I Come Against You in the Name of the Lord Almighty
1 Samuel 17:1-58
Key Verse: 1 Samuel 17:45
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.
In this passage, we will think about spiritual battles in 4 ways.
[1] Enemies: Goliath, the enemy who defies God (not men)
[2] Weapons: not swords or spears but the name of God.
With courageous Faith and With burning passion for the honor of God.
[3] Ultimate purpose for the battle;
To let God be known to the people and To Honor the name of God.
[4] Results of this battle: the battle is the Lord’s.
Victory is guaranteed.
May God bless us with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can fight the spiritual battle with courageous faith and the passion for the glory of God.
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1. Read verses 1-11. How do the Philistines and Israelites assemble their forces? (1-3) How is Goliath described? (4-7) What does Goliath shout to the Israelites? (8-10) How do the Israelites feel about Goliath? (11)
1-1) Read verses 1-11.
1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh 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. He was over nine feet tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor 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 have 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 ranks 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.
1-2) How did the Philistines and Israelites assemble their forces? (1-3)
a) The Philistines assembled at Scoch in Judah. [see the map]
They pitched camp at Ephes Dammin; Between Socoh and Azekah.
b) The Israel assembled in the Valley of Elah.
Valley of Elah: 3miles east of Ephes Dammin.
1-3) How is Goliath described? (4-7)
a) Goliath: Champion of the Philistine from Gath. (v4)
He was a descendant of the Anakites: 9 feet: [3 meters]
Anakites moved to Philistia after driven out by Joshua (Josh 11:21-22).
b) Goliath used heavy armors as well. (v5,6)
Bronze helmet on his head.
Coat of scale armor of bronze; 5000 shekels [125 pounds/57 kg]
Bronze greaves: armor worn from the ankle to the knee.
Bronze javelin: spear with Iron point: 600 shekels [15 pounds/7 kg]
1-4) What does Goliath shout to the Israelites? (8-10)
a) “Choose a man and have him come down to me.” (v8)
“Give me a man and let us fight each other.” (v10)
b) Goliath issued a challenge to the army of Israel.
Battle between him and a [servant] of Saul.
Two representatives’ of the battle: one from Israel and the other from Philistines.
This is common method of war in the ancient world.
1-5) How do the Israelites feel about Goliath? (11)
a) “Saul and all the Israel were dismayed and terrified.”
Before, Saul was fearless; full of confidence in the battle. (1Sam 11:6, 14:52)
But now he was terrified because the Spirit of the Lord departed from him. (1Sam 16:14)
Saul feared men. (1 Sam15:24)
People only looked at the outward appearances. (1Sam 16:7)
b) Goliath demoralized the Israel through fear.
Goliath wanted the Israel to be fearful. Israel lost the battle even before it began.
c) The fear is from the Satan. Courage is from the Lord.
A spirit of timidity [fear] is not from the Lord. (2Tim 1:7)
Satan wants us to be dismayed and terrified in spiritual battle.
2. Read verses 12-27. What are David’s three older brothers doing at this time? (12-13) What is David doing at this time? (14-15) What did Goliath do for forty days? (16) What does Jesse tell David to do? (17-19) What does David ask after hearing what Goliath shouts in his usual challenge? (23-26) What is the reward for killing Goliath? (25,27)
2-1) Read verses 12-27.
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 old and well advanced in years. 13 Jesse’s three oldest 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 oldest 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 with 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 greeted his brothers. 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 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran 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 father’s family from taxes in Israel.” 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.”
2-2) What are David’s three older brothers doing at this time? (12-13)
a) David’s three oldest brothers followed Saul.
Their names: Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah.
They were probably over 20yrs old; old enough to join the army.
b) The Old Testament writers used ‘Ephratah’ (v12)
Ephrath [ah] is an older name for Bethlehem. (Ruth 4:1; Mic 5:2)
2-3) What is David doing at this time? (14-15)
a) David was tending his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
He was serving Saul when Saul was afflicted by the evil spirit. (1Sam 16:21-23)
During the war, he stayed at father’s house to tend his sheep. (v15)
b) He was too young to join the army.
Probably, he was at least younger than 20 years.
Assumption; 15-16yrs old since he was not married yet
Usually, average marriage age was 17 years old.
2-4) What did Goliath do for forty days? (16)
a) For 40days, day and night,
Goliath would taunt and mock the armies of Israel.
Goliath mocked not only the people of Israel but also God of Israel.
b) 40days; Tests for Israel
i) Regarding Faith: trust in the flesh vs. trust in the Lord.
ii) Regarding their fear: fear men vs. fear God
iii) Regarding their purpose of life: Pleasing men vs. pleasing God.
Looking at the outward appearance only vs. the heart of God.
Seeking your glory vs. seeking the glory of God.
c) Number 40: used in Scripture as a period of judgment or testing.
40days of rain: flood in the time of Noah.
40years of wilderness: Israel was in the wilderness for 40years.
40days: Jesus fasted and was tempted for 40days before his ministry.
2-5) What does Jesse tell David to do? (17-19)
a) “See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them.”
As a father; Jesses was concerned about his sons wellbeing and the battle.
Battle place was 15 miles due west of Bethlehem. [see the map]
2-6) What does David ask after hearing what Goliath shouts in his usual challenge? (23-26)
a) David heard the usual defiance of Goliath. (v23)
David heard Goliath mocking the army of Israel.
David saw the soldiers of Israel running from Goliath because of fear. (v24)
b) What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?
David was focused on the reputation of Israel.
He really wanted to remove this disgrace from Israel. (v26b)
c) “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine defying the armies of the living God?”
David was focused on the honor of God.
“Defy the armies of the living God” (v26c)
David considered the Israel as the armies of the living God.
He had a faith in the living God.
d) Source of David’s faith is “in the living God” when everyone was fearful.
From the Scripture: David heard/read about God's promises to Moses and Joshua.
From the history: he believed God would defeat the enemies. (Deut. 31:1-8; Josh. 1:1-9).
From personal experience as a shepherd in the desert. (1Sam 17:34-37)
David's heart for God begins to manifest itself. (1Sam 16:7)
2-7) What is the reward for killing Goliath? (25,27)
a) The reward of killing Goliath:
Money: The king will give great wealth.
Marriage: with king’s daughter.
Tax exemption.
b) None of human rewards was David’s concern
David’s main concern was the honor of the name of God.
3. Read verses 28-37. How does Eliab berate David? (28) How does David respond to Eliab? (29,30) What does David say to Saul? (32) How does David persuade Saul to let him fight? (33-37)
3-1) Read verses 28-37.
28 When Eliab, David’s oldest 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 desert? 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 boy, and he has been a fighting man 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 delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
3-2) How did Eliab berate David? (28)
a) Eliab burned with anger at David. (v28)
Eliab might feel bad of having David chosen over him by God. (1Sam 16:6,7)
Eliab expressed his jealousy in anger.
b) “Why have you come down here? With whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert?”
Eliab thought David should be in the desert, not in the battle field.
c) “I know how conceited you are, how wicked your heart is.”
Eliab thought David is proud and wicked in his heart.
God’s evaluation and Eliab’s evaluation about David’s heart was completely different.
d) “You came down only to watch the battle.”
Eliab thought David just came down to see the battle for fun.
He did not know his father sent David to check them out.
Perhaps, Eliab did not want to show his fear to his youngest brother.
3-3) How does David respond to Eliab? (29,30)
a) “What have I done now? Can’t I even speak?” (v29)
David was probably hurt from what Eliab said.
But he avoided the conflict through turning away from him. (v30)
He knew his brother was not his enemy.
b) David was more concerned about the honor of God than his own feelings.
Because the honor of the name of God is on the line, he set aside his feeling.
3-4) What does David say to Saul? (32)
a) What David said was reported to Saul since David spoke boldly against Goliath.
David said: Goliath defies the armies of the living God.
David said: the man who kills this Philistine and take away the reproach from Israel.
b) David said to Saul
“Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine.
Your servant will go and fight him.”
3-5) How does David persuade Saul to let him fight? (33-37)
a) Saul: “you are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him.” (v33)
David was disqualified because of his age, size and inexperience
Saul was looking at the battle in outward terms only.
b) David: “Your servant has killed both lion and bear”: (v34)
David would battle the lion and the bear by the help of God.
When he fought, he remembered how he fought, how God helped him.
David learned about God; his protection and power during his life.
He was walking with God in his life.
A lot of shepherds in Israel experienced the similar experiences of David.
But they did not learn anything about God in their lives and the Scriptures.
But David learned about God; God’s protection and power.
He confirmed in his real shepherd life what he learned in the Scripture.
c) God: God’s sovereignty over David.
God prepared David to fight Goliath during his life especially in the desert.
God wants us to be faithful right where we are at even in the desert like place.
4. Read verses 38-47. How does Saul try to prepare David for battle? (38) What does David choose to do instead? (39,40) How does Goliath confront David? (41-44) What does David say to Goliath? (45-47) What does Goliath come against David with? What does David come against Goliath with? (45)
4-1) Read verses 38-47.
38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor 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 only a boy, ruddy 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 of the air and the beasts of the field!” 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 hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, 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.”
4-2) How does Saul try to prepare David for battle? (38)
a) So Saul tried to clothe David with his armor:
He thought in order to beat Goliath, David would need the best armor in Israel.
Saul only trusted in man’s armor.
b) He rejected God by disobeying Him.
Saul was still in the natural, in the flesh, and in the things that are merely outward.
4-3) What does David choose to do instead? (39,40)
a) Saul’s armor was too big for David: not physically fit.
b) David took his staff, five smooth stones in the shepherd’s bag with his sling.
He believed the battle belongs to the Lord.
He was ready to fight the battle with the faith in God.
c) David was filled with the Holy Spirit: (1Sam 16:13)
He had the whole armor of God. (Eph 6:11)
He had the helmet of salvation. (Eph 6:17).
He had a breastplate of righteousness .(Eph 6:14).
He had the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph 6:17)
4-4) How does Goliath confront David? (41-44)
a) Goliath felt insulted that they had even sent David!
“Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?”
Goliath despised David, cursed David by his gods.
4-5) What does David say to Goliath? (45-47)
a) Weapons of this Battle
i) Physical weapons: Goliath’s weapon: sword and spear and javelin
ii) Spiritual weapons: David’s weapon: the name of the Lord Almighty.
David’s weapon is the power of God.
b) Ultimate purpose of this Battle.
i) To honor God: The God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. (v45c)
David’s motive is different from others especially Saul.
David was fighting for the name of God.
David was burning for the glory and honor of God.
ii) To Let God be known to the people.
And the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. (v46d)
c) Results of this battle [Guaranteed victory]
i) This day the Lord will hand you over to me. (v46)
David knew the result of this battle even before the battle began.
Because he knew that the battle belonged to the Lord.
ii) And I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. (v46b)
David knew the process of this battle as well as the result.
Because He fully trusted in God, not himself.
iii) and he will give all of you into our hands.” (v47c)
David didn’t say ‘into my hand’, but ‘our hands’
David knows that he was fighting on behalf of all Israel for the glory of God.
4-6) What does Goliath come against David with?
You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, (v45a)
Goliath’s weapon: physical weapons
4-7) What does David come against Goliath with? (45)
a) “But I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.” (v45b)
David’s weapon: the name of the Lord Almighty
David’s weapon is the power of God.
b) “It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves”; (v47a)
Israel thought the Lord only could save them with sword and spear.
But David knew this was the spiritual battle.
He fought the spiritual battle.
c) for the battle is the Lord’s, (v47b)
David understood the nature of the battle: this battle belonged to the Lord’s.
5. Read verses 48-58. How does David kill Goliath? (48-51a) What happens to the Philistines when they see that Goliath is dead? (51b) What do the men of Israel and Judah do? (52-54) What does Saul ask David after meeting him? (57,58)
5-1) Read verses 48-58.
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward 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 facedown 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 scabbard. 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 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, and 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, O king, 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.”
5-2) How does David kill Goliath? (48-51a)
a) Battle scene: (v48)
Goliath drew near to David. David ran toward the battle line to meet Goliath.
David knew that the battle belonged to the Lord. (1 Sam17:46).
He did not run away: ran into Goliath for fighting.
David trusted God, relied on Him, and then fought as hard as he could.
b) David slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead. (v49a)
Probably, David practiced with his sling thousands times in the desert.
He did not even know his skill would be used by God for bigger purpose.
c) The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face (v49b)
Goliath’s forehead was the only part of his body that was not defended by a bronze.
David hit the exact location in just one try.
d) David took his sword and cut off his head with it: (v50-51a)
David did exactly what he told to Goliath.
5-3) What happens to the Philistines when they see that Goliath is dead? (51b)
When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
5-4) What do the men of Israel and Judah do? (52-54)
a) The men of Israel and Judah pursued and defeated the Philistines.
David’s courage gave them great courage and faith in the Lord.
b) David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem.
David put Goliath’s armor in his tent:
David will use the sword of Goliath later. (1 Samuel 21:9)
5-5) What does Saul ask David after meeting him? (57,58)
a) Saul asked Abner about David’s father. (v58)
Saul wanted to know more about David.
Since he promised to give his daughter to the man who killed Goliath.
Saul did not recognize David who played harps for him when he was in distress.
In Conclusion.
Goliath was the gigantic enemy who defies God and people of God. When all people were looking at the Goliath’s outward appearance, David was seeking the name of God with passion for the glory of God. David had faith in living God when no one trusted in Him. David fought against the enemy for the glory of God to save people. May God strengthen us with the absolute faith and burning passion for the glory of God so that we can fight the spiritual battle in our lives.
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