HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

David was a young shepherd boy, the son of Jesse. He had three brothers who had gone to war alongside King Saul against the Philistines.

Goliath was their champion.

He was a giant who would come out each day and taunt the Israelites, including David’s brothers. He would challenge them to send someone to fight him. But not only would no one step up to battle this giant, but they also fled.

David’s father Jesse asked his young son to bring some food to his brothers on the front lines.

So David left his sheep in Bethlehem in the care of a shepherd and took off to the Valley of Elah to bring the grain and bread to his brothers.

David Meets Goliath

David arrives and he hears Goliath taunting the Israelites. So he asks what will be done for the man who can defeat Goliath.

He is told the King will give him great wealth, his daughter in marriage and his family will be tax-exempt.

David apparently thinks this is worth the battle, so he tells King Saul that he will fight this giant.

Saul essentially laughs him off because he is just a child.

But David was not about to be laughed off. He basically reads Saul his resume and tells him of the time he killed a lion and a bear to protect the sheep.

He says this “uncircumcised Philistine” is just like a wild animal and that the same God who helped him defeat the lion and bear will allow him to defeat Goliath.

David did not put his faith in his own abilities when he told Saul about his conquests. He knew he had spiritual authority given by God and this enemy was no match for the God of Israel.

So Saul agrees and then proceeds to dress David in his own armour.

Saul’s Armour

Now it’s important to note that King Saul was a VERY tall man and David was a teenage boy. So his armour was not ideal for David.

1 Samuel 17:39 says:

And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

Saul’s armour would not work for David because it was too big.

It was not meant for David, it was meant for Saul.

David tried to make it work because well…Saul was the king! But spiritual authority doesn’t come by forcing someone else’s armour to fit you in battle!

Saul’s armour would not work for David because it was too big. It was not meant for David, it was meant for Saul. David tried to make it work because Saul was the king! But spiritual authority doesn’t come by forcing someone else’s armour on you.

All David wanted or needed was the 5 smooth stones he picked up off the ground, his slingshot, and the God of Israel.

David took out Goliath with one shot and cut off his head with his Goliath’s own sword.

David didn’t need Saul’s armour. He only needed to put on the full armour of God, the Holy One of Israel.

His armour was his faith in God!