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1 Samuel 17:31–58 David and Goliath, Part 2

[Study Aired May 11, 2026]

As indicated in the previous study, chapter 17 is divided into two parts. We dealt with the first part last week. The second part, which is the study today, highlights how David came to the battlefield where Goliath was defying the armies of Israel, and his victory over Goliath. 

David’s enquiry about the reward for the one who was able to defeat Goliath brought him before Saul, where he demonstrated his bravery to Saul because of his past dealing with a lion and a bear. The study ends with David’s victory over Goliath and its impact on the people of Israel.   

Saul Sends for David

1Sa 17:31  And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him. 
1Sa 17:32  And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 
1Sa 17:33  And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 

In the previous study, we looked at David enquiring from the people gathered for battle about the reward for conquering Goliath. David’s enquiry somehow came before Saul who requested David to be sent to him. Verse 31 therefore brings to the fore the providence of the Lord, which entails God’s sovereign, wise and loving governance over all creation, upholding and directing every detail to fulfill His purposes.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

David represents the Lord’s elect. David assuring Saul in verse 32 that no Israelites should be worried but that he was ready to fight Goliath is to let us know that it is the Lord’s elect who are destined to fight and overcome the flesh in this age. The fact that David said that Israel should not be worried about Goliath means that our victory will ultimately become the victory of our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world and of the world. In other words, we are the saviors of the world. Our victory over the flesh is what will bring about victory over the flesh for the whole of the human race.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.   

Saul saying to David in verse 33 that David could not fight the Philistines because he is young and that Goliath is a veteran in warfare is to let us know the false doctrine in the hearts and minds of our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world regarding the fact that we cannot win the war against our flesh. 

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

Saul’s assertion that Goliath is a veteran of war is valid because since creation, the flesh (Goliath) has dominated every human being except Jesus Christ and His Christ (the few chosen), who are given dominion over the flesh.

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

1Sa 17:34  And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 
1Sa 17:35  And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

The father’s sheep in verse 34 signifies the church system of this world or Babylon where the leaders are the lion and the bear which destroy the Lord’s people (sheep) through the false doctrines in their mouth.   

Pro 28:15  As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. 

Eze 22:25  There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.  

In verse 35, David went after the lion and the bear and delivered the sheep from their mouth. That is to say that as the Lord’s elect, represented by David, we are to deliver our brothers and sisters from the false doctrines from these false teachers and apostles (lions and bears) through the truth of the word of the Lord. As we are aware, the truth is like hail that destroys false doctrines propagated by these false teachers and apostles. 

Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

1Sa 17:36  Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 
1Sa 17:37  David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

In these verses, David was counting on his experience in dealing with the lion and the bear as a precursor to overcoming Goliath, the uncircumcised Philistine who had defied the armies of the living God. This shows us that the Lord prepares our hands to war through the experiences we go through, to make us overcomers of our flesh. These experiences signify the judgment or suffering we endure, which destroys our carnal minds and actions.

Psa 144:1  A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 

Psa 18:34  He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 

David given the nod to fight Goliath, the Philistine, by Saul in verse 37, is the Lord creating circumstances for us to go through suffering with the purpose of destroying our flesh. 

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

David Puts On Saul’s Armor

1Sa 17:38  And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 
1Sa 17:39  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. 

To understand these verses, we need to look at Saul’s armor in comparison with the armor of Goliath, the Philistines. It is instructive to note that both armor were the same in terms of the material used. Both had a helmet of brass for the protection of the head and a coat of mail for the chest. 

1Sa 17:5  And he (Goliath) 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.  

As we have indicated, Goliath represents our flesh, and therefore his armor or the armor of Saul signifies our confidence in the flesh. As Paul showed us in the letter to the Philippians, our confidence in the flesh relates to our works in the law of Moses, which makes us have confidence in our own righteousness. In other words, we think our own righteousness will save us. 

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 
Php 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 
Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 
Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 
Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 
Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 
Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  

We must remember that Saul in this case, represents us, His elect, when we were in the church system of this world or Babylon where we had confidence in our own righteousness. In verse 39, David told Saul that he was not used to his armor and therefore could not use it, indicating that the law of Moses which we were used to in Babylon, cannot win us the war over our flesh.

For example, the Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus (she represents Babylon when Jesus met her) had confidence in the flesh or their way of worship on the mountain, but Jesus made her aware that it is those who worship the Lord in truth and in spirit who have no confidence in the flesh. 

Joh 4:20  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 
Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

It is as we turn to the Lord to worship Him in truth and in spirit that demonstrates that we have no confidence in the flesh. 

David Arms Himself

1Sa 17:40  And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 
1Sa 17:41  And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 

David armed himself with three weapons – the shepherd’s stick (the staff), five smooth stones from a stream, and a sling in his hand. David’s preparation to fight Goliath emphasizes how we are to put on the whole armor of God so that we may stand against the wiles of the devil, who empowers our flesh. 

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Let’s take a critical look at how David armed himself. Firstly, he took his staff. In a shepherd’s world, a staff is used to guide the sheep in the right direction. The staff is also what we lean on to help us to walk. In other words, the staff guides and helps us with our walk and what guides or helps with our walk is the word of the Lord. 

Exo 21:19  If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.

Psa 119:105  Nun Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 

The staff representing the word of the Lord also means that it signifies the Lord’s indignation or the fire of the word of the Lord which destroys our flesh. It is the most potent weapon to possess as it destroys the flesh (Goliath).

Isa 10:5  O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

The five stones chosen by David being made smooth by the brook is likened to gold, which refers to the word of the Lord. This emphasizes the importance of the truth of the word of the Lord in our victory over the flesh. The fact that there were five stones suggests that it is by grace through faith (the significance of the number 5) that we are given to understand the word of the Lord. 

Job 22:24  Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.   

Job 14:19  The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. 

The sling is for the hurling of stones against Goliath. As indicated, the stones in the brook represent the word of the Lord which is the sword of the spirit.   

1Ch 12:2  They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin. 

Jdg 20:16  Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss. 

David drawing near to the Philistine after arming himself means that our understanding of the word of the Lord is what makes us ready to wage war against our flesh.  

1Sa 17:42  And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 
1Sa 17:43  And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 
1Sa 17:44  And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 

Goliath having disdain for David, teasing him for coming to him with a stave as if he was a dog, cursing and intimidating him, is to reveal how our flesh is puffed up with pride.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The pride of our flesh is the result of the healing of our deadly wound, making the whole world wonder after the flesh and thinking that no man can make war against it. 

Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 
Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

The Battle is the Lord’s

1Sa 17:45  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
1Sa 17:46  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 
1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. 

We see that while confronting Goliath, the Philistine, David spoke the word of the Lord to the effect that he comes to Goliath in the name of the Lord. The Lord enjoins us to speak the word, because His word will accomplish what it is sent out to do. 

Isa 55:11 “So shall My Word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to me void (useless, without result) without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it”. (AMP) 

2 Co 4:13: “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak”. (NKJV) 

We can see in verse 46 that David demonstrated his faith in the fact that he was certain that the Lord would grant him victory over Goliath as he mentioned to Goliath that he would feed his carcass to the fowls of the air and wild beasts. We must realize that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds of our flesh, casting down every imagination and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

Our faith is the shield that protects us from the fiery darts of the devil, who empowers our flesh. We are to put on the full armor of the Lord daily in our walk with Christ. It is not the physical armor that saves us. It is the Lord fighting our battles for us that brings us victory.  This is the Lord’s armor for us to put on daily:

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The Slaying of Goliath

1Sa 17:48  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. 
1Sa 17:49  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. 
1Sa 17:50  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. 
1Sa 17:51  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 therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. 

As indicated, the stone, which represents the word of the Lord, is what grants us the victory through faith. It is instructive to note that the stone smote Goliath, the Philistine, in his forehead. The forehead here signifies the carnal mind of our flesh, which is destroyed through the truth of the word of the Lord. The fact that it was mentioned in verse 50 that there was no sword in the hand of David is to demonstrate to us that our victory is wholly the work of the Lord. That is why David said that the battle is the Lord’s. 

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The cutting off of the head of Goliath by David is to emphasize the destruction of the carnal mind of our flesh, which is enmity against the Lord. The fleeing of the Philistines when they saw that Goliath had been killed is to let us know that as we overcome the sin which easily besets us in our lives, it becomes  easier to overcome other sins of our flesh. 

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Whose Son is this?

1Sa 17:52  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. 
1Sa 17:53  And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. 
1Sa 17:54  And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent. 
1Sa 17:55  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. 
1Sa 17:56  And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is. 
1Sa 17:57  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. 
1Sa 17:58  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. 

These verses show us our role as saviors of the world. The victory of David resulted in the Israelites gaining significant victory over the Philistines as they chased them to the gates of Ekron. Ekron means ‘eradication’ and therefore what we are being told is that during the lake of fire age, the whole of humanity, represented by the Israelites, shall be saved as they all put to death or eradicate the carnal minds of their flesh. David, through Abner, showed the head of Goliath to Saul, which prompted Saul to ask about whose son David was. This implies that in the fullness of time, the victory of the Lord’s elect will prompt many to ask, whose sons are we? That will be the time that all humanity will know our father’s name, which is written in our foreheads.

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 
Rev 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 
Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 
Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 
Rev 14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.  

May the Lord continue to help us to become overcomers in this age. Amen!!