1 SAMUEL 17 - THE UNEXPECTED CHAMPION
1 Samuel 17
The Philistines were that enemy of Israel that never seemed let up. Once again, they gathered for battle against Israel at the valley of Elah. Each army encamped on opposite sides of the valley (v. 1-3). This sets the stage for what becomes one of the most well-known battles in the Bible.
The style of battle was that each army sent their champion fighter for a duel to death. The Philistines were confident in their pick: a nine foot plus giant that wore about two hundred pounds of armor with huge weapons. For forty day this Philistine champion named Goliath would step into the valley and call out for Israel’s champion. Each day the Israelites scoured their army but couldn’t find a man strong enough or brave enough to face him. They were paralyzed with fear and dismay (v. 4-7).
They felt that they had no champion among them. But then we read, “Now David…” In true Bible fashion, fear among God’s people is met with an unexpected solution from God. David is introduced as a ruddy shepherd boy, who runs errands for his dad while his older brothers are off doing the noble work of fighting in Israel’s army. David is sent to take cheese and grain to the frontline, and then to quickly get back to feeding sheep (v. 12-18).
However, God had been preparing his champion, a man after his own heart. David, the young and forgotten son of Jesse would become Israel’s prized fighter. David had fought lions and bears to protect his sheep, but he had never been a warrior, only a shepherd and a musician who loved his God. Yet, this qualified him in God’s sight.
David set out to fulfill his father’s command. When he arrived on the mountain, he delivered the food, but then became curious about the battle. Who was this giant in the valley, and why he was defying the armies of the living God? David was baffled at why no one would stand against an uncircumcised Philistine who was cursing God and his people. The army took notice of David’s zeal and confidence, and told it to Saul, but when his brother found out he scolded David (v. 19-30)
David was then quickly brought to Saul, but when Saul looked upon David’s stature and training, he tried to dismiss him. David would not let up though. He told Saul about his lion and bear encounters and spoke confidently about God as his deliverer. Saul conceded and then wanted to give David his armor. David didn’t fit into Saul armor, nor would ever fit into the things of Saul. David refused the armor, and with sling and stones in hand, he entered the valley to face Goliath (v. 31-41)
David, the small and handsome youth came face to face with Goliath. This ticked off the giant. Goliath belittled David, mocked the army of Israel, and cursed God (v. 42-44).
When David heard Goliath curse the God of Israel a champion voice came out:
“You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.” (v. 45-47)
Only one of them would make it out of the valley alive and David knew who it would be.
David pulled out a shepherding tool - a sling and stones - and he sank a smooth stone right into the forehead of Goliath. The giant went down to the ground, and with one fell swoop, David cut off the Philistine’s head with the giant’s own sword. David took Goliath’s head and armor and joined the army as they pursued and plundered the Philistines (v. 48-54)
Once the battle was over, Saul inquired about the young boy. Who was this unexpected champion? Where did he come from? The commander of the army found David and brought him to the king. Saul spoke to the young boy not knowing David was the next king (v. 55-58).
David was God’s champion, but God would raise up an even greater champion through the line of David. Jesus is our champion of champions, our unexpected fighter. Jesus comes to defy the things that dismay us, namely sin, death, and that enemy that never seems to let up - the devil. David was a great champion and king, and Jesus is the greater champion and king.