Background Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-58
Lesson Context: The Israelite army was engaged in battle against the Philistine army. The Philistines had a champion warrior by the name of Goliath. Goliath stood about 9’9’’ tall (17:4-10).
As our text begins, David had heard the taunt (17:23) as well as the promise of reward for defeating Goliath (17:25-27). David had also borne the criticism of his oldest brother for an apparent neglect of duty to attend to sheep left in David’s care (17:28).
David’s Initiative (1 Samuel 17:31-37):
A. Bold Volunteer (vv. 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 faint because of him: thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” They reported him to Saul: It wasn’t if David’s words were that bold. He never said, “If I went out to fight against that Philistine, I would whip his tail. He’s nothing.” David didn’t talk like that, but at least he stood up to Goliath. David didn’t show a lot of backbone, but he showed more courage than anyone else in Israel, so it was reported to Saul.
Your servant will go out and fight with this Philistine: Saul waited a long time-at least 40 days-to hear someone say these words. But to hear them now, from the mouth of this boy, almost seemed like a joke. “The good news is that someone finally wants to fight Goliath. The bad news is that he is a little shepherd boy.”
B. Skeptical King (v. 33). “And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he’s a man of war from his youth.” Saul thought David was disqualified because of his age, size, and inexperience. This shows that Saul looked at the battle purely in natural, outward terms. The outward “tale of the tape” said there was no way David could win. The “tale of God’s tape” said there was no way David could lose.
Saul essentially told David, “He’s been a soldier longer than you have been alive. How can you ever defeat him?” Again, this shows that Saul only looked at the outward, not the spiritual dimensions of this battle.
C. Confident Reminder (vv. 34-37): “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 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 has defiled the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me 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.” God prepared David for this exact battle when David was a lowly shepherd. A lion attacked the lambs and David fought the lion. A bear came against the sheep and David battled with the bear. All along, God prepared David to fight Goliath. This is generally God’s pattern for preparation. He calls us to be faithful right where we are and then uses our faithfulness to accomplish greater things. David increases in boldness as the story progresses. As a shepherd, David had no idea he was being trained to fight a giant. In the midst of our preparation we rarely see how God will use it.
C. David’s Victory (vv. 49-50): “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 fell upon his face to the earth. 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.”
He slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face: David had the calm hand and careful aim of someone who really trusted God. He used the sling-a leather strap with a pouch in the middle-to hurl a stone, killing Goliath. This battle was won out with the sheep. In those lonely hours alone with the lambs, David talked to God and took a lot of target practice with his sling. Just as the Philistine god Dagon fell on his face before the Lord (1 Samuel 5:2-5), so now the worshipper of Dagon falls on his face.
References: David Guzik: Study Guide for 1 Samuel, Enduring Word Bible Commentary, International Sunday School Lessons, KJV