DAVID AND GOLIATH

1 Samuel 17:1-58
Key Verse 17:45
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

* David, the challenger (1-37)

1. Read verses 1-11. How were the armies of the Philistia and Israel encamped? (1-3) Who was Goliath? (4-7) What did he do? (8-10,16) How did the Israelites react? (11, 24) What are some modern-day Goliath’s that God’s people may be afraid to face in battle?

2. Read verses 12-30. How did David come to be in the camp?(12-22) Why did he react differ-ently than others when he heard Goliath?(26) Why did Eliab accuse David?(28) What can we learn here about the opposition and misunderstandings we may face in living by faith?(29-30)

3. Read verses 31-37. What did David say to King Saul? (31-32) How had his experiences as a shepherd equipped him to fight? (33-35) What can we learn here about David’s character? What confidence did he have in God? (36-37)

* David, the victor (38-57)

4. Read verses 38-44. Why didn’t David use the equipment offered to him? (38-39, cf. 45) Contrast the appearance, experience, and equipment of David and Goliath as they faced each other. (33, compare 4-7 to 40) What did Goliath think of his opponent? (41-44)

5. Read verses 45-47. How could David speak so confidently as he faced the giant? What did he know about God? Think about David who stood alone before Goliath while the Israelite army hid. What can we learn from him?

6. Read verse 48-52. Describe the battle of David and Goliath. (48-51) How did the armies react, and why? (51b-53, cf. 46b-47) What should we depend on to win the victory in our spiritual battle against our personal Goliath’s? (Eph 5:10-18) What happens when we have the courage to engage in spiritual battle?