“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30 ESV, to be continued)
St. Andrews Orthodox Church
Patras, Greece
Patras, Greece
I Samuel 17:1-18
Goliath's Reign
=One of the aforementioned accomplishments of Saul was the ability to defeat his enemies in battle. The Philistines have been a thorn in the side of the Israelites for quite some time and once again we come across a meeting of the 2 armies.
=On this occasion, however, we meet a champion of the Philistine army named Goliath. Ancient warfare was often fought in this manner- each side would send out a champion and whichever side’s champion won would win the battle.
=A cubit was 18 inches long and a span was 9 inches. This made Goliath 9 feet 9 inches tall.
=Goliath’s coat of armor weighed about 125 pounds. A weaver’s beam (which his spear looked like) was the rod that connected a loom. They were stout and weighed up to 17 pounds. The spearhead itself weighed 15 pounds.
=The Israelites were scared to death of this giant and rightfully so. For 40 straight days Goliath tried to challenge an Israelite champion to a fight but all were afraid to do so.
=During the days that Goliath made his challenges David was at home tending to the sheep.
=One of the aforementioned accomplishments of Saul was the ability to defeat his enemies in battle. The Philistines have been a thorn in the side of the Israelites for quite some time and once again we come across a meeting of the 2 armies.
=On this occasion, however, we meet a champion of the Philistine army named Goliath. Ancient warfare was often fought in this manner- each side would send out a champion and whichever side’s champion won would win the battle.
=A cubit was 18 inches long and a span was 9 inches. This made Goliath 9 feet 9 inches tall.
=Goliath’s coat of armor weighed about 125 pounds. A weaver’s beam (which his spear looked like) was the rod that connected a loom. They were stout and weighed up to 17 pounds. The spearhead itself weighed 15 pounds.
=The Israelites were scared to death of this giant and rightfully so. For 40 straight days Goliath tried to challenge an Israelite champion to a fight but all were afraid to do so.
=During the days that Goliath made his challenges David was at home tending to the sheep.
I Samuel 17:19-37
David Arrives
=When the morning comes and the battle lines are drawn David leaves home with the provisions for his brothers fighting in the battle.
=Upon arrival David goes down into the camp to talk to his brothers and he overhears Goliath’s challenge to his fellow Israelites.
=As every other Israelite runs away in horror David asks what honors will be bestowed upon the man who can defeat Goliath.
=Not only would the winner get great riches and get to marry the king’s daughter they would be free from taxes and forced labor.
=When David’s brother hears him asking about Goliath he doesn’t recognize David’s intentions in wanting to know what the reward would be. David is trying to find out what the reward would be because he knows that Yahweh will give Goliath into his hand- his brother thinks he wants to know the reward for purely selfish gain.
=When David gets to Saul everyone sees the lowly shepherd who played the lyre and sang songs. David knew that Yahweh was on his side though. David reassured everyone that because he’d defended the sheep from bears and lions that the Lord would give him Goliath.
=When the morning comes and the battle lines are drawn David leaves home with the provisions for his brothers fighting in the battle.
=Upon arrival David goes down into the camp to talk to his brothers and he overhears Goliath’s challenge to his fellow Israelites.
=As every other Israelite runs away in horror David asks what honors will be bestowed upon the man who can defeat Goliath.
=Not only would the winner get great riches and get to marry the king’s daughter they would be free from taxes and forced labor.
=When David’s brother hears him asking about Goliath he doesn’t recognize David’s intentions in wanting to know what the reward would be. David is trying to find out what the reward would be because he knows that Yahweh will give Goliath into his hand- his brother thinks he wants to know the reward for purely selfish gain.
=When David gets to Saul everyone sees the lowly shepherd who played the lyre and sang songs. David knew that Yahweh was on his side though. David reassured everyone that because he’d defended the sheep from bears and lions that the Lord would give him Goliath.
I Samuel 17:38-58
David vs. Goliath
=Saul thought that he would give David a hand and let David wear his armor. We have all been painted the image of a little boy who stood before the king that day and had “big boy” armor put on him but the truth was that David was probably anywhere from 15 - 17 years old at this point.
=David did not refuse to wear the armor into battle because it was way too big for him and he felt foolish as a little boy wearing grown armor- no, David’s answer was he did not want to wear Saul’s armor because he was not battle tested in it.
=Yes, it was true that Saul was a large man and bigger than anyone else in Israel but the truth is that nowhere in the passage does it talk about Saul putting the armor on him and David looking ridiculous because he was just a little boy.
=It also never has any mention of David refusing to wear the armor because it was too big for him- he did not want to wear it because he didn’t want it to hinder him on the field.
=David decides to meet Goliath on the battlefield with his shepherd’s staff and his sling- the weapons he would have been familiar with.
=Saul thought that he would give David a hand and let David wear his armor. We have all been painted the image of a little boy who stood before the king that day and had “big boy” armor put on him but the truth was that David was probably anywhere from 15 - 17 years old at this point.
=David did not refuse to wear the armor into battle because it was way too big for him and he felt foolish as a little boy wearing grown armor- no, David’s answer was he did not want to wear Saul’s armor because he was not battle tested in it.
=Yes, it was true that Saul was a large man and bigger than anyone else in Israel but the truth is that nowhere in the passage does it talk about Saul putting the armor on him and David looking ridiculous because he was just a little boy.
=It also never has any mention of David refusing to wear the armor because it was too big for him- he did not want to wear it because he didn’t want it to hinder him on the field.
=David decides to meet Goliath on the battlefield with his shepherd’s staff and his sling- the weapons he would have been familiar with.
David vs. Goliath Continued
=Goliath compared himself to a dog because dog’s were treated with contempt in that society.
=Notice that the very things that Goliath says he will do to David, (giving his flesh to the birds and to the beasts) David promises to do to Goliath but David promises to do them in order to prove the existence of Yahweh.
=After using the sling to bury a rock in Goliath’s forehead (remember that a sling could hurl a rock at great speeds) David uses Goliath’s own sword to behead him.
=Goliath compared himself to a dog because dog’s were treated with contempt in that society.
=Notice that the very things that Goliath says he will do to David, (giving his flesh to the birds and to the beasts) David promises to do to Goliath but David promises to do them in order to prove the existence of Yahweh.
=After using the sling to bury a rock in Goliath’s forehead (remember that a sling could hurl a rock at great speeds) David uses Goliath’s own sword to behead him.