attacked – King David 101

Jonathan’s Secret Message

In verses 36-39 a young boy was chasing down arrows. The plan was one both David and Jonathan understood. If the arrows fell short, it meant David could return safely and securely to the court of Saul. But if the arrows went long, David had better run.

“Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. ⁴⁰And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.” ⁴¹And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. ⁴²Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.”

1 Samuel 20:39-42, ESV

As I read these last few chapters, I’m amazed by David’s desire for reconciliation with the king. He desperately wants peace; David wants restoration, but the “ball” is in Saul’s court now. Now, I guess that I wouldn’t be as patient as David. But that only emphasizes the wonderful character of David.

I also sense that David wanted to avoid the wilderness. He never wanted to go there, maybe the wilderness was a place of “death.” Maybe not a physical one, but a death to everything David knew. It would be a hard place: thirsting, scavenging, and hiding. A difficult place to survive.

There is one last time that David and Jonathan will meet. I think it was something bittersweet, and each reassured their covenant to each other. There must’ve been much pain. Neither wanted this, of all things to happen. Sometimes we’ll be put in a similar situation. It’s always difficult.

Jonathan, knowing that David has been anointed the next king of Israel, submits his heart to what the Lord God has decided though the prophet Samuel. He accepts this and refuses to take the route of Saul, rather Jonathan appeals to David as the future king.

The request is a bit bold maybe, but Jonathan asks that David would honor this, “between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” Jonathan is asking David to refuse revenge and not try to get even with the house of Saul. Now David could have made an end to Saul’s progeny; that could mean stability for him, and for Israel.

It’s then that must say goodbye, each goes on their very separate paths. This is the very last time they were together, but I doubt they would never forget their covenant.

True Colors

Jonathan now knows; his father’s true colors were now obvious, which almost always happens over time. Saul hates David and now begins an even more effort to murder him. His hatred now consumes him. The king is no longer rational. He wants to kill him.

(And I don’t know why.)

But Jonathan is committed to warning David. He loves his friend; and so, he sticks with a prearranged signal. He will risk everything. David must be warned.

“Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. ³⁷And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?” ³⁸And Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!” So Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master.”

1 Samuel 20:36-38, ESV

Those arrows were genius—a plan that was wonderful and kept Jonathan safe. And David would now know his next step. I must admit I see no reference to prayer or seeking God, that troubles me. (But I must assume the singer of Psalm 23 understood God’s protection and care.)

⁴¹And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. ⁴²Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.”

1 Samuel 20:41-42

David saw the arrows and heard Jonathan speak. I suspect his heart sank. He wanted reconciliation and he didn’t want to leave in this way. And he didn’t want to go out in the wilderness. He was now a fugitive on the run.

David loved Jonathan and it showed it. There was nothing cold or professional. He expressed a love that went beyond “bad news.” It wasn’t contingent on terrible news, for it was real, authentic. He had made a covenant.

David will now spend the next 10-15 years on the run from Saul.

He will try to live in the wilderness. But David would be protected by the Lord, and although he didn’t realize it, he was on a timetable set by God Himself. The clock was running but David was learning many things about being a king. His education would be long and hard.

“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God, do you learn.”

C.S. Lewis

I believe David still had his harp, and I believe he would still worship the Lord God. He would compose even more psalms. And much of the wilderness would be woven into what he would sing. Worship was at his very core.

And worship is why we exist.

The Bow and the Arrows

I will shoot three arrows.” So much depends on these three, will David be restored to the court of king Saul, or will he need to flee into the wilderness?

Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. And when you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel. Then I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target; and there I will send a lad, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I expressly say to the lad, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them and come’—then, as the LORD lives, there is safety for you and no harm. But if I say thus to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you’—go your way, for the LORD has sent you away. And as for the matter which you and I have spoken of, indeed the LORD be between you and me forever.”

1 Samuel 20:18-24

Jonathan’s plan is simple. It’s a setup after observing the response of Saul to David’s absence at a feast. He is being secretive, his father’s spies are everywhere, but his heart and covenant with David compel him.

It was the second day, and David’s chair was still empty. Saul noticed this and became furious. It’s this furious anger that betrays him.

“Then Saul became angry with Jonathan and shouted, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you are siding with Jesse’s son to your own shame and to the disgrace of your mother? ³¹Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me—he must die!”

It’s here we see Saul broadcasts his hatred toward David. It exposes everything and now Jonathan knows what is in his father’s heart. It’s a rage that bubbles up for all to see; it is uncontrollable and obvious. David “must die.”

Pay attention now. Saul attacks Jonathan’s mother in verse 30. We don’t know the details, but it seems that in his anger he disparages the character of Jonathan’s mother. Anger has the tendency to completely twist and distort one’s perception of reality. It’s like a wildfire that can’t be controlled.

“An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.”

Proverbs 29:22

Jonathan’s plan has now become active. He now knows what he must do. He picks up his bow and gets his arrows. He must communicate with David about what he knows. His covenant with David supersedes everything, even the chance to rule as the next king of Israel.

The wilderness in desperate hiding is the last place David wants to be. As I read the life of David, I see that he doesn’t want this—he has done everything possible to avoid it. This isn’t a choice he makes, rather it’s been thrust on him by God himself. And who can walk with God without doing His will?

Jonathan shoots his arrows in the field, but wide of the mark. This is David’s cue that he must run; Saul intends to murder him. He dares not remain under Saul as his king. He must escape into the desert.

A Plan to Understand Saul

This entire scene is a bit strange. David and Jonathan meet; they are careful as they should be. David is hiding and I strongly suspect that David is discouraged. He has done nothing wrong—quite the opposite. David suspects that king Saul’s bitterness and jealousy, and bitterness are out of control. Saul intends to murder David. The entire story is found in 1 Samuel 20:5-23.

“Tomorrow, we celebrate the new moon festival. I’ve always eaten with the king on this occasion, but tomorrow I’ll hide in the field and stay there until the evening of the third day. ⁶If your father asks where I am, tell him I asked permission to go home to Bethlehem for an annual family sacrifice. ⁷If he says, ‘Fine!’ you will know all is well. But if he is angry and loses his temper, you will know he is determined to kill me.”

1 Samuel 20:5-7

These verses reveal David’s plan. They describe a maneuver that will reveal Saul’s heart toward David: will it be reinstatement or will it be murder? Obviously, David must find out. Will he continue to run and evade death or will he be restored? He obviously must know.

David has no idea, but he has a plan to find out for sure.

But let’s switch to Jonathan as he will be David’s eyes and ears into the banquet room. David will rely on the report of Jonathan, one way or the other. The plan is carefully made, and it seems like a wise one. Obviously, it involves Jonathan’s participation.

“Jonathan’s response to David’s discouragement wasn’t theological rebuke but practical help; he offered concrete assistance to a friend walking through despair, modeling genuine support.” -David Guzik

Jonathan only asks for a promise from David. (Which David fulfills later to Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9). He asks that, “If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; ¹⁵and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”

Jonathan reminds David of their covenant together after the slaying of Goliath. There’s now a political element added: David will need to protect the house of Jonathan, his heirs.

It is Jonathan and not Saul who understands God’s heart.

It is Jonathan’s humility that makes the whole plan work. There seems to be no guile here; he understands what the Lord wants to do. Many believers want to be a “David,” but it is Jonathan that seems to show more integrity, decency and honor.

Jonathan proves that he is a man of integrity, and he asks that David be one also. It’s Jonathan that models that deep decency to the heart of David.

This plan will reveal Saul’s motives; it’s designed to uncover his heart. That’s what the Holy Spirit does. David must know; his life depends on it. Jonathan is key to David’s survival and he must trust him. He depends on him to “pull off” this off. This strategy will determine David’s next step.

I believe David still praises God.

I believe David still writes and sings. Worship is in his blood, and even if he sits on a knife’s edge, David praises Jehovah even if it seems illogical.

God has anointed Davd and nothing has changed; when Samuel poured oil on his head it became the evidence of the Lord’s choice, blessing and approval. David’s calling was a done deal. David worships.

“Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days – when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you’re out of options, when the pain is great – and you turn to God alone.”

Rick Warren

Influenced but Without Surrender

In an odd scene in the life of King Saul is recorded in 1 Samuel 19:18–24, where Saul, enraged, sends soldiers to capture David. Three groups are overpowered by the Holy Spirit, and each group begins prophesying instead of arresting David. Finally, a frustrated Saul himself goes to Ramah, and there he too is overcome by the Spirit:

“He tore off his clothes and lay naked on the ground all day and all night, prophesying in the presence of Samuel. The people who were watching exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet?”

1 Samuel 19:18-24

“Influence Without Surrender” is one of the better ways to explain this strange passage. Even after several readings, this seems to be the best interpretation. Saul (and three groups of soldiers) come under “the influence” of the Holy Spirit and are prevented from capturing David.

God proactively intervenes in the life of His anointed one.

David must have been in shock. God defends him in an astonishing way, but in a manner that amazed the onlookers. And David was learning what God was really like. When the Lord goes to battle, anything can happen. In His powerful sovereignty, God decides the weapons He will use. In Saul’s case, the prophetic works perfectly.

Troop after troop is floored by the presence of a mighty God. Finally, Saul decides to intervene. Why isn’t David in custody? Saul intends to find out; when he steps into the prophet’s presence. When this happens, Saul falls under the very presence of God and encounters the Lord.

And really, we must understand that Saul comes under the influence of God but refuses to surrender. Isn’t this the epitome of his life? He may understand, but Saul refuses to surrender and to yield and submit to the Lord God.

That’s what God does to His rebellious and disobedient children.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.

1 Samuel 15:23

Saul does this every time.

Please understand. God “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9.)

Evil Carries a Spear

^“And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him. ⁹Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. ¹⁰And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.”

1 Samuel 19:8-10, NLT

There are things in this passage that I don’t fully understand. I will try to share what little I do know. Let’s have a go at it.

If I could, I would get out my X-Acto Knife and carefully cut out verse 9, I would do it. The very idea that the Lord would send “a harmful spirit” to come to Saul is hard to grasp. Perhaps we need to recognize that after his sin, sparing Agag in 1 Sam. 15:20, nothing good is ever spoken of Saul in scripture.

Sin develops over time. Nothing is a mere trifle or insignificant.

Saul’s sin metastasizes, and any real repentance becomes impossible. This is sobering. And scary. It’s no wonder we’re warned repeatedly to renounce our sin. At this point Saul comes under the direct influence of evil powers. His continued disobedience becomes his very character.

Saul sits with his spear in hand, and David, his arch enemy, stands before Saul playing the harp. Instead of being comforted, he becomes murderous. It seems he cannot control himself. And with that spear Saul throws it at David, and Saul intends to “pin David to the wall.”

Somehow David eludes it, and escapes into the night.

Some of this seems logical and understandable. The “good” escapes; but the evil in the heart of Saul remains. From this point on, Saul is basically “unreachable.” He becomes full of darkness.

And without God’s Holy Spirit convicting and leading us through our own sin, we too will destroy ourselves. The lesson of Saul’s repeated rebellion should terrify the believer who wants to follow Jesus. Let’s not trifle with sin; if not dealt with will also destroy us.

“One great power of sin is that it blinds men so that they do not recognize its true character.”

Andrew Murray

Saul Hates David

“Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. ²⁸But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, ²⁹Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.”

^30 “Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.”

1 Samuel 18:28-30

David was fighting two battles at once. He had to face King Saul’s hostility, and the ongoing war with the Philistine’s army. I suppose that it was a tremendous drain. After the battle he came home and found nothing but jealousy and anger.

Saul was very afraid of David.

Fear like this turned into deep seated malevolence and hatred. Despite his tremendous success he, upon returning home, found zero recognition. To many he was a hero, but to Saul he was despised and detested. And again, Saul was deeply afraid of David.

Fear accomplishes nothing. Fear only destroys.

Saul was in a spiritual downward spiral. It was just a matter of time before the end. King Saul had become evil. God’s Spirit had left him, and he was nothing more than a shell, vacant and empty of anything good. Perhaps David was grieved to see the king turn into something unrecognizable and dark.

David had been anointed as the next king.

“Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.”

(1 Samuel 10:1, ESV.)

The prophet’s word had been spoken. There would be resistance and hostility which seemed to contradict this prophecy. David would soon discover the enemies battle against what God had declared. (But what choice did he have?)

God’s declaration of David’s anointing didn’t matter to Saul. He would continue the path he had chosen. David would continue to find success against the Philistines.

“David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed: Saul’s plan has completely backfired. David is not only alive but also more popular and closer to the LORD than ever. Saul isn’t finished and will use more manipulation, cunning, and outright violence to attack David.”

David Guzik

Leave the Spear Behind

“And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.“

1 Samuel 18:11, ESV

“And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.“

1 Samuel 19:10

King Saul has gone mad.

We need to understand that David is completely different. He would leave Saul’s spear in the wall. Remember that David was the giant killer, the boy who faced Goliath. I don’t really think that David was really afraid, he knew God’s protective hand was on him and this made the difference.

Saul attacked David twice.

But David spiritually understood God’s heart. He understood the spiritual principle of “turning the other cheek” and “loving your enemies.” He overcame with love and kindness. And lots of grace.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good“

Romans 12:21, ESV

The Greek word for “overcome” is νικάω which can be translated as “to conquer or to come forth victorious.” It is also used when someone is arraigned before a court of law but wins the case.

To follow Jesus means you entirely reject using the spear. It’s not for you. Never.

You cannot attack another without destroying yourself.

“We win by tenderness. We conquer by forgiveness.”

Frederick W. Robertson

We must leave the spear in the wall. You must not throw it back.

Jealousy Consumes Saul

“And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousand, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” ⁹And Saul eyed David from that day on.”

1 Samuel 18:8-9, ESV

The phrase here suggests anger that has been intensified. King Saul was not just annoyed or irritated; it was much more than that. He saw and heard the women as they gathered—with their tambourines and music they began to rejoice over the victories of David. Rather than rejoicing David’s success, he made a choice (a decision) to be jealous.

Something inside of him was very wrong and terribly twisted.

Unrighteous anger twists the heart of a man into something that disturbs even our closest friends. When we act out of this anger, it distorts and then blinds us and we become unrecognizable. We no longer can hear the voice of our kind and gentle God, He who laid down His life for His friends.

Saul was terribly wrong. From this minute on a jealous anger would drive him to a breaking point. He was now consumed with anger, jealousy, and ultimately murder. He wanted David dead. “And Saul eyed David from that day on.” (v. 9.)

“Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.”

Proverbs 27:4

I once learned the proper way to kill a diamond-back rattlesnake. Obviously, you must be careful, and Saul was not. The snake’s venom would destroy him; he had been bitten, and he would not survive. Jealousy over David’s victories would totally ruin him. Saul’s envy will poison his heart and soul.

Please do not be consumed by this sin. A disciple must learn how to work through the issues of jealousy, envy, and evil. The Holy Spirit will see that we will see these things head on. God will not allow us to fully enter His kingdom if we hold on to jealousy and anger.

Rather than focus on what others have, we’re called to accept and receive what we’ve been given. We should rejoice in Him who gives gifts to those He has chosen. We must stay faithful and celebrate His gifts to others without becoming angry and spiteful.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Romans 12:10

Jealousy is like drinking something poisonous and hoping that the other person will die.

King Saul is Poisoned by His Sin

“Danger, Will Robinson, danger!”

(B-9 Robot, “Lost in Space,” 1967)

⁶As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. ⁷And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry.

1 Samuel 18:6-8

David was quite successful. His tactical prowess exceeded the other military leaders; he was a dream come true, and everyone knew it. But, there would be a downside to being victorious in battle. Gavid was about to find this out. Things would start to get crazy, and it wasn’t his fault.

Out came those who could sing.

Everyone knew it. David’s successes became the song of Israel. What he achieved was the stuff of legends. When he returned, he found those who received victory. They would sing, but those songs would create issues. Saul would become offended, and that would become dangerous. David would soon find this out. He understood, and yet, he really didn’t. King Saul would never really accept David’s accomplishments; Saul blocked out the wonderous battles of David.

King Saul could never accept this.

“The anger of the king is a deadly threat.”

Proverbs 16:14

Saul’s anger would develop into jealousy, and that was dangerous.

We’ll look at this closer.

Decapitating the Monster

Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.

And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. ⁵²Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of ^[e]the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. ⁵³Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. ⁵⁴And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

1 Samuel 17:51-54, NKJV

The war has been decided, Goliath is quite dead. The shepherd boy David has killed him, and the “coup de grace’ is when he chops the head of his (or, God’s) enemy.

There’s a finality about it all. When David raises up the severed head, the Philistines run. They understand that it was God who has given the victory to the army of Israel. They weren’t fighting against them, they were fighting against the Lord God.

I believe that the “battle is the Lords.”

As believing Christians, we’re starting to understand that we live in battle–a war has developed around us. It came about when we committed ourselves to walk in the grace of God. The enemy understands, even before we do. It’s the believer that is a threat.

We are dangerous to Satan, a very real threat to his kingdom.

Clothed in God’s grace, and wearing His “invisible” armor, we stand like David before Goliath. Our faith in the living God will always give us the victory. I believe that it was the Lord who guided the stone that was slung from David’s sling.

We must step out in faith–the victory is ours, and God guides the rock.

“The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.”

R.A. Torrey

Wearing Armor that Fits You

“Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, ³⁹and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off.”

1 Samuel 17:38-39, see also NLT

I sense that king Saul was worried and scared. Facing Goliath was a man’s job, not for a skinny boy. A defeat would be catastrophic. But the terms offered by Goliath would allow the Philistines total control over Israel. This was unacceptable.

But David had heard Goliath’s bellowing blasphemy, The God of Israel was being challenged and mocked. Something inside of David rose up. God’s honor was at stake.

No one thought that David had a “snowball’s chance in hell.”

In this passage we read that Saul offered David his own armor. Now I don’t know what was going through Saul’s mine–did he feel guilty or embarrassed? Why did he do this?

To allow David the boy to go ahead and fight Goliath was disturbing but David presents his case rather forcibly; he tells of his encounters with bears and lions attacking his flock. (1 Samuel 17:34-36.)

So, what traits is he showing? I think the first is zeal, and then courage, faith, self-sacrifice and righteous anger. But perhaps the most significant (and easily forgotten) is love. He simply loved God, and loved the nation (and armies) of Israel. Love is not always gushy. It’s action. It pushes one to take risks.

As I survey this passage I’m struck by Psalm 23. Most commentators believe this particular Psalm was written previously before this fight with Goliath. It was composed while David was with his flock out in the pasture.

That makes perfect sense. (Psalm 23:4-5.)

Wearing armor is necessary as a Christian. If you’re a born again believer, then it’s to be a critical part of who you are spiritually. When the apostle Paul writes to the Ephesian believers he pointedly refers to what we’re to wear spiritually when we stand against our personal “Goliath.” I would stress that this isn’t an optional feature.

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹²For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.“

Ephesians 6:11-12, NLT

A Human Tank

“Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! ⁵He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. ⁶He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. ⁷The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.”

1 Samuel 17:4-7, NLT

Goliath was like a human tank. First of all, he was almost twice the size of any other man. Secondly, decked out in his armor he was pretty much “bullet proof.”

The giant wore about 140 pounds of bronze armor, his thick spear weighed over 15 lbs. I guess Goliath wanted to keep it somewhat interesting, He “stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites.”

In the book of 1 Samuel 17 we read that the Israelite camp was “terrified.”

“I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” ¹¹When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.”

Any infantry officer will tell you that if you can instill fear the battle is pretty much won. The Philistines already had the upper hand. The terror infected the Israel, in spite of some lucrative inducements no one moved–there still were no volunteers.

But here comes the boy David, “a man after God’s own heart.”

Goliath was arrogant and blasphemous. He believed that the Philistine army was superior in every way, and he was the ultimate Philistine.

How do you handle fear? As a believer do you listen to the enemy lies. If you are a believer (and I assume you are), the enemy has a “contract” out on you. Satan has marked you as a threat to his kingdom, and your fear is incredibly useful to him.

“Fear is born of Satan, and if we would only take time to think a moment we would see that everything Satan says is founded upon a falsehood.”

A.B. Simpson

“But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from satanic attacks of every kind.”

1 Thessalonians 3:2, LB