. David Hears of Saul’s Reward but Speaks of God’s Honor
1 Samuel 17:25–27
“And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. 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? And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.”
David listens as the soldiers speak of Saul’s reward for any man who would defeat Goliath. The incentives reveal how desperate the situation had become—a large fortune, marriage to the king’s daughter, and permanent tax exemption for his family. Yet despite these lavish rewards, no man had the courage to accept the challenge. They valued their lives more than the prize.
A. The King’s Reward and the Cowardice of Israel
Saul’s promise of “great riches,” a princess for a wife, and freedom from taxes shows the depth of fear within the nation. No ordinary reward could persuade a man to face Goliath. This was not a failure of incentive but of faith. The soldiers’ discussions center around self-preservation and material gain, showing that their minds were fixed on the flesh rather than on the LORD.
B. David’s Spiritual Perspective
David’s question pierces through their earthly thinking: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” His first thought is not about reward or risk, but about the honor of God. To David, Goliath’s insults were not merely against Israel—they were against the LORD Himself. David refers to Goliath as “uncircumcised,” emphasizing that the giant was outside the covenant relationship with God. He was a heathen who stood in defiance of the living God, and this, to David, was intolerable.
Where others saw a military problem, David saw a moral and spiritual one. His faith gave him a divine lens through which to interpret the situation. The soldiers said, “This man,” but David said, “This uncircumcised Philistine.” They said, “He defies Israel,” but David said, “He defies the armies of the living God.” They said, “The man who kills him,” but David said, “The man who takes away the reproach from Israel.”
David’s language reveals his heart for God’s glory. He was a man after God’s own heart because he saw every battle as belonging to the LORD. In Psalm 69:9, he later wrote, “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” The same zeal that consumed David here is what would later define his kingship.
C. The Reproach of Israel
David recognized that Goliath’s daily blasphemy brought shame upon Israel. God’s chosen nation, meant to be a light to the nations, had become a byword of fear. David’s passion was not for personal glory but to remove that reproach by vindicating the name of God. He could not stand by while the armies of the living God were mocked.
This kind of righteous indignation distinguishes men of faith from men of fear. David’s concern was not his safety or status, but the LORD’s honor. This is why God would later say of him, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfil all My will.” (Acts 13:22)
Faith always frames conflict in relation to God’s character, while fear frames it in relation to human limitation. David’s words remind us that the greatest battles are not won by strength of arm but by steadfast trust in the LORD of Hosts.
5. David Is Misunderstood and Falsely Accused by His Brother
1 Samuel 17:28–30
“And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.”
When David began to inquire about Goliath and to speak boldly about the honor of God, his words did not inspire his brothers—they provoked them. His eldest brother Eliab, the same man who once stood before Samuel as a potential king and was rejected by God, now turned against David in anger and jealousy. Instead of rejoicing at his brother’s courage, Eliab mocked and accused him. This moment reveals that before David ever faced the giant in the valley, he first had to overcome the hostility of his own family.
A. Eliab’s Anger and Jealousy
The text says, “Eliab’s anger was kindled against David.” This was not a mild irritation but a deep resentment that burned within him. Eliab’s anger likely sprang from several sources.
i. Eliab viewed David as insignificant.
His words drip with condescension: “With whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?” Eliab belittled David’s responsibility and mocked his occupation. To him, shepherding was menial work, unworthy of serious men. Yet this very task—faithfully watching over “those few sheep”—had prepared David for the greatest battle of his life. What Eliab scorned, God had sanctified. The Lord delights in using what the proud despise. Zechariah 4:10 reminds us, “For who hath despised the day of small things?” David’s faithfulness in obscurity was the foundation for his faith in public.
ii. Eliab presumed to judge David’s heart.
He declared, “I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart.” But Eliab did not know David’s heart—he projected his own. The Lord had already said in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” Eliab was guilty of what only God can do—judging motives. Jeremiah 17:10 affirms, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Trapp comments, “Here he taketh upon him that which belongeth to God alone.” Eliab’s self-righteous anger exposed his own spiritual blindness.
iii. Eliab accused David of seeking glory.
He charged, “Thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.” In essence, he accused David of being a thrill-seeker, watching the conflict out of pride or curiosity. Yet in truth, Eliab’s own fear and shame may have fueled this accusation. As a tall and capable man, Eliab should have been the one to face Goliath. His anger may have been the defensive reaction of a man unwilling to confront his own cowardice.
iv. Eliab’s anger was partly because David was right.
When you are dismayed and afraid, nothing stings more than someone reminding you of your duty to be courageous. David’s questions had exposed the lack of faith among Israel’s soldiers. Eliab’s pride could not bear the rebuke of his younger brother’s spiritual clarity.
B. David’s Response: “Is There Not a Cause?”
David’s reply shows both restraint and conviction. “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” His answer reflects both the pain of being misunderstood and the firmness of purpose that faith produces. He did not retaliate or defend his motives in detail. Instead, he re-centered the discussion on what truly mattered—the cause of God’s honor.
This brief but powerful question, “Is there not a cause?” reveals David’s single-minded devotion. He would not be distracted by personal offense or family strife. The glory of God outweighed every insult. His words echo the heart of a servant who refuses to let personal attacks hinder obedience. Proverbs 15:1 declares, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” David’s measured answer showed strength under control. He did not allow fleshly reaction to destroy spiritual focus.
C. David’s Spiritual Maturity in the Face of Provocation
David had already learned to rule his spirit before ruling over men. This exchange with Eliab was a test of spiritual warfare more difficult than facing Goliath. A careless response to his brother’s anger could have disqualified him before the battle even began. The victory over Goliath began here, when David refused to be drawn into petty strife. He turned away, the Scripture says, “And he turned from him toward another.”
Spurgeon notes insightfully, “Immediately before the encounter with the Philistine he fought a battle which cost him far more thought, prudence, and patience. The word-battle in which he had to engage with his brothers and with king Saul, was a more trying ordeal to him than going forth in the strength of the Lord to smite the uncircumcised boaster.” Many believers experience this same reality—hostility and misunderstanding often come first from those closest to them.
David’s wisdom here is a model for every servant of God. When attacked unfairly, he did not linger to defend his reputation or argue his innocence. Instead, he stayed focused on the divine mission. Proverbs 16:32 declares, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” David demonstrated that kind of mastery.
D. The True Battle Before the Battle
In truth, David’s confrontation with Eliab was the first of several battles he would fight that day—each one testing a different aspect of his character. He first faced the battle of misunderstanding with his family, then the battle of doubt with Saul, and finally the battle of faith with Goliath. The victory over the giant began not with a sling and a stone, but with a steadfast heart that refused to be moved by insult or fear.
When David asked, “Is there not a cause?” he declared that the honor of God demanded action, no matter the cost. This was not reckless enthusiasm but righteous conviction. He could not stand idle while the name of the LORD was defied. That unshakable conviction was the source of his courage and the reason God called him a man after His own heart.
C. David Prepares to Fight Goliath
1. David’s Confident Words Become Known to Saul
1 Samuel 17:31–32
“And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
When David spoke with faith and conviction among the soldiers, word of his boldness quickly spread. The same men who had been paralyzed by fear for forty days now brought David’s words to the attention of Saul. It was not that David had made a boastful declaration or arrogant claim—he simply expressed confidence in the LORD’s cause and declared his willingness to act. Even that modest confidence stood out like a beacon in a camp consumed by fear.
A. They Reported Him to Saul
David’s faith sounded foreign in a nation overwhelmed by unbelief. His words were not loud or boastful, but they carried authority because they were rooted in trust. The men of Israel had heard enough talk about fear, but this young shepherd spoke of faith in the living God. That alone made his words worth reporting. When a man truly believes God, even simple statements become powerful.
B. “Let No Man’s Heart Fail Because of Him”
When David stood before Saul and said, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him,” it must have sounded shocking. To hear such calm assurance from a teenager in a camp of trembling soldiers almost seemed absurd. But David’s words were not prideful—they were anchored in divine confidence. This is not self-reliance but faith reliance.
Saul had waited forty days for a volunteer. Now, finally, someone had come forward—but it was not a veteran soldier. It was a boy whose hands smelled of sheep and whose weapon was a sling. Humanly speaking, it must have seemed almost cruelly ironic. Yet the boy’s words carried an unmistakable authority. Where Saul saw impossibility, David saw opportunity for God to display His glory.
C. “Your Servant Will Go and Fight with This Philistine”
This was the first time David explicitly volunteered for the battle. Until now, he had spoken of the cause and of Goliath’s reproach, but now he steps forward personally. It is one thing to say, “Someone should do something about the enemy,” and quite another to say, “I will go.” True faith always moves from conviction to action. David’s willingness to engage reveals that his faith was not theoretical but active. As James later wrote, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17)
David’s words may have sounded naïve to Saul, but they carried the power of conviction. When faith speaks, even kings listen.
2. David’s Training as a Shepherd Prepared Him
1 Samuel 17:33–37
“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. 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: 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. 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 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.”
When Saul first saw David, he dismissed him. The king saw a boy, not a warrior; a shepherd, not a soldier. Saul measured David by appearance and experience, but he failed to measure him by faith.
A. “You Are Not Able… You Are but a Youth”
Saul’s response revealed a worldview dominated by sight, not faith. His reasoning was logical from a human standpoint: Goliath was a seasoned warrior; David was a boy. The “tale of the tape” favored Goliath in every measurable way. Yet Saul had forgotten what Samuel had already declared: “For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
The same blindness that caused Saul to fear Goliath also caused him to underestimate David. The king could not comprehend that the battle would not be won through strength of arm but through the power of God.
B. “He a Man of War from His Youth”
Saul’s logic was the voice of unbelief: “He has been fighting longer than you have been alive.” But experience without God’s favor is useless. The Philistine’s years of training meant nothing before the living God. By contrast, David’s youth meant nothing against the God who called him. God’s pattern throughout Scripture is consistent—He uses the weak to confound the mighty. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”
C. “Your Servant Has Killed Both Lion and Bear”
David then testified of God’s prior deliverances. His courage was not rooted in ignorance but in experience with God’s faithfulness. As a shepherd, he had faced wild beasts that threatened his flock. He said, “When there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb… I went out after him.” The verbs show immediate action—David pursued danger, not because he was reckless, but because he was responsible and courageous.
In both encounters, David risked his life to protect the sheep entrusted to him. The same heart that drove him to defend his flock now compelled him to defend God’s honor. His words reveal increasing faith: first, “someone should fight”; then, “I will fight”; now, “I will kill him.”
D. God’s Pattern of Preparation
When David said, “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear,” he was not boasting in himself but testifying that every hardship in his life had been divine preparation. The same God who strengthened his hands against wild beasts would empower him to slay a giant. God often prepares His servants in obscurity for public battles they cannot yet imagine.
Had David run in fear from the lion or bear, he would have never been ready for Goliath. His faithfulness in small, hidden tests equipped him for visible victory. Jesus expressed the same principle in Luke 16:10, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”
E. “The LORD Who Delivered Me…”
David’s confidence rested not in his sling or his skill, but in the faithfulness of God. He declared, “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.” Notice that David’s reasoning was theological, not tactical. His past deliverances were proof of God’s continuing faithfulness. The God who had delivered him before would not fail him now.
Faith always looks back on God’s proven record to find courage for the present. What God has done in the past is a prophecy of what He will do again. David’s testimony is a model for every believer: the LORD who has delivered you before will deliver you again.
Saul, though still spiritually blind, could not resist the conviction of David’s faith. Finally, he said, “Go, and the LORD be with thee.” Perhaps Saul said it with hesitation or even cynicism, but in that moment, the torch of faith passed from the trembling king to the courageous shepherd.
3. David Prepares to Fight Goliath
1 Samuel 17:38–40
“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. 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. 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.”
This passage captures the decisive moment before the battle—a test of preparation and trust. David’s confidence was not in outward strength or military advantage but in the God who had already proven Himself faithful.
A. Saul Clothed David with His Armor
Saul’s offer of his royal armor was an act of human reasoning, not divine faith. Saul, still governed by the flesh, assumed that if victory was to be achieved, it must come through conventional means—through iron and bronze, through strategy and weaponry. He dressed David in his own armor, likely the finest in Israel, believing that protection and strength could be found in outward defense.
This was symbolic of Saul’s spiritual condition. Having lost faith in the LORD, he placed his trust in physical resources. Saul’s armor represented human wisdom, human effort, and human control. But David could not fight in such armor, for this was not a battle to be won by the arm of flesh. Zechariah 4:6 declares, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Saul’s armor also symbolized the failure of leadership that tries to impose worldly methods upon God’s servants. Saul could not win with that armor himself, yet he still tried to pass it on to David. Many leaders today, having lost spiritual power, still attempt to equip others with the same failed methods of the flesh rather than pointing them to the power of God’s Spirit.
B. “I Cannot Walk with These, for I Have Not Tested Them”
When David attempted to walk in Saul’s armor, he quickly realized it hindered him. The armor was too heavy, too unfamiliar, and too restrictive. The verse says he “assayed to go,” meaning he tried to walk but could not. David’s rejection of the armor was both practical and spiritual. Physically, it did not fit him; spiritually, it did not belong to him.
David had never fought in such armor, nor did he need to. His victories had always come by faith in the LORD, not by dependence on human contrivance. Saul’s armor represented the world’s confidence in material security, while David’s sling represented trust in divine sufficiency.
There is a profound lesson here: many try to fight spiritual battles wearing someone else’s armor. They attempt to imitate the methods or style of others rather than depending personally on the LORD. True victory comes only when a believer walks in what God has proven through experience and faith, not through borrowed strength.
Trapp observed wisely, “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.” Many Christians are unaccustomed to spiritual armor because they have relied too long on worldly ones—plans, intellect, and self-confidence—instead of faith, prayer, and obedience.
C. David Took Them Off
The text states simply but powerfully, “And David put them off him.” David refused the compromise of fighting with man’s armor while claiming to trust in God. He would rather stand before Goliath exposed in the flesh but covered in faith than encased in metal but devoid of power. This act was not merely physical but symbolic—a total rejection of worldly strength and a full commitment to divine dependence.
It is tempting to seek a “middle ground” between trusting God and securing ourselves through human means. Yet the LORD calls His servants to complete reliance upon Him. In Ephesians 6:10–11, Paul exhorts believers, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” David knew that the armor of faith was superior to the armor of steel.
D. David’s Simple Weapons of Faith
The Scripture continues, “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… and his sling was in his hand.” David returned to what God had already used in his life. His staff, his sling, and his shepherd’s pouch were not signs of weakness, but of faithfulness. The same tools God had used to deliver him from the lion and the bear would now deliver him from Goliath.
The five smooth stones have often been a subject of curiosity. The number five in Scripture can signify grace, and these stones may symbolize the sufficiency of God’s grace in battle. A Rabbinical legend says the stones themselves called out to David, saying, “By us you shall overcome the giant,” emphasizing divine appointment even in the smallest details. Others have noted that Goliath had four brothers (2 Samuel 21:18–22), suggesting David prepared not only for Goliath but for any other giant that might appear.
Ultimately, the smooth stones remind us that God uses the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”
E. “And He Drew Near to the Philistine”
This final phrase marks the transition from faith in word to faith in action. David’s preparation would have meant nothing if he had not advanced toward the enemy. Many profess faith but never take the step of obedience that faith requires. Real faith moves forward.
David’s approach toward Goliath was not reckless confidence but steadfast trust in God’s power. Every step toward the giant declared that David believed what he had already confessed: that “the battle is the LORD’s.” His courage was not in the sling, nor in his skill, but in the certainty of God’s presence.
This moment separates those who talk about faith from those who live by faith. David did not stop at saying, “God can do it.” He acted as though it were already done. Hebrews 11:6 affirms, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
David’s action demonstrated that belief. He not only trusted in God’s promise but also walked forward into the danger where that trust would be proven true.
When David chose five smooth stones from the brook (1 Samuel 17:40), it was not because he lacked confidence in God’s ability to strike Goliath down with one. David was fully assured of victory. Rather, he chose five stones because Goliath had four brothers, and David came prepared to face every one of them if necessary.
Scripture later confirms that Goliath was not the only giant from Gath. In 2 Samuel 21:15–22, four more Philistine giants from the same region are mentioned, and each one was ultimately slain by David or by his men.
2 Samuel 21:15–22 (KJV):
“Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel. And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him. These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.”
From this passage, we learn that Goliath was one of five giant brothers—descendants of the Rephaim, also called the Anakim, survivors of the races of giants that Israel had faced since the days of Joshua (Deuteronomy 2:10–11; Joshua 11:22).
Goliath of Gath (1 Samuel 17)
Ishbi-benob, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass
Saph (or Sippai), slain by Sibbechai the Hushathite
Lahmi, “the brother of Goliath the Gittite,” slain by Elhanan
An unnamed giant of great stature, with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, slain by Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother
David’s decision to gather five stones, therefore, was not an act of doubt but of readiness. He was confident that if any of Goliath’s brothers stepped forward, they too would fall by the power of God. David was prepared for complete victory, not partial.
This reveals a timeless truth about faith:
True faith prepares for full obedience, not partial outcomes.
True faith does not just believe for one victory but stands ready for every battle that may follow.
Just as David armed himself for all five giants, believers today must prepare to face every challenge that stands against God’s purpose. Ephesians 6:13 says, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
David’s confidence was not arrogance but assurance rooted in the power of God. His faith was not “one stone deep”—it was five stones deep, ready to take on every enemy that stood against the LORD’s name.
D. David Defeats Goliath
1. Goliath Curses David and His God
1 Samuel 17:41–44
“And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 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. 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. 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.”
The confrontation now reaches its height. The massive warrior from Gath steps forward, his armor-bearer preceding him, and the two advance toward the shepherd boy standing alone in the valley. From a purely human perspective, this scene appears hopeless for David—an armed giant against a youth armed only with faith.
A. “The Man Who Bore the Shield Went Before Him”
Even in battle, Goliath’s size and equipment made him require assistance. His shield-bearer walked before him, carrying the large body shield designed to protect the front of his torso. The sight of two figures—one towering and armored, the other small and unprotected—must have made the contrast almost comical. Yet Scripture teaches that the LORD delights to use such unlikely vessels to magnify His power. 2 Corinthians 12:9 declares, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
B. “When the Philistine Looked About and Saw David, He Disdained Him”
The verb disdained means to hold in contempt or to despise. Goliath literally had to look around to locate David, implying that David was so small compared to him that he seemed almost invisible. Once he spotted him, Goliath’s pride erupted into mockery. Scripture says David was “ruddy, and of a fair countenance”—healthy, red-cheeked, and handsome—but to Goliath, this appearance only magnified the insult. He sneered, “Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?”
The insult “dog” in this context was harsh. The Hebrew kaleb was sometimes used contemptuously, as in Deuteronomy 23:18, referring to temple prostitutes and moral defilement. Goliath, in essence, mocked David’s masculinity and Israel’s dignity, viewing the shepherd boy as an unworthy, effeminate opponent.
C. “The Philistine Cursed David by His Gods”
Here the line between human conflict and spiritual warfare becomes unmistakable. The giant invoked the names of his false gods—perhaps Dagon or Ashtoreth—seeking to curse David. But in doing so, he sealed his own defeat. For now it was not merely Goliath and his armor-bearer against David—it was Goliath and his false gods against David and the living LORD of hosts.
This pattern echoes throughout Scripture. Pharaoh defied God’s power, and Egypt’s gods were judged (Exodus 12:12). Sennacherib mocked God’s name, and his army was struck down in one night (2 Kings 19:35). Likewise, Goliath’s arrogance would soon meet divine justice.
D. “Come to Me”
With his booming voice echoing across the valley, Goliath taunted, “Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.” His words reflected ancient Near Eastern war curses, meant to intimidate opponents psychologically. But David was not shaken. Goliath’s challenge—“Come to me!”—was the very invitation that would lead to his downfall. David would indeed come, not with weapons of man, but in the power of God.
This first exchange reveals the utter contrast between faith and arrogance, the living God and dead idols, humility and pride.
2. David, Full of Faith, Replies to Goliath
1 Samuel 17:45–47
“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.”
David’s response stands as one of the greatest declarations of faith in all Scripture. The young shepherd, unarmored and unafraid, looks into the face of a giant and proclaims not his own power but the supremacy of God.
A. The Contrast of Weapons and Authority
David declares, “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.” His words draw a clear contrast: Goliath’s trust was in visible weapons; David’s confidence was in the invisible power of God. To come “in the name of the LORD of hosts” means to come as His representative—under His authority, empowered by His presence, and backed by the armies of heaven.
Goliath’s armor symbolized the strength of the flesh; David’s name represented the might of God. This distinction defines all true spiritual warfare: the believer does not fight for victory but from victory, standing in the authority of the risen LORD.
B. “This Day the LORD Will Deliver Thee into My Hand”
David’s prophecy is precise and confident. He does not merely hope that God will act—he declares that the LORD will deliver. This is not arrogance but faith. David’s boldness increases with every sentence: first, “the LORD will deliver you”; then, “I will smite you”; finally, “I will take your head from you.” Faith speaks with certainty because it knows the character of God.
Yet David remains careful to credit the victory rightly: “The LORD will deliver thee into mine hand.” He was bold in God, not in himself. The battle had already been won in David’s heart before it ever began in the valley.
C. The Purpose of Victory—God’s Glory
David continues, “That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” His motivation was not personal fame or national pride but divine glory. He wanted the whole world to recognize the reality of the living God. In contrast, Saul’s army had forgotten this truth, acting as though God’s presence made no practical difference.
David’s victory would serve as a testimony not only to the nations but also to Israel itself. He adds, “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s.” Israel needed to rediscover the truth their fathers had known—that victory does not come through human might but through divine power.
This moment perfectly illustrates 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” God found such a heart in David.
D. “He Will Give You into Our Hands”
Notice David’s humility. He does not say, “He will give you into my hands,” but “into our hands.” He understood that he fought on behalf of Israel and for the honor of the LORD. Even though none stood with him, he saw the victory as shared. This reflects the heart of a true servant-leader—one who fights not for self but for the people of God.
E. The Theology of the Battle
David’s declaration—“The battle is the LORD’s”—summarizes the entire theology of spiritual warfare. Human weapons cannot win divine battles. God alone gives the victory, and those who trust in Him never stand alone. The same principle appears in Exodus 14:13–14, when Moses told Israel at the Red Sea, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will shew to you to day… The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
David’s reply turned the valley of fear into holy ground. The moment he spoke these words, the outcome was determined. Goliath had cursed David by false gods, but David answered in the name of the living God—and that name would prevail.
3. David Kills Goliath
1 Samuel 17:48–49
“And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 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.”
The climax of the battle arrives with breathtaking simplicity. What began as an exchange of taunts now ends in a single, decisive moment. The towering Philistine advances, full of confidence and rage, while the shepherd boy runs forward with calm determination. Faith and fear collide in the valley, and in one act of faith-filled courage, the giant falls.
A. “When the Philistine Arose and Came and Drew Near to Meet David”
As Goliath approached, his anger burned hotter with every step. He had mocked, cursed, and blasphemed, but now he intended to crush David swiftly and publicly. Yet notice David’s response: “David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.” David did not retreat, hesitate, or even pause to pray for protection—he ran forward. His faith was not passive; it was active and aggressive.
This moment illustrates the balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. David fully trusted the LORD to deliver him, but that trust compelled him to act. Faith without works would have left him standing still, but faith expressed in obedience sent him running toward the enemy. James 2:17 reminds us, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
David’s example also exposes a common error among believers—the temptation to confuse trust with passivity. Many say, “If God wants it done, He will do it,” while never taking a single step of obedience. As Spurgeon once warned, “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.” True faith acts boldly upon the promises of God.
David did not charge forward recklessly; he ran because he already knew the outcome. God had delivered him before, and God would deliver him again. The victory was certain, and faith demanded motion.
B. “He Put His Hand in His Bag and Took Out a Stone”
The description of David’s movement is deliberate and precise. While running toward Goliath, David reached into his shepherd’s pouch, selected one of the smooth stones, and placed it in his sling. There is no sign of hesitation or trembling. His hand was steady because his heart was confident in the LORD.
The sling was a simple weapon—a strip of leather with a pouch in the middle—but in the hands of a skilled user, it could be deadly. Shepherds in ancient Israel often used slings to defend their flocks from predators. Archaeological and historical records reveal that such weapons could hurl stones at speeds exceeding one hundred miles per hour. David’s accuracy was not random chance; it was the result of long practice and divine providence.
This moment shows how God uses the skills and experiences He has already cultivated in His servants. The same sling David had practiced with in solitude while guarding sheep now became the instrument of national deliverance. Faith does not ignore preparation—it sanctifies it. What David learned in private fellowship with God became his weapon in public warfare.
As Clarke observed, “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.” David’s skill and faith worked together under divine guidance.
C. “He Slung It and Struck the Philistine in His Forehead”
The stone flew straight and true, guided by an unseen hand. Goliath’s helmet likely left part of his forehead exposed, perhaps for vision or mobility, and the stone found its mark precisely there. Scripture says, “The stone sunk into his forehead.” The impact was catastrophic, crushing bone and penetrating deep enough to kill instantly.
Every Israelite watching that day had measured the size of the giant—but David measured the size of his God. Where others saw an impossible target, David saw an unmissable one. As one writer observed, “Everyone else thought, ‘Goliath is so big, I can’t beat him.’ David thought, ‘Goliath is so big, I can’t miss him.’”
Faith changes perspective. Fear magnifies the problem; faith magnifies the LORD. David’s steady aim was the fruit of his unshakable trust. As Blaikie noted, “A man of less faith might have been too nervous to take the proper aim.”
D. “He Fell on His Face to the Earth”
The mighty warrior collapsed forward, face down in the dust. His fall was not just physical—it was symbolic. The false gods of the Philistines had already fallen once before the LORD. When the Ark of God was placed in the temple of Dagon, Scripture records, “And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the Ark of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 5:3) Now history repeats itself. The worshiper of Dagon falls just as his idol had fallen. The battle that began as a contest between two men ends as a declaration of God’s supremacy over all false gods.
The detail that Goliath “fell on his face” also reinforces that this victory belonged entirely to the LORD. The giant’s posture, though involuntary, was one of forced submission. Without realizing it, Goliath’s death became an act of worship, as his body lay prostrate before the God of Israel.
E. Faith in Action: The Pattern for Every Believer
David’s victory was not the result of chance or youthful enthusiasm—it was the natural outworking of faith in motion. His confidence was grounded in God’s past deliverances, his preparation was shaped by daily obedience, and his action was guided by divine conviction.
This same pattern applies to every believer. We are called to trust the LORD, to prepare faithfully, and to act decisively when the moment comes. God does not bless idleness, but He empowers faith that moves forward in obedience. The Apostle Paul echoed this same truth in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
The shepherd boy who ran toward the giant reminds every generation that no enemy is too great, no obstacle too large, and no circumstance too impossible when the battle belongs to the LORD.
4. David Beheads Goliath and Israel Romps Over the Philistines
1 Samuel 17:50–54
“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. 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. 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. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.”
The victory that had been promised by faith is now completed by action. David, the young shepherd, stands over the fallen champion of the Philistines as the army of Israel erupts in shouts of triumph. The contest that began with fear and mockery ends in overwhelming victory.
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”
Even after Goliath fell, David ensured the victory was absolute. Scripture says, “David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone,” yet he did not stop there. He ran forward, stood over the giant’s body, and used Goliath’s own weapon to complete the defeat. This scene is rich in spiritual symbolism.
First, David’s resolve teaches that victory over sin and the enemy must be total. Partial obedience or temporary resistance is not enough. Sin must be slain completely, for compromise allows it to rise again. Paul wrote in Romans 8:13, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Just as David made certain that Goliath was dead, believers must make certain that sin is put to death through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Second, David’s act of using Goliath’s own sword demonstrates how God turns the enemy’s weapons against him. The very tool meant for David’s destruction became the means of his victory. This principle appears throughout Scripture. In Psalm 57:6, David later wrote, “They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves.” God delights in poetic justice. Pharaoh’s army drowned in the same waters through which Israel was delivered. Haman was hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai. The cross itself, designed by Satan to destroy the Messiah, became the very instrument of his own defeat.
B. “When the Philistines Saw That Their Champion Was Dead, They Fled”
The sight of their fallen giant shattered the Philistines’ confidence. Their covenant promise of surrender (as stated in 1 Samuel 17:9) was immediately broken—they turned and ran. This reminds us that Satan, the great deceiver, never keeps his promises. He will offer bargains, but his word is worthless. The Philistines’ flight exposed the emptiness of their confidence in the flesh.
In contrast, the Israelites—who moments earlier were paralyzed by fear—now arose with boldness. Scripture says, “Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines.” Courage is contagious. David’s faith ignited courage in those who had lost hope. The victory of one faithful believer often stirs others to renewed obedience.
Paul charged Timothy with this same principle in 1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” David never read those words, but he lived them. His faith shamed the unbelief of an entire nation and called them back to courage.
The Israelites pursued their fleeing enemies “as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron.” These were key Philistine cities, and the pursuit showed the total reversal of momentum. The same soldiers who once trembled before Goliath now chased the Philistines across their own territory. Fear had changed sides.
C. “The Children of Israel Returned From Chasing the Philistines, and They Plundered Their Tents”
After the victory, Israel returned to the battlefield and collected the spoils of war. God often allows His people not only to overcome the enemy but also to reclaim what the enemy had stolen. As the proverb says, “The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” (Proverbs 13:22) The Israelites’ plundering was both a physical and symbolic recovery of blessings forfeited through fear.
Victory in faith always brings blessing beyond the battle itself. Yet the plunder is not the prize—the prize is the demonstration of God’s power and faithfulness.
D. “David Took the Head of the Philistine and Brought It to Jerusalem, but He Put His Armor in His Tent”
This final note in the narrative provides both a historical and spiritual detail. The text says David brought Goliath’s head to Jerusalem, though Jerusalem was not yet under Israel’s control at this time. The Jebusites still occupied it until David’s later conquest in 2 Samuel 5:6–10. Therefore, this statement likely means that David eventually brought the head there as a memorial of God’s victory once the city became his capital.
The head of Goliath served as a visible testimony of God’s deliverance. Some scholars suggest it may have been displayed publicly as a symbol of triumph. The armor, however, David kept for himself—perhaps as a personal reminder of God’s faithfulness. Later, the sword of Goliath would reappear in David’s life. When he fled from Saul years later, he received that same sword from Ahimelech the priest at Nob. 1 Samuel 21:9 records, “And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.”
Thus, what had once been the weapon of an enemy became the tool of David’s preservation. God has a way of turning past battles into future blessings.
Ellison humorously observes, “Presumably David had the head pickled and hung it in his banqueting hall after he had captured Jerusalem.” Whether literal or figurative, the point stands: David kept enduring reminders of what God had done. Every time he looked upon Goliath’s armor or remembered that day in the valley, he could say, “The battle is the LORD’s.”
E. The Spiritual Parallel: Christ’s Victory Over the Enemy
In a broader sense, David’s triumph over Goliath foreshadows the greater victory of Jesus Christ over Satan. Just as David stood between Israel and their enemy, so Christ stood between humanity and sin. He won the victory not through outward weapons but through faith, obedience, and sacrifice. At Calvary, the Lord used the very instrument of death—the cross—to defeat the power of death itself.
As Colossians 2:15 declares, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” The shepherd from Bethlehem who defeated Goliath points forward to the Good Shepherd from Bethlehem who defeated the devil.
5. Saul Meets a Victorious David
1 Samuel 17:55–58
“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. And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is. 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. 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.”
The chapter closes with David standing before King Saul, holding the head of Goliath in his hand. The shepherd boy who had once played music to calm Saul’s tormented spirit now stood as Israel’s champion. The very sight must have been striking: the youthful hero, still spattered with the dust and blood of battle, bearing proof of God’s mighty deliverance.
A. “Inquire Whose Son This Young Man Is”
Saul’s question has long puzzled readers. Earlier, Saul had known David as the musician who soothed his troubled spirit (1 Samuel 16:21–23). Why then does he now inquire about David’s family?
The most reasonable understanding is that Saul did recognize David, but he wanted to know more about his background. Saul had promised that whoever defeated Goliath would receive great riches, his daughter’s hand in marriage, and tax exemption for his family (1 Samuel 17:25). Naturally, before bestowing such honors, the king wanted to confirm the victor’s lineage—“Inquire whose son this young man is.” Saul sought to know the household that would soon be joined to his own through marriage.
Another possibility is that Saul’s recognition of David was obscured by circumstance. Some believe that when David had served as Saul’s musician, he played from behind a screen or curtain, never appearing before the king’s face. Others suggest that Saul’s mental instability—brought on by the distressing spirit—impaired his memory or perception. Furthermore, 1 Samuel 17:15 notes that David “went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep,” meaning his time at the royal court was intermittent. It may simply be that Saul did not recognize him immediately, especially now that David was seen in armor and full maturity.
The Hebrew word translated “young man” (naʿar) can describe someone who is no longer a child but a vigorous, marriageable youth. Saul’s inquiry, therefore, is not condescending; it acknowledges David’s maturity and valor.
B. “David Returned From the Slaughter of the Philistine”
David’s return from battle marks one of the most decisive victories in Israel’s history. The shepherd of Bethlehem had slain the terror of Gath. Yet his triumph was not merely personal—it foreshadowed the greater victory of Christ over Satan.
David’s conquest of Goliath serves as a divinely designed type of the Lord Jesus Christ and His redemptive work. In several ways, David prefigures Christ, the true Champion of God’s people:
Both David and Jesus represented their people.
David did not fight for himself but on behalf of Israel; likewise, Jesus fought as our substitute. The victory of the representative became the victory of all whom he represented. As Paul wrote in Romans 5:19, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”Both David and Jesus fought on ground that rightfully belonged to God’s people but had been lost.
The Valley of Elah was part of Israel’s inheritance, yet it had been overrun by Philistines. Likewise, humanity’s dominion over the earth was forfeited through sin and reclaimed only through Christ’s victory at the cross.Both David and Jesus confronted enemies who ruled through fear.
Goliath held Israel in terror for forty days, paralyzing them through intimidation. Satan likewise enslaves humanity through fear—especially the fear of death. But Hebrews 2:14–15 declares that through His death, Christ destroyed “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil,” and delivered those who were “through fear of death… all their lifetime subject to bondage.”Both David and Jesus were sent to the battleground by their father.
David went at the command of Jesse, who sent him to check on his brothers and deliver food (1 Samuel 17:17). Likewise, Jesus came at the command of His Father to seek and to save that which was lost. John 6:38 records His words: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.”Both David and Jesus were scorned and rejected by their brethren.
David’s older brother Eliab mocked and accused him of pride (1 Samuel 17:28). Jesus, too, was despised by His own. John 1:11 says, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” The rejection of both came not from enemies but from those who should have recognized their calling.Both David and Jesus rejected the armor of human wisdom.
David refused Saul’s armor, choosing instead the weapons of faith. Jesus rejected worldly strategies for power and victory, embracing the cross instead. 1 Corinthians 1:27–29 explains that God has chosen “the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty… that no flesh should glory in His presence.”Both David and Jesus won the battle, though their enemies continued to resist afterward.
After Goliath’s death, the Philistines fled but were still pursued and destroyed. Similarly, after Christ’s resurrection, Satan’s defeat was sealed though he continues to wage a losing war until his final destruction (Revelation 20:10).Both David and Jesus fought battles where victory was certain before it began.
David declared in faith, “This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand” (1 Samuel 17:46). Jesus entered His battle knowing it would end in triumph: “Now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31).
David’s triumph over Goliath is, therefore, more than a historical event—it is a prophetic shadow of redemption. Just as David’s victory brought freedom to Israel, Christ’s victory brings salvation to all who believe.
C. David’s Humble Response Before the King
As David stood before Saul with Goliath’s head in his hand, the moment could have easily filled him with pride. Yet his answer to Saul’s question was simple and respectful: “I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.” There is no boasting, no self-promotion, only humility. David’s greatness began with his submission—to his father, to his king, and most of all to his God.
Though David had just achieved what no soldier in Israel dared attempt, he still saw himself as “the son of thy servant.” This humility would characterize his early years and serve as the foundation of his anointing. Proverbs 15:33 declares, “Before honour is humility.”
At this moment, David’s journey moves from obscurity toward destiny. The shepherd who trusted God in solitude will soon become the warrior who leads a nation. Yet even now, standing before Saul, David’s heart remains fixed on the LORD who gave the victory.
