1 Samuel 17:1 says, Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. The Philistines had invaded Israel, something Matthew Henry says wouldn't have happened if the people of Israel had remained faithful to God. We as the church are God's people today, and we cannot afford to allow the world to invade us. If we begin to turn away from any of God's teachings, we are in danger of allowing this to happen. Verse two adds, And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. Saul and the army of Isreal were armed for battle against the Philistines across a valley. Saul had evidently gotten over being totally controlled by the evil spirit at this time and was ready to lead Israel, but God still wasn't with him. People today who have been depressed, who don't have a personal relationship with God, may get better by some method, and Matthew Henry says it may have been David's playing the harp that improved Saul’s disposition, but they will never be truly happy and satisfied. He also says that instead of remaining around the palace as Saul’s armor bearer, that even though David had been anointed king, he went back home to tend his father’s sheep. David had not gotten puffed up with his own importance, and neither should we. Verse three continues, And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. As stated, the army of the Philistines and the army of Israel faced off against each other across a valley. We need a dividing line between the people of the world and us as Christians today, as we will always be at war with them spiritually. What we need to pray for is that we will always be acting under God's direction and by His power as we battle against evil in the world. Verse four states, And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. The Philistines sent out a champion to challenge the people of Israel. He was a giant, that I have always heard was around nine feet tall, but Matthew Henry says he was almost twelve feet tall. Either way, he towered over any of the Israelites, even Saul himself. We may face challenges that seem like giants today, but if we are faithful to God, they will never be more powerful than we are. Verse five adds, And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. Verse six continues, And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. Goliath was heavily armored, and had to have been an imposing figure standing tall before the army of Israel. We may face imposing looking challenges today, some which even defy us to put our faith in God, but God will always be bigger if we will just remain faithful to Him. Verse seven continues, And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. Not only was Goliath armor clad, but he also had some impressive weapons, both offensive and defensive, with him. Looking from simple physical view, he would have seemed undefeatable to the people of Israel. We may face what seems to be impossible odds today physically or materialistically, but if God is with us, we don't need to be concerned, because He has already ensured us the ultimate victory. Verse eight declares, And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. Goliath issued a challenge to the people of Israel. He was a Philistine and they were a part of Saul's army, so instead of the forces of the armies fighting, why did they not send out a man to face him one-on-one. If we are presented a challenge to face what seems to be impossible odds today as we fight against evil in the world, as a follower of Christ, are we willing to face the challenge? Verse nine adds, If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. Goliath proposed a winner take all battle, with the losers serving the winners. We actually are in a winner take all battle against the world today, but as Christians, we have God on our side if we are obedient to Him. Verse ten continues, And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. Goliath issued a defiant challenge to the army of Israel, asking them to send out a man too face them. I believe we often face similar challenges today, though we may not have a physical giant standing before us. We are challenged to stand before what often seem to be impossible odds as the world fights against God today. Verse eleven concludes, When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. When Saul and his army heard this, they were greatly dismayed and were afraid. They at this time were not God's army, but Saul’s army, and they had evidently forgotten about the power of God. If we begin to rely on our own power and forget about God and His power, we may be afraid to face the giants that we encounter.
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