1 Samuel 17:45-46
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!”
That God acts in a sovereign way in the distribution of his favors, is a truth to which proud man is very averse; yet does it meet us in every part of the Holy Scriptures. We have seen it in the elevation of Saul to the regal office; it appears also in the selection of David, whom Samuel was ordered to anoint as successor to the throne, 1 Samuel 16:1-13. We behold it now again in raising up David, while yet a youth untrained to war, to slay Goliath, from whom all the army of Israel fled. It might rather have been expected that Jonathan, who had already shown a most extraordinary valor, should stand forth as a champion on this occasion; or at least that some valiant man should have been found in the camp to espouse his country’s cause; but God had ordained that David should possess the throne of Saul; and by this means he began to educate, as it were, the youth for his destined office.
In the words before us we have David’s address to his antagonist just on the commencement of his engagement with him; and from them we shall be led to notice,
I. The character of the combatants.
In Goliath we behold a proud, self-confident blasphemer.
He was of gigantic stature, (above eleven feet in height, or, at the lowest possible computation, ten feet,) and possessed strength in proportion to his size. His armor was such as would have almost borne down a man of moderate strength, verse 4-7; and, clad in this, he deemed himself invulnerable and irresistible. Hence, while he stalked in proud defiance between the two hostile armies, he, in mind and spirit, presumed to defy even God himself!
Characters of this description are by no means uncommon in the world; for, though we behold not in these days men of such extraordinary bulk, we behold the same pride of heart in multitudes around us, who, glorying in their own bodily or intellectual powers, use them only as instruments of aggrandizing themselves, and of insulting God, Psalm 12:3-4; Psalm 73:6-9.
David, on the contrary, was humbly dependent on God alone.
Being sent by his father to visit his brethren, he came to them in the ranks just at the time that this proud blasphemer was challenging the hosts of Israel. Filled with indignation at his impiety, and desirous to vindicate the honor of his God, David manifested a wish to accept the challenge; and, when reproved by his eldest brother, he meekly but firmly persisted in his purpose, saying, “Now what have I done? Can’t I even speak? verse 29.”
On being brought to Saul, and warned of his incompetence to contend with such a mighty and experienced warrior, he showed at once what his true motives were, and in whom his confidence was placed. He had before experienced the protection of God, in two conflicts with a lion and a bear, which he had slain, when they rose up against him; and he doubted not but that God would crown him with similar success in his conflict with this uncircumcised Philistine, verse 33-36.
Saul would have lent him his own armor for the combat; but David found it only an encumbrance; and therefore went forth unarmed, except with a sling, and five stones in his shepherd’s bag, confiding, not in any human means, but in the strength of the living God. Hence when Goliath scorned his youthful appearance, and derided his preparations for the conflict, David replied in the words of our text, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty!”
How striking was this contrast! How exemplary was the conduct of David! And how illustrative of the spirit in which the true Christian goes forth against his spiritual enemies, and prepares to combat the world, the flesh, and the devil!
The close of our text leads us to notice,
II. The outcome of the conflict.
According to all human expectations it must be decided in favor of Goliath.
There was, as it should appear, no room for competition between the combatants: David a youth, a shepherd, unused to war, and destitute, as we may say, either of defensive or offensive armor. Goliath, a man of immense strength, trained to war from his very youth, and armed with all that the ingenuity of man could furnish; his armor altogether impenetrable to the stones, with which alone the youth was prepared to oppose him.
But Goliath’s strength was weakness, when opposed to the God of Israel.
The first stone which David cast at him, was directed by an unerring arm, and an almighty power; it pierced the forehead of Goliath, and in a moment realized the youth’s prediction. Thus was the proud boaster “delivered into David’s hand;” and David, unprovided with any sword of his own, took the sword of his adversary, and with it cut off his head. No sooner did the Philistines behold their champion dead, than they fled from Israel with terror, and yielded themselves an easy prey to their pursuers.
We forbear to suggest the various reflections naturally arising in the mind from this event, because God himself has told us,
III. The design of this particular event.
It was intended,
1. For the instruction of the world.
Men in general think but little of God; and because they do not see him, they are ready to suppose that he does not interfere in the affairs of men. They imagine that they may despise his authority, and pour contempt on his people—with impunity; and, if left, like Goliath, to prosper for a season, their presumption is proportionally increased, Ecclesiastes 8:11. But God is no unconcerned spectator of his creatures’ conduct; he marks down everything in the book of his remembrance; and will vindicate his own honor at the appointed season; perhaps in that moment, when his adversary conceives himself most secure.
Think of this, you who abuse your strength and acumen to the purposes of criminal indulgence, and who vaunt of your excesses in debauchery of any kind. Think of this also, you who oppose and deride religion. Remember whom it is that you are insulting! Goliath thought that he was defying Israel; but his defiance was in reality hurled against Jehovah himself.
Just so, you, though probably unconscious of it, are in reality fighting against God himself. And “will you continue to provoke HIM to jealousy? Are you stronger than he?” “Will you be strong in the day that he shall deal with you? Will you thunder with a voice like his?” Ah, cease from this mad warfare, and cast down the weapons of your rebellion, and humble yourselves, while yet God’s sword of vengeance is unsheathed.
Behold Goliath prostrate on the ground, a monument of human folly, and human weakness! Behold him placed for a monument to all succeeding ages, that “God resists the proud;” and that “him who walks in pride, He is able to abase!” God delivered Goliath into David’s hand on purpose that “all the earth might know that there is a God in Israel! verse 46.”
2. For the consolation of God’s Israel.
Great and mighty are the enemies of God’s people; and most unequal is the contest in which they are engaged. They may well say, “We have no power or might against this great company that comes against us.” But in this event God has especially provided for their encouragement; he gave success to David, that “all the assembly of his people might know, that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, verse 47.” In HIM must be our trust; in his strength must we go forth against our enemies; we must “be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.” We must arm ourselves with the weapons which he has provided; and though they appear to the eye of sense to be as useless as a sling and stone—yet shall they be made effectual through his power. Let us “take hope as our helmet, righteousness as our breastplate, truth for our belt, the Gospel of peace for our shoes, faith for our shield, and the Word of God for our sword,” and we need not fear either men or devils; for “He who is in us, is greater than he who is in the world!” “We shall be made more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Gird yourselves then to the battle, expecting “God to perfect his own strength in your weakness.”
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong! 1 Corinthians 16:13,” and soon you shall have cause to say, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
Charles Simeon (1759-1836)