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Lesson #17

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

1 SAMUEL 17
Lesson #17
A GIANT PROBLEM OR A GIANT POSSIBILITY

  • Memory Verse: 1Sam 17:47

  • Read 1Sam 17:1-16
    • The specific site of this event has not been identified.
    • Who was Goliath?
      • He was possibly a descendant of the giant sons of Anak (Jos 11:22 Deu 9:2)
      • He was uncircumcised (26) which tells us that he was not a partaker of God covenant. Therefore, he was a non-believer.
      • The name, Goliath, means = exile.
    • What are some characteristics of giants we must remember?
      • Giants are big in relation to man but small in relation to God. (4)
      • Giants have a reputation for destruction. (4)
      • Giants make a loud noise to cause fear. (8)
      • Giants seek to cause bondage. (9)
      • Giants create a challenge.
      • Giants enable one’s faith to be put into practice.
      • According to Num 4, giants were 6 cubits and a span = 99″ or 10’6″.
        • Number 6 is the symbolic number of man.
          • Therefore, this giant is a man-made problem!
    • Goliath’s armor and weapons:
      • Goliath’s armor weighted 5000 shekels = 125 lbs. (5)
      • The spear head weighed 600 shekels of iron = 17 lbs. (7)
        • This weight is considerably more than a shot-put.
    • Saul and the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid. (11)
      • The word, dismayed, means = to be broken down through confusion and fear.
      • The words, greatly afraid, means = having awe or reverence and in this context it is negative, for he believed a negative report and had reverence for Satan’s forces.
    • The 40 days:
      • The number 40 is the number of testing.
        • Therefore, this Israel’s giant test.

    • Read 1Sam 17:17-54
      • Saul’s problem was David’s possibility.
        • What was David’s approach to the giant problem?
          • He evaluated the battle (26)
          • He recognized the covenant relationship he had with the Lord. (26)
          • He did not believe a negative report (28, 30)
          • He made a positive confession of faith. (32)
          • He bolstered his faith by recalling what God has done in the past. (34-36)
          • He recognized the source of his faith was God. (37)
          • He did not go into battle based on someone else’s faith, but he used the proper weapons. (39-40)
          • He recognized that it is the Lord’s battle. (47)
          • He put his faith in action. (48)
      • David’s possibilities:
        • What are the proper weapons for a giant problem?
          • A shepherd’s staff = it signifies the power and authority of the believer.
          • 5 smooth stones = they signify a life filled with prayer and memorized scriptures.
            • The number 5 is a symbolic number in the Bible for “grace”.
            • Remember that in the Bible, a rock or stone, is a prefigure of Jesus Christ.
            • These stone came from the brook where water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
          • The shepherd’s bag = it represents one’s own heart filled with the Word of God.
          • The sling = it represents Christ, our Avenger.
          • David’s oral confession of faith. (45-47)
        • Read Eph 6:11-18
          • Notice the purpose for the confrontation (45-47)
      • The end of the giant problem:
        • Notice that the giant was killed with his own sword.
          • Evil brings destruction on itself when faith in God is put into practice.
      • Lessons for giant battles:
        • Facing giants is an intimidating experience.
        • Doing battle is a lonely experience.
        • Trusting God is a stabilizing experience.
        • Winning victories is a memorable experience.
      • Reasons for warfare (for the believer in Christ):
        • To gain spiritual freedom (9)
        • To demonstrate to unbelievers that there is a God (46)
        • That believers will be encouraged to trust God. (47)
      • Application:
        • This battle with the giant, is a type or prefigure of the Christian’s spiritual battles.
        • Discussion:
        • What are some principles for spiritual warfare that we can gain from David’s experience?

        • What are some qualities of conquering faith?
          • Conquering faith always recalls past victories. (34-36)
          • Conquering faith is reassured by proper motivation.
          • Conquering faith always rejects the discouragement of others.(28-29, 34)
          • Conquering faith always sees trust in God for God’s glory. (47)
          • Conquering faith always reckons the battle complete before the battle begins. (46-47)

      HOMEWORK
      1SAMUEL 18
      This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

      • Application of 1Sam 17
        • List your current toughest spiritual giant battles.
        • Based on what you have learned from 1Sam 17, write a new strategy for each those you listed.
      • Preparation for 1Sam 18
        • Read 1Sam 17:55-58
        • Read 1Sam 18:1-9
          • Analyze the personal relationships represented here.
            • How is Jonathan an illustration of the Holy Spirit?
          • What do you learn in this passage about jealousy?
          • Find some scriptures dealing with envy:
      • Memory Verse: Proverbs 23:17

About Joyce

I came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in 1963 giving my heart to Jesus in a Billy Graham crusade in Los Angeles, CA. I have been teaching the Word of God since 1964, Usually two to three adult classes a week.

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