The Morrisons

The battle between David and Goliath happened in the valley of Elah in the land of Judah, around 1025 B.C.  It is recounted in 1 Samuel 17.

As the story begins, the Philistine armies had encamped at a place called Socoh.  Socoh belonged to Judah, but was close to Philistine lands, and the Philistines were looking to expand their territory.  In response to this threat the armies of Israel had gathered in the hills on the other side of the valley of Elah.  As the two armies faced each other, the pre-battle verbal exchanges began.

Perhaps the Israelites felt confident.  They were no strangers to combat with the Philistines.  1 Samuel 14:52 tells us that Israel experienced hard fighting with the Philistines all the days that Saul was king.  So perhaps this was a familiar enough situation for the Israelites.  However, this time as Israel’s armies faced the Philistines something new happened.

1 Samuel 17:4 tells us that as the Israelite armies looked out on the Philistine armies there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath.  As the Israelites looked down on the valley, they must have been struck by the size of this man, because the Bible tells us that Goliath’s height was six cubits and a span.  A cubit was about 45 centremetres, so Goliath was about 3 metres tall.

According to the Guiness Book of the World Records, the tallest man in recorded medical history was Robert Pershing Wadlow, who when measured in June 1940 was 2.72 metres tall.  Well, Goliath was about that big.

Verse  5 tells us that Goliath had a helmet of bronze on his head, and wore a coat of mail weighing about 60 kilograms.  Verse 6 tells us that he also wore bronze greaves on his legs.  In verse 7, we also learn that Goliath had a shield bearer who went before him carrying his shield.  In other words, as well being physically immense, Goliath’s defences looked impenetrable.

Goliath’s attacking assets were equally impressive.  Slung over his back was a javelin or curved sword.  He also carried a spear so big that its head weighed about 7 kilograms.

For the most part, the Biblical narratives don’t dwell on physical details.  They tend to focus only on the key ideas.  In this case, however, the writer takes time to describe both Goliath’s size and armament to make sure we don’t miss the immensity of this giant man.  Goliath was a walking tank.  He was a terrifying opponent.

Indeed, the description of Goliath highlights a truth we must all face.  Its all very well to talk about the value of believing in yourself, but the truth is that sooner or later we will encounter opponents that we lack the strength to defeat.

We all face opposition.  Perhaps you’ve faced opposition in the workplace – someone who has taken a disliking to you for whatever reason and is determined to see you fail.  Perhaps you’ve experienced abuse at home.  Perhaps for a time you feel able to handle that opposition.  You persevere at work, finding ways to impress your employers and meet your deadlines in spite of the obstacles.  You find ways to avoid coming home, so you won’t experience the abuse.  Close friends take on increased importance as you look to them to provide the support your home environment should provide.

Eventually, however, we all face problems we can’t handle.  When redundancy comes, it can be a long and frustrating process finding work.  You spend weeks and months filling out job applications, but for whatever reason the job offers don’t come.  Maybe you come close.  Interviews and second interviews come but you miss out.  Each time it happens, the discouragement increases.  You face another week of searching the employment pages.  Another week of humiliation and disappointment.  Anger gives way to depression.  You just can’t defeat this opponent.

Whether its the loneliness of an elderly widow whose children have stopped visiting, or the stress of a young mother coping with errant children and feeling isolated from adult conversation, we all face problems we are unable to overcome.

In reality, our worst opposition comes from within.  Our own attitudes and behaviour are messed up.  Hatred, envy and selfishness come naturally to us.  For every moment of victimisation we have experienced, we are probably equally guilty of victimising others in some way.  How do we face an opponent like our own sin?

The writer of 1 Samuel does not play down the strength of Israel ’s enemies.  Goliath was a terrifying opponent.

As he lined up against the Israelites, Goliath quickly made his intentions clear.  He stood before the Israelite army and shouted at them (v 8-10) “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.  … I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.”

Goliath must have been a sight to behold.  The writer tells us that as the Israelites heard Goliath speak that day they were dismayed and terrified.  “Who can fight a man like this?” they must have thought.

As the story unfolds, some possible candidates to fight Goliath do present themselves.  The first of those candidates was Saul, the Israelite king.  He was a giant of a man himself.  In our next post we will look at Saul, and how he responded to Goliath’s challenge.