Who was Goliath?
Introduction. As a child, the story of Goliath and David was one of my favorites. To this very day, I vividly retain the details of the Bible story as related to me by my grandmother. We read of Goliath mainly in I Samuel 17.
Goliath was a giant among men. Goliath was a giant of Gath and was used by the pagan Philistine army to defy the armies of Israel (1 Sam. 17: 1-4). Goliath was probably of Avvim race, as they had lived at Philistia. Goliath was about eleven feet tall (1 Sam. 17: 4). In view of the weight of his armor, Goliath had enormous strength (1 Sam. 17: 5-7).
The problem posed by Goliath. The matter of Goliath was crucial for Israel. "...Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me," cried Goliath, "If he be able to fight with me and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us" (1 Sam. 17: 9, 10). King Saul and all Israel were "dismayed and greatly afraid" of the challenge of this formidable giant (vs. 11).
David triumphs over Goliath. David was the youngest son of Jesse. He was an unimpressive shepherd boy (vs. 12-15). David heard the challenge and was troubled that this heathen could "defy the armies of the living God" (vs. 23, 26). David told King Saul that he would "fight with this Philistine" (vs. 32). Saul told David that he was just a youth and that Goliath was a man of war from his youth (vs. 33). David was firm and believed God would prevail, as he had before in David's life (vs. 34-37). David refused the armor and only took his staff, his sling, and five smooth stones (vs. 39, 40). "So David prevailed...with a sling and with a stone," we are told (vs. 50). Israel was victorious and David later became king.
Application. Life has its giants, but with the Lord's help, the Christian can be "more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom. 8: 35-39, esp. 37).
Goliath was a giant among men. Goliath was a giant of Gath and was used by the pagan Philistine army to defy the armies of Israel (1 Sam. 17: 1-4). Goliath was probably of Avvim race, as they had lived at Philistia. Goliath was about eleven feet tall (1 Sam. 17: 4). In view of the weight of his armor, Goliath had enormous strength (1 Sam. 17: 5-7).
The problem posed by Goliath. The matter of Goliath was crucial for Israel. "...Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me," cried Goliath, "If he be able to fight with me and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us" (1 Sam. 17: 9, 10). King Saul and all Israel were "dismayed and greatly afraid" of the challenge of this formidable giant (vs. 11).
David triumphs over Goliath. David was the youngest son of Jesse. He was an unimpressive shepherd boy (vs. 12-15). David heard the challenge and was troubled that this heathen could "defy the armies of the living God" (vs. 23, 26). David told King Saul that he would "fight with this Philistine" (vs. 32). Saul told David that he was just a youth and that Goliath was a man of war from his youth (vs. 33). David was firm and believed God would prevail, as he had before in David's life (vs. 34-37). David refused the armor and only took his staff, his sling, and five smooth stones (vs. 39, 40). "So David prevailed...with a sling and with a stone," we are told (vs. 50). Israel was victorious and David later became king.
Application. Life has its giants, but with the Lord's help, the Christian can be "more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom. 8: 35-39, esp. 37).