God Gets the Glory in the Impossible.

1 Samuel Chapter 17

     After chapter 16 introduces us to the transition from Saul to David we now get to see one of the best known stories all of the Bible, David and Goliath. Chapter 16 ended with a summary statement about David’s providential placement into Saul’s court as both musician and armor bearer (quite diverse talents) and the events of chapter 17 happen somewhere within this period of time.

     The narrator places the pieces on the table for us to see, setting the stage once again for God to work in the impossible. As is commonplace throughout the Samuel narrative the Israelites are at war with the Philistines only this time we are introduced to an ancient war custom that was sometimes used in those days. Each army is set on hillsides opposite of one another with a valley in between. Typically the armies would line up and charge one another in the valley. Whoever won the melee would win the battle. However, this “win” would often come at the high price of many lives. Even if you subdued your enemies there would be far fewer of them to make your slaves and far fewer of you to enjoy your victory. Thus we are introduced to the custom of fighting with a champion. The concept is very simple. Each side chooses their best warrior, the two fight in mortal combat and the winning army gets to subdue and enslave the losing army. This way, in theory, only one person has to die. The rest just become subservient to the other nation.

     As we are introduced to Goliath we quickly realize why the Philistines wanted to battle via the champion. The narrator takes pains to describe Goliath to us in detail. He is almost 10 feet tall, he carries massive weapons and impenetrable armor, an imposing force that any normal man couldn’t hope to overcome. This is exactly what the narrator wants us to see. Goliath will be impossible to defeat without specific intervention from God Himself. All of the warriors of Israel feel totally inadequate to attempt competing against such a foe. So, pick the least prepared and under-qualified person to face such a foe (at least by man’s eyes), enter David, the least son of Jesse, a boy who watches the sheep and has zero combat experience.

     David is innocently sent to the battle to supply his older brothers just when Goliath his humiliating Israel and seeking an opponent. The story is so well known that we need not belabor the point any more.  

God’s glory shines through David in an amazing way because he was willing and confident to be used by God when he saw the need before him. The impossible happens and God gets the credit. 

Just like with Hannah, just like with Samuel, just like with Jonathon, the theme continues.

Lessons:

How confident are we with our God? Even further, how often do we give God the glory when he works in our lives for our good? How might God be able to use us if we let him do His work for His glory? No matter who we are, what talents God had given us or what situation we find ourselves in, we need to seek to give God the glory in our lives and through our actions. Weather we have powerful influence over nations or just those in our own home, God should receive the glory in our lives.