“Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”

1 Samuel 17:45 (KJV)

The story

The Philistines and Israel were drawn up for battle on opposite mountains, with the valley of Elah between them. Out came a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He wore a brass helmet and a coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels of brass, had greaves of brass on his legs and a target of brass between his shoulders, and carried a spear whose head weighed six hundred shekels of iron, with a shield-bearer going before him (1 Samuel 17:5-7). He challenged Israel to settle the war by single combat. Twice a day for forty days he defied the armies of Israel, and King Saul and all his men were dismayed and greatly afraid. 1 Samuel 17:1-16

David was the youngest of Jesse's eight sons; his three eldest brothers, Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah, had followed Saul to war, while David went back and forth to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. Jesse sent David to the camp with an ephah of parched corn, ten loaves, and ten cheeses for his brothers (1 Samuel 17:17-18). There David heard Goliath's challenge and asked why anyone should let this uncircumcised Philistine defy the armies of the living God. His brother Eliab was angry with him and accused him of pride, but David turned to others and kept asking. 1 Samuel 17:12-30

Brought before Saul, David offered to fight. Saul warned that David was but a youth against a man of war, but David said the LORD who delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear would deliver him from this Philistine (1 Samuel 17:37). Saul dressed David in his own armor, but David took it off because he had not tested it. Instead he took his staff, chose five smooth stones from the brook, put them in his shepherd's bag, and went with his sling in hand. 1 Samuel 17:32-40

When Goliath saw the youth, he disdained him and cursed David by his gods, threatening to give his flesh to the birds and beasts. David answered that Goliath came with sword and spear, but he came in the name of the LORD of hosts, and that the battle is the LORD's. As Goliath advanced, David ran to meet him, took a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine in the forehead so that the stone sank in and he fell on his face to the earth. 1 Samuel 17:42-49

David had prevailed with only a sling and a stone, for there was no sword in his hand. So he ran and stood over the Philistine, took Goliath's own sword, and cut off his head. Seeing their champion dead, the Philistines fled, and the men of Israel and Judah pursued them to the gates of Ekron. David later brought the head to Jerusalem and kept the armor in his tent. 1 Samuel 17:50-54

Quiz

1. What was Goliath's height, according to the text?

   • Four cubits
   • Six cubits and a span
   • Nine cubits
   • Ten cubits and a span

2. How much did the head of Goliath's spear weigh?

   • Six hundred shekels of iron
   • Five thousand shekels of brass
   • One hundred shekels of iron
   • Three hundred shekels of brass

3. How many sons did Jesse have?

   • Seven
   • Twelve
   • Eight
   • Three

4. What was the name of David's eldest brother?

   • Eliab
   • Abinadab
   • Shammah
   • Ahinadab

5. What food did Jesse send to David's brothers along with the parched corn?

   • Ten loaves and ten cheeses
   • Bread and wine
   • Figs and raisins
   • Twelve loaves and honey

6. How did Eliab react when David spoke at the camp?

   • He praised David
   • His anger was kindled against David
   • He sent David home
   • He asked David to fight for him

7. What reason did Saul first give that David could not fight Goliath?

   • David had no sword
   • David was but a youth
   • David was too far away
   • David was needed with the sheep

8. Whom did David say had delivered him from the lion and the bear?

   • King Saul
   • His father Jesse
   • The LORD
   • The captains of Israel

9. Where did David carry the five smooth stones?

   • In his shepherd's bag, in a scrip
   • In his cloak
   • In his hand only
   • In a leather pouch on his belt

10. How did Goliath respond when he first saw David?

    • He feared him
    • He disdained him
    • He fled from him
    • He bowed to him

11. After the stone struck him, what did Goliath do?

    • He threw his spear
    • He fell upon his face to the earth
    • He ran back to his camp
    • He drew his sword

12. Where did David take the head of the Philistine?

    • To Bethlehem
    • To Gath
    • To Jerusalem
    • To Shochoh

Discussion

1. David faced Goliath with confidence because he remembered how God had already helped him with the lion and the bear (17:34-37). What past experiences of God's faithfulness can help you face today's challenges?
2. Eliab accused David of pride and a bad heart when David was actually stepping up in faith (17:28-29). Why do people sometimes criticize others for doing the right thing, and how did David respond?
3. David refused Saul's armor and used what God had already trained him to use (17:38-40). What does this teach about serving God with who you really are instead of copying someone else?