King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025
Chapters: I Samuel 17-18
Message: I Samuel: David And Goliath
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of 1 Samuel, we learn that our battles are not ours to fight rather they are God’s to fight for us, those who put their faith and trust in God will be able to defeat their giants one way or another, and those whom God chooses will become enemies to those who defy Him, [John 15:18-21 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your’s also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.]
Yesterday we learned that God had repented of His decision to make Saul king over Israel due to his constant defiance and heart changing toward Him, then He sent Samuel over to David’s house to anoint him as king. Today, we learn that the news that Saul no longer had the protections of God had spread across the nation and it did not take long for their enemies to take advantage of that in particular the Philistines. The Philistines challenge Israel to a duel, whoever lost the duel by death would become servants to the victor, so both armies are camped out in Judah territory.
[1 Samuel 17:3-4,8-9 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. 4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.]
Goliath is telling them that they are wasting their time even standing there because all they have is Saul to defend them. Goliath, was so confident in his own strength that if anyone could kill him then the Philistines would become servants to Israel. The problem was that no one, not even Saul, was brave enough to make the first move so this went on every morning for forty days. Since Saul was out there with the army David went home to his father’s house to care for the sheep, but his father sends him with some food for the soldiers and to find out what was going on.
[1 Samuel 17:17-18,20,23 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; 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 20 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. 23 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.]
It is interesting to learn that David made sure to leave anything in his care with someone to look after it when he was not there. Not even as Christians, but as moral and responsible human beings, we ought to make sure that everything that is put in our care does not get neglected. Jesus said this, [Luke 16:9-11 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 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. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?]
I think about this a lot in regards to God trusting me with more money and opportunity, if I fail at taking care of what the world entrusts me with then God is going to withhold some things from me. David may not have looked like a fighter or even someone capable of being a shepherd, but he had a lot of gumption, and he was not afraid to step up to a challenge because he knew one very important thing, God was on his side. When David heard Goliath’s challenge he encourages them to go for it because God was on their side, but none of them had the courage to do so and upbraided him for even being there, even his own brother.
[1 Samuel 17:26,28 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? 28 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.]
Eliab may have thought he knew his brother, but had no idea what he was capable of. So, in his mind David was not satisfied with being a lowly shepherd boy, he wanted to take part in the war and rise above them all. This sounds a lot like what was in his own heart and I imagine that he became a little envious of David when he was called to be the king’s armor bearer. Since no other man was brave enough to step up to the challenge David said that he would. Well, when word got to Saul that David was willing to take on the challenge he immediately called for David.
[1 Samuel 17:33-34,36-37 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. 34 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: 36 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. 37 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.]
The worst thing anyone can say to us is, “You are not able!” because that is actually when the pride kicks in and we start telling ourselves, “I will show you that I can do this!” Perhaps this was David’s first response as he goes on to tell Saul how he killed a bear and a lion defending his father’s sheep, but he was sure to point out that God was with him. When you think about it, since all saved, born again Christians are in the hands of Jesus, He defends them at all cost, even the price of His own blood, [1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:]
At this point Saul is actually being condescending, if David wanted to take on this giant, then so be it,so to prove that he was not capable of winning this duel, he put his own armor on him. Remember Saul was over seven foot tall so next to David he looked like a dwarf in that suit. David knew that there was no way that he could fight Goliath wearing that so he took it all off and used what weapons he had, five stones and a sling shot.
[1 Samuel 17:38-40,43 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. 39 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. 40 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. 43 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.]
David, stood before Goliath, not equipped with weapons of war, but merely with his shepherd’s implements. With his shepherd’s staff, which he used for keeping his father’s sheep, his shepherd’s bag, which he used to feed his father’s sheep as well as keep stones in, and his sling, which his used to defend his father’s sheep by flinging stones to ward off predators he was ready to defend Israel. David, actually knew the odds against him, but did not flinch because he also knew that God was with him.
[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. 46 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. 47 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 was not going to lie and say that he had great strength to fight Goliath, he knew that if he stood before him in his own strength that he would die. He was trusting the strength of God to not only endure the battle, but win it. As Christians, we are not in this battle alone, Christ is with us every step of the way and even if we did lose the earthly battle, we still have the victory, [1 Corinthians 15:54-57 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.]
Now, David took one of those stones out of his bag and slang it with his sling shot and that stone landed right in the center of his forehead, [1 Samuel 17:49-51 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. 50 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. 51 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.]
Not only did Goliath drop to the ground, David he literally ran up to him and cut his head off with his own sword. Saul, could not believe it, this kid took on Goliath, and not only defeated him, he cut his head off too. I can only imagine what a sight that was, the excitement in David’s eyes as he brought this mans head before Saul not to mention the fear in Saul’s. However, that was about to change as Israel became a great army led by David, and his own son bonded with David.
[1 Samuel 18:1-5 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.]
Jonathan knew that David would be the next king, he never even thought that David was taking the throne from him as he would have been the next king if Saul had not messed things up. And news got around quickly of their victory and David killing Goliath, the whole town gathered to celebrate their victory, but not everyone was happy about it.
[1 Samuel 18:6-9 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. 7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.]
When the women started shouting that David killed ten thousands and Saul only killed thousands he got extremely jealous. Saul knew that God was with him and that scared him to death because He was no longer with him. God does not put this kind of fear in people, the devil does that, in fact, we learn that whenever that evil spirit came upon Saul it was feeding that fear.
[1 Samuel 18:12-15,17 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. 15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. 17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.]
Saul did not want to be accused of killing David himself so he tried everything to get him killed in the line of duty. If Saul would have just repented, God would have forgiven him and kept him as king, but he was too proud. He even went back on his word to give his daughter to the one who killed Goliath to see if that would cause him to lose his focus. However, he saw the perfect opportunity when he discovered that his youngest daughter was deeply in love with David.
[1 Samuel 18:19-21,23 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife. 20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain. 23 And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?]
Saul saw this as the perfect opportunity to get David in a heated battle so that he might be killed and then all his fears would be over. However, things did not go as planned and that put an even greater fear in him, [1 Samuel 18:25-27,29 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired. 27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. 29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.]
Saul really underestimated the power of God in the hands of the one that trusts Him and that was what feared him the most. Fear, it will stop us dead in our tracks, keep us from God’s will, and it may even cause us to forfeit somethings that we really wanted. There is only one thing or I should say person that we need to fear and that is God, [2 Timothy 1:6-7 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [1 Samuel 17:47 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.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for saving a sinner like me when I put my faith and trust in Your Son as my Saviour. While I will never understand why You chose me to work in Your ministry and for the work You have given me, I do understand that it can only be done in Your strength. I can do nothing in my own strength, but I can do all things in Yours, especially the tasks that You have chosen for me. It seems like Your faithful are being persecuted more than ever from those who are jealous at Your blessing our lives. Lord, watch over and protect us, give us Your power to keep living by faith and not run in fear of those who are jealous of us. Give us Your strength to stand up for our faith. Give us the wisdom, guidance, and love that only You can give us to endure these battles, fully trusting that we will never be defeated. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright (c) 2025 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.