I Samuel 17:10 “And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”

This verse set the stage for the story that we know as David and Goliath. As I reflect upon this battle, this fight between a giant and a young man, I recall the words that Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” David fought against Goliath not for Israel, but because Goliath defied the name of God of the armies of Israel and the Lord of hosts. We are in the same battle today with everything around us that defies the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. David went into battle with the armor and weapons that God had prepared him with for this battle; and we as believers must fight our Goliath with the armor and weapons that God has given us.

David approached Goliath without any fear and once Goliath fell the battle changed with the Philistine army now running away in fear. The army of Israel and Judah arose and pursued the Philistine’s army all the way to the gates of their city. David not only defeated Goliath but he inspired the army of Israel to battle. This battle between David and Goliath was a turning point in David’s life. From this point on he is no longer a shepherd, but a warrior. Not only a warrior, but a man over the men of war in Saul’s army. And yet before all of this Saul really did not know much about David. Yes, he played in his court and was Saul’s armor bearer. Saul even know him enough to love him greatly. Yet he did not know much about his family or his life as a shepherd.

David’s victory over Goliath was also a win for his family. David would no longer be a shepherd for his father, but instead made his father’s house free from taxes, and other obligations to King Saul. The other part of this victory entitled him to great riches as well as Saul’s daughter in marriage. However, these promises might not have materialized. We know that David did not marry Saul’s oldest daughter Merab, but was given his daughter Michal for the price of hundred (David give two hundred) foreskins of Philistine warriors. In I Samuel 22:3 we are told that David took his father and mother to Moab probably to protect them from Saul. This was early in his journey of running from Saul. These examples provide examples of how Saul ruled his kingdom. It was not God’s kingdom, but Saul’s kingdom.

In I Samuel 17:25 Saul was to reward the man who killed Goliath with riches, his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. As I study David’s life these promises were not kept. David’s defeating Goliath was a great victory for Israel and David at the time it happened. However, as time moved forward this became a past victory in David’s career but started a source of troubling issues for Saul. The woman of Israel would sing praise after for David after his battles against the Philistines lifting him up as a greater warrior than Saul. This cause Saul to become extremely jealous of David. What more could they ascribe to David? Perhaps the Kingdom. This victory over Goliath set the stage for David to fight another battle. This battle was a lot more difficult and would develop David into a man after God’s own heart.