1 Samuel 17:48

1 Samuel 17:48 says, And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.  When the Philistine army came toward David, he rushed to meet them and their champion, Goliath.  He not only didn't run away, but he ran toward the enemy.  We should also never run from the enemies of God today, but should be ready to meet them head on.  Verse forty-nine adds, And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.  David was armed only with a sling and a few rocks plus his faith in God, but that was enough.  As long as we are faithful to God, He will provide us with all we need to succeed.  The first rock sunk into Goliath's forehead, and he fell face down to the ground.  David had no need of the other rocks, but even with faith it is best to be as prepared as possible when facing the giants in our life.  Verse fifty continues, So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.  As just discussed, David prevailed over Goliath with a sling and a stone,and he had no sword in his hand for afterward.  Again, when we are acting by faith in God, if we need something to be successful, He will provide it.  Verse fifty-one states, Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head thereawith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.  Having no sword of his own, David ran to Goliath,  pulled his sword out of its sheath, and used it to cut off Goliath's head.  Goliath was so confident in his victory that he hadn't even drawn his sword.  He was also there representing the Philistines and their gods, and had said that the people following the one who lost would serve the people of the victor, but the Philistine army ran away in fear instead.  People of the world serving their gods today are still at times so unconcerned with Christians that they don't even draw their weapons against us.  Verse fifty-two adds, And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.  Saul and his army, who had been cowering in fear before Goliath suddenly found the courage to engage in battle.   It may only take one brave Christian to stand up by faith in God against what seems to be a giant by today to inspire other Christians to join the battle.  The Israelites chased the Philistines all the way to their cities.  Verse fifty-three continues, And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.  This says that when the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines they spoiled their tents, but as Matthew Henry points out, they brought the spoils of the war back to their tents.  Of course, since they were attempting to profit materially from their victory, and we are not told that God directed them to do this, they may have indeed spoiled their tents.  We are not called to fight evil in the world today so that we may profit materially from a victory, but instead so that God may be glorified.  Verse fifty-four declares, And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.  David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem, but he kept Goliath's armor in his tent.  Later, Goliath's sword would be preseved behind the ephod in the tabernacle consecrated to God as a memorial to His victory, because ultimately it was God and not David Who slew Goliath.  We need to consecrate our victories as followers of Christ today to God, because He is always the source of our victories.  Verse fifty-five adds, And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.  When Saul saw David go against Goliath, he asked Abner, who had earlier brought David to him to entertain him with the harp, whose son David was, and Abner said he could not tell.  Saul had forgotten David who had been gone from his court for some time.  David had just been a musician and not a champion of Israel.  Sometimes, it may be hard to see God's champions today because we have known them as something unimportant before.  Verse fifty-six continues, And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.  Saul told Abner to find out whose son David was.  We are not told Saul's motive for wanting to know, but David had done what Saul himself had failed to do.  Verse fifty-seven states, And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.  When David returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, with Goliath's head in his hand, Abner brought him to Saul.  Evidently, neither remembered David from his earlier time in the king's court.  We may be just as unmemerable to our fellow Christians today unless we do something that seems miraculous, and that should be okay with us.  David was not looking for praise for himself,  but for glory for God, as we should be doing today as Christians.  Verse fifty-eight adds, And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.  When Saul asked David whose son he was, David said he was the son of Saul’s servant Jesse of Bethlehem.  Whether Saul remembered David at this time or not we are not told.  David did not mention Samuel visiting his father and anointing David as king of Israel, but simply referred to him as Saul’s servant.  David was content to allow God to do things in His own time, and so must we be today.