Who Do You Think You Are, Goliath? 1 Sam. 17:1-54 :: By Donald Whitchard
1 Samuel 17:1-54; Isaiah 54:17; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 6:10-18
Summary: One of the unfortunate realities about living in this world is the existence of bullies who intimidate and threaten others. The Bible describes one such bully named Goliath. His threats against Israel and God ceased when he encountered David and one smooth stone.
Bullies have existed in this fallen world ever since Cain killed Abel at the beginning of civilization (Genesis 4:8). However, as the days get darker spiritually and the love of people grows cold (Matthew 24:12; Romans 1:18-32), the problem of bullying is only going to grow like a cancer across the world.
Face it; people are getting meaner every day, and one of the ways it is displayed is by either intimidating, threatening, or driving someone to the point of despair, where the victim would rather end their life than have to face one more day of being treated like so much garbage. We know that children deal with bullies every day at school and then come home to a bully who lives with them. People work with bullies in their jobs. There are bullies among our neighbors and, unfortunately, bullies who occupy the pews and pulpits of churches.
Bullies are everywhere, and they inhabit every sphere of our lives at one time or another. Bullying is defined as “the use of threats of coercion to intimidate others. It is the activity of repeated aggressive behavior intended to hurt another person, either physically or emotionally.” It can include verbal harassment and threats, physical assaults, or coercion. Coercion is defined as “the use of intimidation to force someone into doing your will.” So, bullying is characterized by someone who behaves in certain ways in order to gain power over others.
Here are some other defining characteristics of a bully. They lack empathy for others. They feel the need to control others. They get angry quickly, constantly remind others of their respective weaknesses, pick on those who don’t comply with their expectations, make others feel afraid through threats, and defy anyone who would share or correct them. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages but are really nothing more than small-minded, evil-hearted people who want the power to control those who live around them.
The Bible says that Satan and his demons are nothing more than bullies who want to either intimidate sinners into rejecting Christ, eventually joining them in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15) or use the power of guilt and shame into preventing Christians from accomplishing the work that God has called them to do. However, we do not have to put up with any bully’s actions or words. There comes a time when we no longer tolerate their action and stand up for what is right and proper. Anyone who has true faith in God and a bit of courage in their heart can see the bullies in their lives for who they are and put them in their place.
1 Samuel 17:1-54 describes one such incident that not only put a bully in his place but ended up taking a permanent dirt nap, courtesy of the shepherd boy who would one day be king of Israel, David.
Who is the bully in this story, and how does the Bible describe him? Verses 1-4 state that the bully, the giant by the name of Goliath, was a Philistine, a member of one of the Canaanite tribes left over from Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land. They were a powerful, warlike people known for their expertise in metallurgy, creating armor of superior quality and other weapons of war. They were also pagans who worshipped the fish deity Dagon (Judges 16:23; 1 Samuel 5:2; 1 Chronicles 10:10). They occupied an area extending from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the foothills of Judah in the east.
Goliath was a pagan idolater, a Gentile, and the sworn enemy of Israel and the One True God. In Verses 4-7, the Philistines and the Israelites have met on the field of battle, preparing to fight in order to control the entirety of the nation or a portion of it. The Philistines challenged the Israelites to settle the battle by sending out their best warrior. These two warriors would then meet between the opposing armies, fight to the death, and the army that loses the battle would become the servants (slaves) of the victors. This type of warfare was not uncommon in ancient times.
Goliath was the chosen warrior of the Philistines. He was no ordinary soldier. He was nine feet, nine inches in height (v.4). He wore copper armor that covered his body from head to toe, weighing a total of “5,000 shekels,” or about 200 pounds. If you think that is ridiculous, consider the fact that the average soldier in the U.S. Army today carries over 100 pounds of gear and weapons with them when they enter into battle. (Ask any veteran of Vietnam, Afghanistan, or Iraq.)
Goliath also wore wrappings of copper that covered his legs (v.6). He carried a spear that was compared to a “weaver’s beam,” several feet long and very thick (v.7). The head of his spear weighed “600 shekels of iron,” which is about 25 pounds. Walking before Goliath was another soldier who carried another shield to help protect him from arrows or spears used by potential enemies. Upon seeing Goliath, it looked as if he were indestructible and unconquerable.
Goliath challenged Israel to send out a warrior to fight him, mocking them and calling them cowards (v.8). He did this twice a day for forty days (v.10). He is a persistent bully who will not back down, determined to get what he wants from the Israelites. In turn, the presence of this giant literally left the soldiers and the king of Israel, Saul, paralyzed with fear. They had no one within their ranks who could meet the challenge. Goliath possessed all the characteristics of a bully as he taunted Israel each day. He was big, intimidating, bold, persistent, out for blood, and wanted to take away the power of God’s people and to have total control over them.
It seemed that there was no way out for the Israelites, or so it seemed. Then David showed up. What he would do to this foe of God is a lesson for all of us in that we do not have to take any bully’s actions and that, in Christ, we have the power and authority to not only stand up to these people but to put them in their place and expose them for the cowards they are. No child of God is to be anyone’s “doormat” or “victim.” Humbleness does not mean complacency in allowing anyone to continually harass or harm you through evil intentions or deeds.
Here is where David’s boldness comes in (vv. 23-26). He sees and hears Goliath’s threats, including the horrid blasphemies coming from the giant’s mouth. This was too much for David. Hear what he says to the army of Israel: “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
In other words, who does Goliath think he is by trashing the name and holiness of the LORD? Where does this godless pagan get the idea that he can stand there threatening not only the people of Israel but also get away with blaspheming the name of God?
It is this shepherd boy who decides that Goliath’s big mouth and seemingly unstoppable appearance ends today! This bully is not only going to be stopped but killed. He will not live to see another day where he can spew not only threats against people but dare to stand before God and defy Him as well.
Where is that type of boldness among God’s people today? We tend all too often to merely sit back, let the world trash and blaspheme the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and do nothing more than shrug our shoulders and chalk up their behavior to a characteristic of the end times and leave it at that. We are all guilty of this, and it has to stop NOW!!
The bullying and intimidation of empty-headed atheists and skeptics (Psalm 14:1-3; 51:1-3) have gone on long enough, and we need to be armed with the battle gear of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-18) to not only challenge their unbelief but also draw them to the Savior. We need to retrieve our backbones and stand up to the world’s evils. We are told to “occupy” until Jesus returns (Luke 19:13). That means going out into the world with all its problems and vileness and stand for Christ in holy boldness in our jobs and classrooms. And I would like to remind my fellow ministers to do the same by standing behind their pulpits and fearlessly preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-5) even if there are people in your congregation who would want to bully you into silence and submission.
Deep down, they know that the Word of God is true and that for all their arrogant and intimidating swagger, they are nothing more than liars and cowards (Romans 3:4). How many blessings have been lost because some “church boss” (3 John 9-10) bullied the pastor, deacons, or others into complying with their tactics that would threaten their control, as if they were the head of the church? I tremble for people who would defy the will of God in this manner because they will hear the frightening words of Jesus at the end of days to find out that their bullying led to nothing more than an eternity of terror that will engulf them forever (Matthew 7:21-23; Revelation 20:11-15).
David’s “holy boldness” gave him the courage and ability to not only face Goliath’s threats but tell him what he planned to do with him once the battle was over (1 Samuel 17:42-47). All it took was one smooth stone hitting Goliath in the one place where his armor would not protect him (v.49). David ended up cutting off Goliath’s head with his own sword (v.51).
All of the boldness of the Philistine army evaporated. Their champion was dead, and now it was Israel’s turn to chase out these pagans from their land and claim the victory (vv. 52-53). In just one moment, the history of Israel changed. They had witnessed the bravery, boldness, and dedication to God that David possessed (vv.55-58). This was another steppingstone that David took on his way to being the next king of Israel. However, the next bully he would face would be Saul himself, and years of persecution would follow. It all helped David in molding his character and dependence upon the LORD.
David would not allow God’s name to be dragged through the mud of the pagan world and would not let the enemies of Israel live long enough to carry out their threats or coercion. We need such people of God today as the days draw nearer to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is no time to cower in our bunkers but to face the giants and deal with them. Why else would God supply us with the armor to fight the powers of darkness? Sharpen your swords, grab your smooth stones, and get back into the battle for the souls of men. Our King demands nothing less.
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