1. Introduction
   1. There are many goliaths in life that come upon us. Life itself is a goliath in the way that it sets its precedents for us or against us on an everyday basis.
   2. As you and I face the day, the challenges of life that may come upon us in all circumstances, I like to look at them as the goliaths.
   3. As you know, Goliath was a Philistine. He was all-powerful to the Philistines. Samuel is the writer of the book that gives the details and description of who this Philistine was and what he was all about.
   4. I’ve faced personally many goliaths in my life. Without God, I’d have been defeated. When I look at how David defeated Goliath in 1st Samual 17:45-51: Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite thee and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So, David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore, David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
   5. As you and I face the goliaths of the day, we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood. Ephesians 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
   6. As David faced the power of the Philistines, who they placed their power in – a man, their principles failed.
   7. Their power failed because their trust was in the rulers of darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.
   8. You and I can face the goliaths of the day through prayer, through seeking, knocking, and asking God for His Direction, wisdom, and His Almighty Power, and most of all, His Understanding to go before us in every decision that the world of darkness places upon us.
   9. With all the challenges that life puts in front of us, we too have a slingshot. It’s a sure shot every time if we trust and rely on the true Goliath that surpasses all understanding. His Name is Jesus Christ.
   10. And now let us look into our message

Golieth

2. What Time Period?
   1. According to Jewish tradition, the book was written by Samuel, with additions by the prophets Gad and Nathan. Modern scholarly thinking is that the entire Deuteronomistic history was composed in the period c. 630–540 BC by combining a number of independent texts of various ages
3. Who was Goliath?

1. Goliath was a Philistine champion. He was 9 feet 6 inches tall. 1 Samuel 17:4-7: And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was 6 cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed 600 shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

4. Who were His Parents?
   1. It is written that Goliath was the son of Orpah, the sister-in-law of Ruth, David’s own great grandmother.
5. What Country Was He From?
   1. Goliath was from Gath, according to 1 Samuel 17:4-And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

1. What was His Role with the Philistines?
2. Goliath was sent to intimidate Israel, and to challenge them to send their own representative who would fight him. 1 Samuel 17:8-And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to
3. Why did God use David
   1. No one would accept Goliath’s challenge, not even Saul? Everyone was intimidated. 1 Samuel 17:10-11: And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
   2. David was a young boy, the least likely one to be used. God uses the least likely people to do great things so He will get the glory. Verses 26 and 27: And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
   3. Verses 32-33:And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
   4. David was determined. He knew God was with him. He wasn’t going to let anyone including the king stop him.

 Why did God Allow Goliath to be Killed?

8. 1. As long as Goliath was still alive, the Philistine army would be emboldened to keep attacking Israel.
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9. What was God’s Final Outcome?
   1. God’s People were set free from an intimidating, powerful enemy.
   2. God was glorified, as His People overcame the philistine, not by a vast army with swords and staves, but by a young man with great faith, and one stone.
   3. Let’s get a ring-side seat and watch the final round play out. In one corner, coming in at 9 feet six inches, and growling threats and curses, is Goliath. In the other corner, a young man with nothing but a sling & some stones. Listen as the crowd gasps at the sight of this young kid going against a giant.
   4. “Goliath’s going to have him for a snack” some of them say. Now watch as the young man comes running toward Goliath. Let’s look at verses 45-51: Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
   5. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

 What Lessons Can We Learn?

10. 1. I’m sure the people of Israel thought they’d never overcome these Philistines and their champion, as tall as he was and how much armor he had on. THis shows that we should never go by what things look like, but what God’s Word says, and what He’s calling you to do. Will you be His Champion, as David was? 2 Corinthians 5:7-For we walk by faith, not by sight.
    2. Maybe you have a dream, a vision, or calling from God, and people are coming against you, trying to tell you it will never happen, or that you couldn’t possibly do it. David had to overcome the anger and doubt of his people. Verses 28-29: And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; & Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, & he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, & the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
    3. A lot of times, we tend to want to run away from the goliaths or problems in our lives. Not David. He ran right toward Goliath. Verse 48: 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.