David, Goliath, and How to Read the Bible - 1 Sam 17

1. Prayer
God our protector,
stand with us through all life's storms,
giving us courage to risk danger
to protect those
who are oppressed and poor,
that they may know you
as their stronghold and hope.
Amen.

2. The Church Calendar
June 20

3. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our
God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no
wickedness in him.”
PSALM 92:12-15 (NIV)

4. 1 Samuel 17
DAVID, GOLIATH and READING the BIBLE

6. I am so weak and I'm so
tired
It's hard for me to
Find enough strength
To feed the fires
That fuel my ego
And consequently
All my pride has up and died
Which leaves me
Down on my knees
Back to the place

7. Been beat up
Been broken down
Nowhere but up
When you’re
Face down
On the ground
I'm in last place
If a place at all
But there's hope
For this underdog

13. “The battle is won miraculously by
an underdog who, by all expectations,
should not have won at all.This is the way
we have told one another the story over
the many centuries since. It is how the
phrase “David and Goliath” has come
to be embedded in our language—
as a metaphor for improbable victory.
And the problem with that version of the
events is almost everything about it is wrong.”
MALCOLM GLADWELL

14. 1 Samuel 17
DAVID, GOLIATH and READING the BIBLE

15. - Goliath may or may not have had a medical
condition known as acromegaly (giantism)
o Extreme height, life-long growth
o Difficulty seeing (*sticks, shield bearer)
DETAILS TO KEEP IN MIND

16. - Goliath may or may not have had a medical
condition known as acromegaly (giantism)
o Extreme height, life-long growth
o Difficulty seeing (*sticks, shield bearer)
- Goliath’s size, and the armor weight
he was carrying, would have made him
largely stationary for hand-to-hand combat
DETAILS TO KEEP IN MIND

17. - Goliath may or may not have had a medical
condition known as acromegaly (giantism)
o Extreme height, life-long growth
o Difficulty seeing (*sticks, shield bearer)
- Goliath’s size, and the armor weight
he was carrying, would have made him
largely stationary for hand-to-hand combat
- David’s weapon of choice was known to be
absolutely deadly, equivalent to a handgun
DETAILS TO KEEP IN MIND

18. - What would this story have likely meant
to its original hearers/readers?
o It was about national interests
o It was not about Jesus
MAJOR QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

19. - What would this story have likely meant
to its original hearers/readers?
- How has it been typically interpreted
and taught in our generation?
o Underdog defeats personal giant
o Israel defeating national enemies
o Hero propaganda for King David
o David as archetype of Jesus’ victory
MAJOR QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

20. - What would this story have likely meant
to its original hearers/readers?
- How has it been typically interpreted
and taught in our generation?
- If this is NOT a story about the unlikely
victory of the underdog over their
personal giant, and it’s NOT intended
as an archetype of Jesus defeating the
giant of sin/death, what insights can
we gain from reflecting on this story?
MAJOR QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

21. - Whether we lean Biblically “progressive”
or “conservative,” we need to exercise
humility when reading, interpreting,
and applying the text
INSIGHTS TO REFLECT ON

22. - Whether we lean Biblically “progressive”
or “conservative,” we need to exercise
humility when reading, interpreting,
and applying the text
- Any lessons we think we can learn from
David (or anyone/anything from the OT)
must always be run through the filter
of the life/ministry of Jesus
INSIGHTS TO REFLECT ON

23. - Whether we lean Biblically “progressive”
or “conservative,” we need to exercise
humility when reading, interpreting,
and applying the text
- Any lessons we think we can learn from
David (or anyone/anything from the OT)
must always be run through the filter
of the life/ministry of Jesus
- We have to read the Bible we have as it is,
not the one we don’t as we wish it would be
INSIGHTS TO REFLECT ON

24. Keeper of our lives, you know
the hardness and gentleness of human hearts.
You call your people to faithful living.
Through the storms of life that bring
suffering and fear, joy and laughter,
teach us to turn to you for all we need,
so that we may come to know your presence
even in the midst of the trials that surround us.
Amen.
Benediction