Schooled – David and Goliath
October 8, 2022

But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”
1 Samuel 15:26

The Man

Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in
Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old.
1 Samuel 17:12

David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth
from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
1 Samuel 17:14-15

Father was Jesse
Youngest of 8 sons
Shepherd

So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
1 Samuel 16:12

David was already anointed as the next King

The Myth

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.
1 Samuel 17:4

9’-6”!! Dead Sea scroll says 4 cubits and a span 6’-8”

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:40

Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”
1 Samuel 17:41-44

Acromegaly

The Legend

But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear;
1 Samuel 17:34-36

this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
1 Samuel 17:36-37

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.
1 Samuel 17:38-39

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:40

David brought a gun to a knife fight

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
1 Samuel 17:48-49

So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
1 Samuel 17:50

Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
1 Samuel 17:52

1. Have A Different Perspective
They saw an obstacle.
David saw an opportunity.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:10

2. Have A Different Method
They used swords and armor.
David used a sling and a stone.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

3. Have A Different Motive
They heard Goliath’s threats.
David heard God’s promises.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

4. Have A Different Priority
They wanted to live for themselves.
David was willing to live for God.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5

5. Have A Different Attitude
They saw Goliath as a giant threat they couldn’t beat.
David saw Goliath as a giant target he couldn’t miss.