david vs Goliath - Type of Jesus' Faith

Davids witness of faith (vs. Goliath) - Part 2:

The Spirit of the Lord came upon David at the anointing by Samuel. It left Saul who then became troubled by an evil spirit, 1 Samuel 16:13 & 1413 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

. Saul called David to his court to play the harp when the evil spirit tormented him, so causing it to desist, 1 Samuel 16:2323 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

. Then the Scripture records Davids experience with the giant Goliath. Todays study will examine Davids witness of faith therein and our next study will point out how all this was a type pointing to the work subsequently finished by Jesus Christ.

As todays study opens we find the Philistine army drawn up in array challenging Sauls army, 1 Samuel 17:1 - 31 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

. The Israelis were on one mountain, the Philistine army on another with a valley separating them. We should keep in mind that not long prior to this when Samuel was interceding with the Lord and King Saul was vested with the Spirit of God Israel had easily dispatched their enemies the Amalekites, 1 Samuel 15:1 - 71 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

. But now that Samuel was not interceding and Israels leader Saul was devoid of Gods Spirit Israel stood helplessly in fear as the Philistine champion Goliath came out into the valley every morning and evening for 40 days and taunted, challenging anyone to fight him one on one. He falsely claimed that whoever killed the other would take all; i.e., if he won the Israeli nation would be slaves to the Philistines and vise versa if the Israeli won, 1 Samuel 17:44 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

, 8 10, 16. The number 40 in Scripture stands for probation or temptation.

Something Goliath said in his truant rang true and explains why Israel stood powerless to meet his challenge: And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 1 Samuel 17:88 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

. The simple truth was that Israel could not call themselves servants of the Most High God at this time for they were indeed servants of Saul, a man void of the Spirit of God. Thus they were dismayed and greatly afraid, 1 Samuel 17:1111 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

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On March 25, 2008 the Arizona Republic newspaper carried an article from the Associated Press about the worlds tallest man: Leonid Stadnik, a 37 year old who lives in Podolyantsi, Ukraine. He was a veterinarian whose growth spurt began at 14 after a brain operation apparently stimulated the overproduction of growth hormone and he has continued to grow to the point he can no longer work because of constant knee pain. At the time of the article he was 8 feet 5 inches tall, weighed 440 pounds and could not afford shoes for his 17 inch feet. In comparison, Goliath who was from the City of Gath in Canaan, stood six cubits and a span. According to commentators this would put him at about 11 feet 8 inches, which is over 3 feet taller than Mr. Stadnik. Goliaths armor was so heavy a normal man would be hard pressed to carry it but the fact he is identified with the number 6 is most significant. He was over 6 cubits tall, 6 items of armor are described and his spears head weighted 600 shekels of iron, 1 Samuel 17:4 - 74 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

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Goliath apparently had 4 giant sons, all of whom were subsequently killed in battle, at least one who had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot, 2 Samuel 21:16 - 2216 And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.

19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.

22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

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When Goliath started his daily challenge David was back at his fathers place tending the flocks. His three eldest brothers were in Sauls army, which was cowering before Goliath. Davids father asked him to take some bread, corn and cheese to Sauls camp and check on his three eldest brothers, 1 Samuel 17:1313 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

18. David did as told and arrived in time to witness Goliath challenging the Israeli army. As Goliath taunted, the men of Israel fled in fear and someone told David that Saul had promised anyone who killed Goliath great riches, the hand of Sauls daughter in marriage and tax free status for his fathers household, 1 Samuel 17:24 & 2524 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

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And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 1 Samuel 17:2626 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

. In this statement we see that David made little of the prizes Saul was offering and instead stood incredulous that a heathen could defy Gods army. Whereas Goliath saw Israel as the servants of Saul, which was what they were in their present state, David saw them as they should have been, i.e., the armies of the living God. As far as we know David was the only one who did not have his eyes on Goliath but on the Lord and thus saw Israel by faith in Gods Word, for faith is the substance of things hoped for, he evidence of things not seen, Hebrews 11:11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

. Of course, this was because David had the Spirit of the Lord.

Davids eldest brother Eliab overheard what David said in verse 26 and jealously berated him for being haughty, high minded and having a prideful heart, telling him he should be back tending sheep, 1 Samuel 17:2828 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

. But Eliabs hateful reproach did not deter David who repeated to others what he had just said. The word got back to Saul what David was saying and Saul called David to him, 1 Samuel 17:29 - 3129 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.

. Saul questioned how a youth like David could go up against such as Goliath but David was not comparing his own power and fighting ability as a man to that of Goliath. Instead he was by faith accepting what the Lord could accomplish. David told Saul that a lion and bear had taken one of his fathers sheep and how he had killed both and that this heathen Philistine would meet the same fate because he was defying the armies of the Living God, 1 Samuel 17:34 - 3634 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

: David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. 1 Samuel 17:34 - 3734 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

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The rest is history. David refused Sauls armor and armed with only his staff, sling and five (5) stones he went to meet the giant. Goliath cursed him by his gods and belittled him as a mere boy. In his answer to Goliath, David preaches a sermon describing what all this was really all about: Goliath was defying the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel; and the Lord would deliver David and he would kill Goliath. And this would happen in order to teach two lessons: 1) so that everyone would know there was a God in Israel, and 2) Israel would know that the Lord did not save by sword and spear because the battle was in his, the Lords hands, 1 Samuel 17:45 - 4745 Then said David to the Philistine, 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.

46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.

. David was not being brash or headstrong. He had faith in what God said, that the battle was in Gods hands. He gave credit to whom it belonged, all to God. He was not acting in his own cunning or talent or ability. As Goliath rose up and came forward, David didn't wait, nor did he walk, but he ran to meet him for such is one empowered by faith. As he ran he slang a stone, which hit Goliath in the forehead and brought him down. David ran and stood on Goliath, took the giants own sword and cut off his head. This took the heart out of the Philistine army and they fled. At the same time Gods work manifest in Davids action put heart in the Israeli army and they pursued and killed the Philistines, 1 Samuel 17:48 - 5348 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

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Davids actions were not based upon his own abilities. He bore witness to the power of God by his faith in Gods Word to him. God gave the assurance and David acted by faith. All along David gave the credit where it belonged, to the God of Israel. In this, David was a type of Jesus Christ and his experience pointed to the work that would be finished by Jesus Christ. Our next study will attempt to point out specifics in Christs life that were the antitype of what God did through David.