David A M A N A F T E R G O D ’ S O W N H E A R T Seven Truths To Remember About Fighting Giants 1 Samuel 17 an you remember the first time you a soldier from his youth (17:33). He was a battle- C heard the story of David and the hardened veteran. giant—and how exciting it was? He was clothed in full armor, including a Perhaps you have heard the story so many times, helmet.6 His “scale armor”7 weighed 125 to 150 it has lost its punch. To appreciate this lesson, pounds!8 He carried a spear in his hand, with a pretend you are hearing the story for the first spare javelin9 slung on his back. The shaft of the time. Can you do that? Great. Let us study one of spear was like a weaver’s beam and the head of the most stirring adventures in the Bible.1 the spear weighed 15 to 20 pounds!10 (He would As 1 Samuel 17 begins, the Israelites were at not have to throw it at anyone; he could just drop war: “Now the Philistines gathered their armies it on an opponent’s head!) His shield was so for battle” (v. 1). The Philistines came from is- large, it took another soldier to carry it before lands in the Mediterranean Sea to Palestine and him. set up city states along the coast. They were a Goliath stomped down into the valley of Elah constant thorn in the side of the Israelites. Now and yelled, “Send your champion down, and we they had come to fight the Israelites.2 will fight this out!” He shouted this challenge: “If Verses 1 through 3 set the scene: King Saul he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we and his army lined up on one mountain while the will become your servants; but if I prevail against Philistines amassed themselves on a mountain him and kill him, then you shall become our opposite. In between is the valley of Elah.3 Every servants and serve us” (17:9). This was called the morning, each army put on its armor and gave a “challenge to single combat” and was recog- great war cry (17:20, 21). The two armies hurled nized as a legitimate way to settle military dis- insults back and forth, but nobody made the first putes. It is not a bad idea. The next time a war move. Finally, from among the Philistines came between countries seems inevitable, the two lead- a giant, a massive towering presence: “Then a ers could fight it out and leave the rest of us out champion came out from the armies of the Philis- of it! tines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height Verse 11 says, “When Saul and all Israel heard was six cubits and a span” (17:4). That is approxi- these words of the Philistine, they were dis- mately nine and one-half feet tall!4 Assuming mayed and greatly afraid.” Verse 16 notes, “And Goliath was proportioned as most men are, he the Philistine came forward morning and evening would have weighed 600 to 700 pounds!5 It was for forty days, and took his stand.” Goliath 600-plus pounds of muscle, not fat. He had been walked into the valley of Elah twice a day for 1 forty days and made his challenge; that is a total in the original means “their pledge” (see KJV). of eighty times. He was about to make the chal- This may refer to something tangible David was lenge the eighty-first time. to bring back to prove they were all right. “So It would have been scary to face a nine and David arose early in the morning and left the one-half foot giant . but we all have giants in flock with a keeper and took the supplies and our lives—things that loom large in our lives, went as Jesse had commanded him” (17:20). that we have to face, problems we must conquer As David headed to the valley of Elah, I am if we are to go on with our lives. It may be a legal sure the furthermost thing from his mind was battle, a struggle with an employer, a bad habit, fighting a giant. That morning had dawned like an overpowering temptation, working on a any other. No doubt David was excited—he was strained relationship. It may involve people or going to see his brothers and would see the pressures; it results in worries and fears. If you battle—but there would have been no forebod- have not yet had to face a giant in your life, I ing of what was before, no thought of meeting a assure you that at some point you will! giant. That which is a giant to me may not look like The days when giants appear in your life a giant to you, but it is still a giant. That which is start out like any other day. You wake up. You go a giant to you may not look like a giant to me, but through your routine. Maybe it is a good day, or it is nevertheless real. Each of us struggles with maybe it is not so good, but it is like a thousand his or her own special temptations—giants we other days in your life. Then a letter comes in the face every day of our lives, and they are very real! mail . or a telegram comes . or the telephone Never make light of anyone else’s giants. rings . or someone stops by. Perhaps you are All of us face our giants, challenges that loom called into your employer’s office . or you large on our horizons, problems that make our make a routine visit to the doctor to take care of knees grow weak. The question is, How can we some nagging but insignificant medical problem defeat the Goliaths of life? In 1 Samuel 17 we find . or your mate says, “We’ve got to talk.” seven truths to remember about fighting giants, Suddenly, there looms the giant. seven truths that can help us be victorious. When David reached the valley of Elah, he left the provisions with the one in charge and I. GIANTS APPEAR WHEN YOU then went to see how his brothers were. As he LEAST EXPECT THEM was talking with them, “behold, the champion, (17:12–15, 17–23) the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was While David was at home in Bethlehem, his coming up from the army of the Philistines, and three oldest brothers were in the army of Israel. he spoke these same words” (17:23). These words They had gone with Saul to battle the Philistines. are found in verse 10: “I defy the ranks of Israel It was the custom for the older sons to go to war this day; give me a man that we may fight to- while the younger ones stayed home and did the gether.” Imagine the sarcasm in Goliath’s voice: chores. David, of course, was the baby of the “I’ve been standing on this spot for forty days family—the youngest of ten. He was probably now! This is the eighty-first time I’ve made this still in his teens, not yet twenty.11 Most of his time challenge! Is no one in all of Israel brave enough was spent in the shepherd fields. Occasionally he to face me?” went to Saul’s palace to play his harp for the king Verse 23 notes, “And David heard [the words (17:15),12 but his day-to-day job was to care for Goliath spoke].” He could not ignore the fact that sheep. a giant had come into his life. Mark it down: One day Jesse said to David, “Your brothers Sooner or later, you will have to face your giant. have been gone forty days now, and I do not know what has happened to them. I want you to II. YOU CAN FACE GIANTS WITH go check on them. Take these provisions to them; FAITH OR FEAR (17:24–27) then bring back news of them.” Bethlehem was Our text contrasts the fear of the soldiers and only ten to fifteen miles away, but the family had the faith of David. Verse 11 notes: “When Saul not had any word from the three brothers for and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, over a month. The phrase “news of them” (17:18) they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” Verse 2 24 says, “When all the men of Israel saw the man, be supportive, helpful, and strengthening—but they fled from him and were greatly afraid.” that is not so. Instead there will always be some- As David talked with his brothers, the giant one ready to say, “You can’t do this. You don’t came out and hurled his challenge. David could have what it takes. You might as well give up.” not believe his ears! “Did you hear what that When it came to fighting the giant, David’s Philistine said?!” No one answered. David looked father had already said, “You’re too young.” Jesse around—and he was all alone. Everyone else sent the oldest boys to join the army, not David. was fifty feet behind him, in a place of safety! Now David’s brother said, “You’re too imma- “When all the men of Israel saw the [giant], they ture.” fled from him and were greatly afraid.” (Empha- sis mine.) Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when [David] spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger When David went where the troops were burned against David and he said, “Why have cowering, the soldiers were talking about the you come down?16 And with whom have you situation.