I Samuel Chapter 17
Please read: I Samuel 17 –
Chapter 17 is the events that so many children’s Bible lessons have been written about. This gathering of the Philistines against Israel was inevitable as you may recall that Israel had led an attack against them back in chapter 14. This time Israel had a much larger army, but the Philistines came with one seemingly unfair advantage. They came with a giant named Goliath.
The Israelites still had not learned that they would always have the advantage if their turned their hearts to God. But instead, they looked at their own military power and compared it to the strength and height of one giant and “they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” But David who had a heart for God saw the situation differently. He saw one wicked man attempting to defy the army of the LIVING GOD.
Let's Reflect
1. David has been called to play music for Saul to soothe his emotional state, but we also learn that he still went home from time to time to do what?
2. David’s father Jesse sent David with provisions for his brothers who were encamped with the army. His older brother overheard David speak to Israel’s situation of facing the giant. How did his brother react to what he had said?
3. When David volunteered to take on Goliath how did Saul react?
4. David came with a spiritual resume of experience. What did David tell Saul that convinced him to let David try?
5. Saul attempted to give David protection by giving him armor pieces to wear, but they did not fit him right, so he took them off. What did he take with him to fight the giant?
6. The giant scoffed at David and swore at him. You would think that David would have backed down at this point seeing such a large man who was threatening to cut him to pieces and feed him to the birds. According to verse 45 how did David respond?
7. According to verse 47 why was David so confident against such terrible odds?
8. What did the Philistines do when they saw their giant dead on the ground at the hand of a young Israelite?
9. You can imagine that amongst the Israelite army the men stood in deafening silence as they watched David take the field thinking he was about to be slaughtered. They were frozen in fear and silence as they watched him sling a stone at the giant that knocked him out. What does the Bible say about the men of Israel’s army in verse 52?
10. The chapter ends with Saul’s inquiry about David’s family. He had promised his daughter in marriage to the one who took out Goliath. Saul may have forgotten who David’s father was or his memory was failing him also. Saul asked David directly whose son he was, and his answer is important. What was David’s answer?
