Introduction
An incident during the reign of Saul showing David’s great faith in the God of Israel.
Questions
1. A cubit is from the finger tip to the elbow (18 inches or 46 cm) and a span is from little finger tip to thumb tip (9 inches or 23 cm). How tall was Goliath?
v 4 ... Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span ...
He was 9 feet 9 inches or about 3 metres tall.
2. What does David have to go home for?
v 15 Now David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
3. Which comments from David show his trust in the LORD?
v 26 David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “... who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
v 37 David said, “The LORD who 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.”
v 45 and 46 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today, the LORD will deliver you into my hand. ...
Summary Points
- v 1 to 11 The armies of the Philistines and Israel are facing each other. Goliath, a Philistine giant, challenges the Israelites to find a soldier to fight with him
- v 12 to 30 David is sent by his father to take food supplies for the army. He is surprised that no one has offered to fight Goliath who repeatedly defies the God of Israel
- v 31 to 37 David volunteers to fight Goliath. He tells Saul that the LORD who helped him against a lion and a bear will help him against this Philistine
- v 38 to 49 David shows his trust in God. He tells Goliath that he fights him in the name of the God of Israel. David kills Goliath hitting him on the forehead with a stone from a sling
- v 50 to 58 The Philistines flee pursued and defeated by Israel. Saul enquires about David's father and David tells him that he is the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite