Day 1125: The winner takes all - 1 Samuel 17 vs 1 - 18

1-3 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.

4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5-7 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armour on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield bearer went before him. 8-10 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

12-16 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. 17-18 And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.” 1 Samuel 17:1-18 English Standard Version

We see that the Philistines were the antagonists here in that they gathered their armies at Socoh, which was in Judah. The two armies stood on each side of a mountain, with a valley between them. But the Philistines had a champion in Goliath, a man of great stature (over 9 feet tall), with armour weighing 125 pounds, and a spearhead of 15 pounds. And the challenge he issued was for a man to fight him, and the people of the loser in the battle would be slaves of the clan of the victor. Can you think of a similar challenge?

We're not told it explicitly in the Bible, but the apostle Paul's words in Romans 5:18-19 speak of the victory Christ gained over sin on behalf of the redeemed. “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.” And in 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 he says: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Praise God that Christ won the battle on our behalf.

But Samuel is telling the story of how David became King of Israel, so in vs 12-16 he tells us that “David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.” His time was spent playing the lyre when Saul was afflicted by an evil spirit, and tending his fathers flock. And when Jesse's sons went to war, David was left at home. But, in the providence of God, he was sent by Jesse with a gift for his brothers, and for their commander.

See how God orders even the least events in the life of the one He is going to use to bring about His purposes. Samuel had annointed David. Now the time that God had appointed was set in motion.