1 Samuel 17-18
What I Noticed Today (1 Samuel 17-18)
1 Samuel 17-18 contains the story of David’s defeat of Goliath, his successes in battle, and his rise in popularity among the people.
Note: There were six valleys through which enemies could enter the land of Benjamin and Judah. The Philistines had already come up through Aijalon Valley (1 Samuel 13:23). During the days of Samson, the Philistines had entered through the Sorek Valley. They already controlled Socoh and Azekah, so if they were able to make it through the Valley of Elah, all the land would be threatened.
1 Samuel 17
In verses 1-11, the Philistines and Israelites lined up on opposite sides of the Valley of Elah. Goliath came out from the Philistines every day for 40 days taunting the Israelites. Saul and the army of the Israelites were dismayed and afraid (1 Samuel 17:11).
In verses 12-38, David’s father, Jesse, told him to take some provisions to his brothers who were in Saul’s army. The trip was about 15 miles from Bethlehem, where David lived to where the armies were in the Valley of Elah. When David arrived, and he heard the taunts from Goliath, he responded with courage volunteering to face Goliath himself. All the time that David had spent tending his father’s sheep fighting off wild animals had prepared him to do battle with Goliath.
In verses 38-51, David refused Saul’s armor, preferring instead to enter the battle with his own weapons, knowing that he was going in the power of the Lord. He even told Goliath that the battle was the Lord’s. David killed Goliath with a single stone from his sling and cut off his head with Goliath’s own sword.
In verses 52-54, David’s victory over Goliath encouraged the army of Israel, and they chased the Philistines in battle. They plundered the Philistine camp. David brought Goliath’s head to Jerusalem but kept Goliath’s sword for himself.
In verses 55-58, Saul asked Abner, his military commander, who was this young man who killed Goliath. Abner didn’t know, so David was brought before Saul. David explained that he was the son of Jesse of Bethlehem.
Note: It seems odd that Saul did not recognize David since David had been a musician serving Saul. Scholars advance three theories. 1) Saul may have been so tormented by the evil spirit that he did not recognize David. 2) Saul may have recognized David but not known who his father was. 3) David was only 12 years old when he entered Saul’s service as a musician, and he had only played for Saul for about a year. Several years had passed, and David was now 17-18 years old. Saul may not have recognized David as the boy who used to play the lyre for him.
1 Samuel 18
In verses 1-9, Saul brought David into his household and did not let him return to his father.
- Saul’s son Jonathan and David became very close friends. Jonathan gave David his own tunic, sword, bow, and belt.
- But as David was successful in battle, Saul became more and more envious of David’s popularity.
In verses 10-19, the next day, an evil spirit entered Saul while he was in the palace, and David was playing the lyre.
- Saul tried to kill David by throwing a spear at him, but David got away.
- Saul made David a commander over 1,000 men, and David was successful in everything he did because the Lord was with him.
- Saul became more and more envious of David, but the people loved David.
- Saul kept sending David on missions hoping the Philistines would kill him (ironic considering this is exactly what David did to Uriah the Hittite in 2 Samuel 11).
- Saul then attempted to get David to marry his oldest daughter, but David said he was not worthy of becoming the king’s son-in-law.
In verses 20-30, Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and it was reported to Saul.
- Saul offered to give his daughter Michal to David as his bride hoping that she would be a snare to him, but Michal loved David, so Saul despised David even more.
- David again expressed reluctance to become the king’s son-in-law because he did have an appropriate bride price for a king’s daughter.
- Saul asked only for the foreskins of 100 Philistines as a bride price in the hopes that the Philistines would kill David.
- Instead, David killed 200 Philistines and returned with their foreskins as a bride price for Saul’s daughter.
- Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage. Saul realized that the Lord was with David, and his daughter loved him. Saul became even more afraid of David and viewed David as his enemy from then on.
- David became the most successful of all of Saul’s officers, and he became well known throughout the land.
Saul was God’s anointed king, yet he stood afraid of the Philistines. Perhaps if he had finished the battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 16), he would never have had this problem. Regardless, it’s interesting that for 40 days, Saul listened to the threats of the Philistines and never consulted God.
David came along in the power of God and defeated Goliath, and as he did, he gave credit to the Lord. Through all of his battles that led to his increasing popularity with the people, David gave credit for the success in battle to God.
Saul went from caring for David like a family member to angry because of his success and popularity with the people (v. 8), to fear of David (v. 12), to fearful awe (v. 15), to plotting to have him killed (v. 17, 25), to even more afraid of David (v. 29), and finally to making him his enemy (v. 29).
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- God will prepare and use those whose hearts are devoted to him!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.