Village Schools of the Bible

A Devotional Study of 1 Samuel 17 - 19
by Max Frazier, Jr.

1 Samuel 17 is one of the most familiar chapters in the Bible...the story of David and Goliath. We have learned this story from our childhood, yet its truths continue to become new every time we read this story.

I. Israel and the Philistines prepare for battle (1 Samuel 17:1-3)
II. Goliath, a description and a taunt (vs. 4-11)
III. David sent to the army camp (vs. 12-24)
IV. Promises made to the one defeating Goliath (vs. 25-27)
V. Problems with his brothers (vs. 28-31)
VI. Brought before Saul (vs. 32-40)
VII. David defeats Goliath (vs. 41-51)
VIII. Israel victorious (vs. 52-58)

Goliath and David were both champions. Goliath was a huge man physically. Few men have ever reached the stature he had. Because of his size he was very confident of his own abilities, to the point of being arrogant. Until someone could depose him, he was the "king of the hill," or in this instance, the king of the valley. David was also a champion. Although half the size of Goliath, he, nonetheless, had a confidence about his own abilities. But this confidence was not based upon himself alone, but upon the God whom he served. Here was a man taunting the armies of the living God and yet all Israel cowered in fear. Where was their confidence? It would seem that it was based upon their weaponry that they knew could not defeat this giant. When we place our confidence upon men and not upon God we usually hesitate to move forward. The battle is the Lord's. So, like David, let's pick up our slings and stones and move out in the confidence and strength of God to face the Goliaths that confront us. We may not always defeat them with the first stone, as did David, but God has promised that the victories would come. This truly is a great story.

Just a side-bar on David's confidence. Yes, he certainly had the right attitude when he said that the battle was the Lord's. God had not deserted the armies of Israel. He was present with them as He had been in the victories over the Ammonites, the Amalekites, and the Philistines before. Yes, the presence of Goliath was intimidating, but he did not intimidate God. The problem with Saul and Israel was that they were looking for a human solution to the Goliath problem. David knew that God was the solution. It is good for us to ponder God's past workings and to realize that He is still the same God today. David knew that and so should we.

I would like to direct our thoughts to 1 Samuel 18, a chapter that focuses upon the beginning of the long confrontation between David and Saul. It is ironic that David becomes Saul's son-in-law in this chapter by marrying Michal, Saul's daughter.

I. Relationship between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-4)
II. David's success and popularity (vs. 5-7, 12-16)
III. Saul's jealousy and attempts to kill David (vs. 8-11)
IV. David marries Saul's daughter Michal (vs. 17-30)

Jealousy is a very debilitating sin, just as Saul discovered. The excitement over the great victory over Goliath and the Philistines was short-lived for him. The joys of the discovery of this unknown hero soon melted into a pool of jealousy. For it seems that Saul was no longer THE hero. He had been replaced by this young upstart. Saul, the king, was now second fiddle to David, the shepherd boy. This lack of proper recognition hurt Saul badly. You must remember that Saul's self-esteem was very connected to the attitudes of the people. And now he was losing their esteem. How cruel is jealousy! Instead of celebrating with his people over a great deliverance provided by God, Saul sought to eliminate the young man who had trusted God for that deliverance. When our self-esteem is based upon the accolades from men we are on dangerous ground. For as Sonny Jurgensen, the former great quarterback of the Washington Redskins learned, a quarterback is either in the penthouse or the outhouse, so there is no need to get concerned about either. Our self-esteem needs to be based upon who we are in Christ and not upon the applause of men. This man Saul can teach us a lot about what kind of a person we should not be.

Saul's jealousy also caused him to be fearful of David. He knew God's hand was upon David and, I believe, he also knew that God's hand was no longer with him. The presence of God in a person's life is an awesome presence. As Saul observed what God was doing through David, he was fearful. But, instead of being driven back to God, his heart became more hardened. Oh the agony of heart experienced by those who turn against God. It is self-destructive.

Being married to the king's daughter was not the thrill that David perhaps thought it would be. Humbled by even the suggestion that he marry Saul's daughter, Merab, and then knowing that Saul's second daughter, Michal, had fallen in love with him, David hesitated, perhaps with good reason. Had not Saul sought to kill him on at least two occasions? What was to prevent that from happening again? And what about this unusual request for a dowry? There certainly were risks involved there. Yet God was with David and he continued to prosper. I believe that if we are faithful in our walk with the Lord, then we will be honored by God even in the midst of adversity, though it probably would not be wise to marry into the family of trouble as did David.

How about some thoughts from 1 Samuel 19, that chapter that shares the initial attempts of Saul to kill David and how God spared David's life.

I. Jonathan intercedes for David's life (1 Samuel 19:1-7)
II. David victorious again over the Philistines (vs. 8)
III. David escapes Saul's spear (vs. 9-10)
IV. Michal helps David escape (vs. 11-17)
V. David's escape and Saul's actions (vs. 18-24)

Friends like Jonathan are difficult to find. Jonathan was "caught between a rock and a hard place." His best friend was the worst enemy of his father. To honor his friend was to dishonor his father. Yet Jonathan knew that what his father planned to do was wrong. For David had not harmed Saul. he had only brought good to Saul and to the kingdom
of Israel. Why should he be killed? And so Jonathan interceded before Saul on behalf of his friend David. In a less than perfect way, this is a picture of what Christ does for me. Unlike David, I have done things that would provoke my Father God to punish me greatly. I have rebelled and sinned against His will. Yet Jesus Christ, my Savior and Friend, intercedes for me before God. Whereas Jonathan could not fully change the mind of his father about David, Jesus Christ is successful in pleading my cause before God. Yes, just as Jonathan was a friend closer than a brother to David, so Jesus Christ is to me.

Michal had a love for her husband David that caused her to warn him of her father's plans. She even devised a strategy to assist in his escape. She was willing to risk her life because of her love. Yet, when confronted by her father's anger, she changed her story and put the blame upon David (compare verses 11-13 with verse 17). I believe that Michal knew her father was irrational and violent. Yes, she had risked her life but she was unwilling to lose it. I think back to the stories of the great martyrs of the past who, not only risked their lives for Christ, but also were willing to lose their lives. This is a truth worth pondering: Risk-taking has no merits unless there is a willingness for total surrender to Christ.

1Samuel 15-16 Return to the Table of Contents 1Samuel 20-21