1 Samuel 17: The Philistine to See and Bow as ☧ David Does

Rev. Dr. Martin Noland, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in San Mateo, California, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 1 Samuel 17.

“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him.” Who doesn’t love the story of David and Goliath? So many children’s Bibles prominently feature this story from 1 Samuel 17, a little clean-shaven shepherd boy defeating the big bearded bully. The thing is, David was not a plucky little boy. He had seen combat and had already served under King Saul for some time, even if he wasn’t a seasoned veteran like his older brothers. The point though is that David sees things differently because “the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon” him. His enemy is called “the Philistine” again and again because He points ahead to God’s ultimate victory in Christ, who will destroy all His enemies “that all the earth may know”—and bow before—the God of Israel.