1 Samuel 17:48-58
48 Then it happened, when the Philistine came closer to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone penetrated his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with the sling and the stone: he struck the Philistine and killed him, and there was no sword in David’s hand.
51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and finished him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
52 Then the men of Israel and Judah rose up and shouted, and they pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the Philistine dead lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron.
53 Then the sons of Israel returned from their close pursuit of the Philistines, and plundered their camps.
54 And David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.
55 Now when Saul had seen David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” And Abner said, “By your life, O king, I do not know.”
56 And the king said, “You then, ask whose son the youth is.”
57 So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand.
58 Then Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
David’s Strategy
Amazing victory
Let’s focus on David’s strategy. (1) He ran quickly to the battlefield and confronted Goliath. Not even a hint of fear can be seen in him. He launched a preemptive strike and stood on the enemy’s ground. (2) David hit Goliath’s forehead with a stone, knocking the giant to the ground. Not even the fully armored Goliath could cover his forehead (or perhaps, out of contempt for David, he left his face covering up to see David). (3) The fallen Goliath was in a state of unconsciousness. David then ran up to him, took his sword, and used it to deliver the final blow, cutting off his head. It was Goliath’s own sword that severed his head from his body. There could be no greater humiliation than this. (4) Witnessing this, the Philistine army fled in total disarray. That day, many Philistines were struck down by the Israelite army. They had fallen prey to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field, just as David had prophesied. (5) David carried Goliath’s head to Jerusalem and brought his armor into his own tent.
Saul’s amazement
Saul asked General Abner about David’s origin because he had already promised that whoever defeated Goliath would be given his daughter in marriage and his father’s family would be exempted from taxes. He wanted to know who his future son-in-law would be. However, Abner did not know who David was. Therefore, Saul directly asked David and discovered that he was the son of Jesse from Bethlehem. Saul had known David already, but only as a music therapist, and it seems he had not shown much interest in him. In the New Testament, the people of Nazareth stumbled over Jesus. The reason behind this was that He was such a familiar face to them. Saul was the same; he could not discern David’s gifts and character because David was too close to him. Let’s be careful not to be blind to the Lord’s works that are happening even in our most familiar places, so that we do not miss the blessings within them.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, please help me to live every day in awe of Your grace. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.