1 Samuel 17 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Samuel 17 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Israel’s first king, Saul, was appointed in approximately 1050 B.C.

• The story of David and Goliath took place several years after Saul became king, probably around 1023 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• David – He was selected by God to eventually become the second king of Israel.  

• Saul – God selected Saul to be the first king of Israel. He was from the tribe of Benjamin.

• Goliath – A giant Philistine man who challenged any Israelite soldier to fight him.

WHERE:

• Jesse and his sons lived in Bethlehem.

• The Philistine army was camped between Socoh and Azekah.

• The Israelite army was camped in the Valley of Elah.

• Goliath was from Gath.

OUTLINE:

• GOLIATH’S CHALLENGE (17:1-11):

  • The Philistines brought an army to Socoh to fight against the Israelites and Saul.

  • Every day, a giant man from the Philistine camp challenged the Israelites to send a champion to fight against him in one-on-one combat.

  • The giant man’s name was Goliath, and the text says he stood at a height of 6 cubits and a span (approximately 9.75 ft or 3 meters).

  • He challenged the Israelites for 40 days in a row, and he mocked them and their God because they were all too cowardly to fight him.

• DAVID ACCEPTS GOLIATH’S CHALLENGE (17:12-39):

  • Three of David’s older brothers were part of Saul’s army, but David was at home caring for his father’s sheep.

  • One day, David’s father sent him to the battlefield to deliver food to his brothers.

  • While at the battlefield, David heard Goliath’s challenge and saw the fear in the eyes of the Israelite solders.

  • David spoke to king Saul and told him he would kill Goliath.

  • Saul dismissed David because he was a “youth,” but David insisted, telling Saul how he had killed lions and bears to protect his father’s sheep.

  • David said to Saul, “Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

  • Saul eventually agreed to let David fight.

• DAVID VS GOLIATH (17:40-58):

  • David went to meet Goliath with a sling and 5 smooth stones.

  • When Goliath saw the champion of Israel, he distained him, saying, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?”

  • David responded, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.”

  • As Goliath moved towards David, David charged, loaded a stone into his sling, and launched it at his Philistine enemy.

  • The rock hit Goliath in the forehead and he fell facedown to the ground.

  • David took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head.

  • The Philistines camp scattered, and the Israelites chased them back to their cities of Gath and Ekron.

  • David took Goliath’s armor to his tent and Goliath’s head to Jerusalem.

APPLICATION:

• David gave the glory of his victory to God even though his exceptional slinging precision was probably the result of thousands of hours of practice.

• David could have easily attributed his victory to himself and his skill.

• What can we learn from the fact that he didn’t?

• When we succeed at something in life through talent, it’s God who deserves the credit.

• After all, it’s God who made our brains, God who made our bodies, God who sustains our lives long enough for us to become talented in anything, and it is only by God’s permission that we are allowed to succeed.  

• Be careful that your talent achieved through hard work doesn’t become a point of self-glorification.