When the World Mocks the Lord (vv. 1-11)
1 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. 2 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. 3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 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. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 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. 8 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. 9 "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." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Goliath: Tenacious, Powerful, God-Hating
This is not a story about fighting the Goliaths in your life but about the Lord using the weak to bring down the high and mighty. And this is the first battle lesson: never underestimate the strength of God’s enemies. Goliath is given the fullest physical description of any other character in the Bible – somewhere between 11 and 12 feet tall, with body armor weighing over 150lbs, and personal strength that enabled him to hurl a javelin or spear that had an iron head weighing about 18lbs. He was a colossus. The Philistines recovered from their Samson catastrophe, took advantage of Saul’s paralysis, and now sent out their bigger and better version of Samson, their Hercules. Goliath was inspired by a fierce hatred of God. He was defiant. To hear his challenge on the battle plain must have been like listening to a train roar or a tornado approaching. God’s enemies assemble again and again to fight against him and our Lord Jesus Christ. They are organized and have sophisticated weapons. They will not give up their hopeless resistance to him, for the tares grow alongside the wheat until the Lord returns.
Saul: Abandoned, Fretful, Fearful
And, sadly, when we should stand and fight for God’s honor with his spiritual armor, we are often at our worst. The Holy Spirit had left Saul, so he was afraid and unwilling to face Goliath. Unbelief makes us forget that the real issue in our warfare is not who has the most human strength. When one of the combatants is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, he fights with the help of the Holy Spirit and invincible weapons. Israel did not exercise these. Recently they had experienced victory over the Philistines, but unbelief and disobedience quickly loses its memory of God’s faithfulness and therefore its nerve to fight God’s battles. And thus, when Israel saw this colossus and heard his defiance of the armies of Israel, they measured the outcome of survival and success with earthly eyes. Had they remembered Egypt, and Moses, and Joshua, and judges of recent memory, they might have laughed with the Lord at Goliath’s reproach. They did not laugh. Fear shattered their hope and broke down their resolve to give any resistance. No one took up Goliath’s challenge to resolve their dispute by single, to-the-death combat. God’s honor was not as important as their lives. Goliath continued to bellow and challenge for forty days. Israel did not spend time with the Lord in the mount, gaining strength, but biting their nails and digging deeper holes. Not once did anyone think of God’s promises and faithfulness, so no one ever lifted the shield of faith and the Spirit’s sword.
Godly Men Go about Their Duties (vv. 12-18)
12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 17 Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 "And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them."
David Resumed (Preferred?) Shepherding
Though this month, David was at home keeping the sheep. He seems to have preferred the field to court life and returned home between Saul’s bouts of madness. Thus, he missed the opening scene of this conflict with Goliath. He missed nothing. He was doing what every godly man does in times of crisis – his duty. He certainly knew of the conflict, for he lived only a couple hours’ walk from the scene of battle. Yet, he did not “mind high things,” and though he was anointed to be the next king, he waited upon the Lord to move him forward. And it was through a series of incidentals that the Lord brought him to the forefront again – and as David was keeping sheep. This was a lowly, if respected vocation. David opened that morning with his usual prayers. Perhaps he had to fight off predators during the night. It was in the path of duty that the Lord guided David. He was not tempted to leave his place even when his three older brothers went to join Saul’s army. David had more fighting experience than they did, but he was content to keep the sheep. A man after God’s own heart resists the temptation to promote himself, call attention to his own gifts, or insert himself into the center of things. “Whoever exalts himself will be abased” (Luke 14:11). David was like our Lord Jesus – meek and lowly of heart, small in his own eyes, willing to serve, and seeking nothing for himself.
David Served His Family
A picnic basket brought David to meet Goliath. This is the way the Lord works, for he is divinely humble, wonderfully self-hiding and patient. Look at his Son in our flesh. Jesse asked David to run a quick errand – how random appear the events that move God’s purposes forward. While Goliath blustered and blasphemed the Lord, David packed his mule and walked the ten or so miles with food for his brothers. He left the sheep with another shepherd – attention to duty is an important trait of a Christ-man or woman, a mark of the humble and thankful heart. Standing in our place and doing our duty quietly is the best way to serve the Lord. It also prepares us for new, expanded opportunities in his service. We have no idea what a day will bring, what a gift of bread and cheese may mean in God’s ordering of our lives. David walked to the battlefield carrying cheese; he left a humble victor, carrying Goliath’s head.
Faith Stands When Unbelief Trembles (vv. 19-30)
19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel." 26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" 27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him." 28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." 29 And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" 30 Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.
David’s First Recorded Words
Arriving at the battlefield, David is shocked at what he sees – but not at Goliath. He saw the sides lined up and heard Goliath’s challenge. Faith cringed to hear this man’s blasphemies, but shame blushed brightly to see Israel’s cowardice. Saul offered half his kingdom to the man who would kill Goliath, but no takers came forth. Words of fear and despair filled Israel’s army. David asked for Saul’s offer to be repeated. “Who will take away the reproach of Israel?” “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” For Goliath to mock Israel is to mock Yahweh. Why will not one challenge him? He is outside God’s covenant, outside the Lord’s protection. Is there no zeal for the Lord? Is there no precious identity as the Lord’s people worth fighting for? Goliath must fall. He will fall. The Lord will fell him, but he will use a man of faith. God’s honor is worth more than our lives. When his name is precious to us, we fight the good fight of faith, hazarding our lives for his gospel, wherever he calls us. As Calvin said, “A dog barks when his Master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.”
David Not Discouraged by Family Rebuke and Ridicule
David faced a stronger enemy that day than Goliath. Family ridicule. Already envious of David’s anointing and opportunities, Eliab was angry. David is horning in again. His criticisms were biting – have you left those few sheep of yours, little brother? Pride has brought you here. Life’s most stinging words often come from family and friends. Let someone close to you be exalted or get a better job or seem to have a happier life, and jealousy and envy rise in the heart. We unleash our discontent and anger at those closest to us. Even in believing hearts, the flesh does not take the exaltation of others well, especially if it is neglected or passed over. To endure such reproach, we must be persuaded that promotion comes not randomly but from the Lord (Ps. 75:6-7). We must not depend upon the praise of those closest to us, for they may overly esteem our gifts because they love us and want us to succeed. Nor can we allow ourselves to be cast down because those who should support us become critics and jealous of our progress. David’s question to his brother was wise – “Is there not a cause?” Everyone in Israel’s army should have been asking these same questions that I am, Eliab. There should be army-wide prayer meetings asking the Lord to embolden us so that we can honor his name and take away the reproach of our sins and cowardice. David thus rebukes his older brother’s fear. Eliab, go face Goliath now. Go avenge the honor of the Lord. But, if you are unwilling, do not condemn me because I am willing to face the giant. David did not allow his detractors to diminish his zeal. God’s honor must be foremost in our hearts and minds. Do not allow the inactivity, fear, and worldliness of God’s professing people keep you from acting righteously and defending his name. What he puts in your heart, do – if it can be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, according to his word, in dependence upon the help of the Holy Spirit. It is always good to be zealous in a good cause (Gal. 4:18), but one way the Lord tests us is by criticism and discouragement from those closest to us. We should always listen to wise counsel and be ready to receive instruction and rebuke. We must not allow zeal for the Lord to be cooled by cold hearts.
When We Hear and See the Lord Mocked
Be Understanding: God Defied, Jesus Christ Rejected
Our day is not unlike David’s. Public mockery of God is rampant. God’s enemies are crawling out of their dark holes to practice perversion, kill babies, and mock God’s name. We must be people of understanding. All the turmoil in the world of unbelief, the deplorable depths of evil, is the devil “working in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2). Occasionally a Goliath will emerge from the sewer – a particularly bold blasphemer, or beautiful seductress, or wealthy technocrat. They challenge God and seem invincible. They mock and jeer at him, and especially at his Son, which is the reason that our Savior’s name is the favorite curse of blasphemers in the West. They hate the Lord Jesus. They know the judgment of God (Rom. 1:32), but they continue to sin and love those who sin brazenly. And sometimes the shouting of Goliath grows louder when faith enters the camp in a David, or group of faithful Christians, or a quietly faithful denomination. The world cannot understand why we will not fall in line with the pleasure-seekers, are not scared of their threats, and trust our old Bible and preaching and worshipping. We endure, persevere, and overcome because we “see him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27).
Be Bold: World’s Goliaths Not God’s Samson’s
For there is something we know, or should know, that the world does not. Goliath will never be Samson. Yes, God’s mad enemies bellow against the Christian’s condemning Bible, and his restricting gospel, his narrow-minded morality, his church’s discipline. They laugh at our weakness, the way we fall all over ourselves when we try to do right, and often mess up clear directives from Scripture. But David, Christ, is in our midst. And he uses the weak David’s, who frankly confess their own weakness and depend upon the arm of the Lord, to overcome the world. Samson did not win because he was personally stronger than everyone else. He beat the Philistines because the Lord was with him, and thus the Spirit came upon him. I question if we believe that the Lord of hosts is stronger than the evil in our day. We fear being so “binary,” as the world says, so black and white, so sheep and goats, so light and darkness. But we must be, for the Lord Jesus is. And armed with confidence in his presence with us by the Spirit, we have absolutely nothing to fear from the world’s laughter and lies. We have the true colossus, the Lord Jesus Christ, and though he is meek and lowly, he has already conquered the evil one. If you want to be bold in fighting sin in your life and resisting evil in the world, gain larger views of Jesus Christ. See him as Goliath, by faith, and you will not be afraid of men, even the worst.
Be Truthful: To Challenge Sinners and Encourage Saints
Believing this, like David did, we can afford to be truthful and to challenge lies. David went through Israel’s lines asking to hear Saul’s offer again. Will no one be stirred to faithfulness by even earthly considerations? He challenged Goliath’s blasphemy and reproach. Will no one take up God’s cause and for the love of the Lord defend his honor? Why did this lowly shepherd speak truth, when the giant was shouting down the opposition? David challenged sinners because he knew the Lord was with his people. He spoke truth to the saints to encourage them to action. We must do the same, but this need not be a political rally around the American flag. It is instead a call to the church, God’s professing people, to condemn statism as Satan’s present-day colossus, abortion as his Molech, sodomy as his madness working in the children of disobedience. Why does unbelief and ingratitude end in sodomy? Read Romans 1. Also, Satan wants to kill men, and moral perversion is the surest way to maim and kill multitudes. We need not be mean or cynical while speaking against feminism, evolution, political polytheism, pornography, Sabbath breaking, blasphemy, and all the rest. We must be more filled with the love of Christ, then we will speak truth in love, without vilifying but encouraging sinners to repent. We will speak boldly to defend our Lord’s honor. Powerful, invincible, is the Christian who speaks truth because he sincerely loves men, even the worst, and deeply venerates the majesty of God.
The saints in every denomination need to hear this. Many are utterly shocked by how far their leadership has fallen from the Bible. They do not know what to do. They hear the bellowing of politicians, celebrities, and academics. They need to hear your humble truth-telling, your passionate Bible teaching, and your personal testimony to the power and wisdom of God’s word. And the world, well, it, too, needs to hear us speak the truth without fear. Many of “them” will one day be “us,” for the Lord Jesus is saving his enemies. Speak truth humbly. Speak truth about Jesus Christ. Challenge sin not with cynical fire but with cross humility, not with personal arrogance but with a servant’s gentleness. All Bible truth and gospel sharing is the sword of our Savior’s mouth. He never forgets where one seed is planted, and often one word working in a troubled, guilty soul is the very means he uses to save the sinner and bring him into the light. The world will be saved as Christians speak the truth without shame, confidently, quoting God’s word, exalting the grace of Jesus Christ, and trusting the power of the Holy Ghost. This is God’s battle, and he always wins!
Be Broken: Jesus Christ Has Taken Away Our Reproach
This is not really a story about David, but about Jesus Christ, David’s greater Son. Did you hear David’s question? Who will take away our reproach? David did, but only temporarily. He bested Goliath by God’s favor, but in coming years, he could not best himself. He was a man after God’s own heart, but he was also a man of the flesh. He brought more reproach upon God’s people, and worse than Goliath’s. But enter our Lord, who said: “Reproach has broken my heart” (Ps. 69:20). He took the reproach of our sin, the bitterness of our evils, upon himself. He was slapped, spit upon, beaten, mocked by the world, by us, by our sins. And he took it all upon himself. He had to do so, for he had to bear our sins and endure our hell in order to redeem us. The nerve center of our standing for God faithfully in the world is love for the Christ who stood before God in our condemned place and took all our shame and spitting, our curse and death. We are strong only as we are broken of our pride. We are zealous for God’s honor because we now see more clearly how great is his love, how deep our Savior’s sufferings, how agonizing his cross, and how powerful his grace. Amazed, let us sing and rejoice, trust and obey, speak truth and live for his honor in the world.
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