Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 17
David could see that his fight against Goliath was not just a personal fight between two men. God had allowed it to happen so that he could save his people in Israel. However, God was not merely doing this for Israel’s benefit. God used his people in Israel so that people across the whole world would learn about God (17:46).
At that time, only people in Israel served and obeyed the real God. However, in the future, people from every nation would have the opportunity to know him. God is especially the God of Israel, but he is also the God of the whole world (2:10).
That battle would show to everyone present that God saves his people. He does not need strong people or powerful military equipment to do that. When his people are poor and weak, they can still depend on him (2:8-9). He himself will act to save them.
David said that everyone present would know these things. He meant both Israel’s soldiers and their enemies.
Israel’s people had a special relationship with God. God had made promises to them, but often they were not loyal to him. They needed to remember that they should obey God. If they trusted God, he would save (rescue) them. (7:3)
That battle would also show the power of God to the army from Philistia, Israel’s enemies. Many of them would only know about that power in judgement. They would die in the battle as a punishment for their evil deeds.
However, God cares about the people in every nation (Jonah 4:11). He even cared about Israel’s enemies in Philistia. He wanted them to turn to him so that he could save them. In 2 Samuel 15:19-22, we see that in the end, some soldiers from Philistia actually did that. They were among David’s most loyal soldiers.
Next part: David fights Goliath (1 Samuel 17:48-50)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.