CWFI Devotional Guide I Samuel 17 David's Appointment

The Philistines gathered their armies on a hill against the Israelites. Between both armies was a valley. The Philistines pithed between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. And the Israelites gathered together by the valley of Elah and were prepared for battle. The Philistines had a champion named Goliath who was from (9ft to 9.9 feet tall and a spa totaling 6 to 9 inches.)(Note: a span from thumb to final finger is to be 9 inches on a man's hand.) Goliath wore a copper helmet and a coat of copper that weighed from 120 to 180 pounds. His legs protected by brass copper and a brass copper spear on his back. The large beam had a blade that weighed 12-25 pounds.

A. Goliath also had an armor bearer who carried Goliath's shield and walked in front of him.

B. Goliath was wanting a champion to champion combat and not an all out battle brawl. One on one Philistine champion against Saul's champion. The choice is if Goliath is killed the armies of the Philistines would be slaves to the Israelites but if the Israelites champion is killed, the Israelite will be slaves to the Philistines.

C. Goliath was challenging Saul to send a man to fight him. Saul and the Israelites were afraid of the outcome.

D. Jesse the Bethlehemite had eight sons and he was old in the days of Saul. Three of Jesse's' sons served Saul in war: Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah. David the youngest son Jesse is an Ephrathite in Judah and served both Saul and Jesse by going back and forth from Saul to Bethlehem to tend the sheep.

E. Every morning for 40 days the Philistine would taunt Israel to send a champion to challenge him.

F. Jesse sends David to his brothers in the valley of Elah with parched corn, and bread, and cheese for the commanders and to bring the word back him on how his brothers are coming along in the conflict.

G. David arose and left early in the morning leaving his sheep in the care of another shepherd. He took the food and arrived in the camp and noticed the armies were positioning themselves for battle. The Israelites against the Philistines.

H. David left the food with the supply men and ran to speak to his brothers on the battle position. While David talked with his brothers, Goliath came out shouting the rhetoric he shouted every morning, but this time David heard him.The Israelites saw Goliath and ran away.

I. The men of Israel stated, Behold this man challenges Israel. The king promised a lot of money to anyone who kills him and his daughter to marriage, and his family would be exempt from paying taxes.

J. David asks: Who doe this uncircumcised Philistine think he is defying the armies of the living God?

K. Eliab rebukes David out of anger. That David is concerned about the Philistine instead of the sheep at home.

L. Saul heard of David's bravery and sent for him. David said to Saul, Don't worry, I am your servant and I will fight this Philistine.

M. Saul tries to reason with David, that Goliath's been a warrior since his youth and David just a boy. (Note: Goliath from Gath had a reputation and it was known that Goliath had four other brothers that were giants.)

N. David comforts the king; Don't worry, when a lion or a bear attack the sheep, I defend them and rescued them. To me that uncircumcised Philistine reminds me of them