Goliath Comes: 1 Samuel 17:1-11
Outward appearances fool human beings, but they don’t fool God. We cannot immediately know the heart of someone. We can only learn about people as we get to know them and experience their nature. We can create a first impression in milliseconds, but it takes weeks, months, or even years to know a person’s heart.
The Philistines come out against the Hebrew people and make it clear they plan on taking over some portion of their land. The Philistines want the grazing and water rights, of course. In taking over the land, they’ll also have access the Hebrew people. The Philistines can either indenture these Hebrew people into serfs, claim them as slaves, or sell them to traders. Warfare is always about resources.
The Hebrew people come out to meet the Philistines. In recent experience, small groups of Hebrew warriors have been able to defeat large groups of Philistines. Jonathan alone has had great success against the Philistines. Therefore, the Philistines are cautious about joining the battle. Just because they have large numbers doesn’t guarantee victory.
Goliath, an enormous soldier with impressive strength and massive armaments, comes forth to issue a challenge. Instead of having everyone fight, he offers to fight on behalf of the whole army. If the Hebrew people can send out a champion to defeat him, then the Philistines will serve the Hebrew people.
This offer is genius. It risks the health of two people instead of thousands. The effects of the fight will affect thousands, but the actual battle only has a chance of producing injuries in two people. Since the losing side and their families would end up as serfs or slaves to the victors anyways, for everyone except the two champions the downside is minimalized.
This story continues the consistent overarching lesson taught in Samuel thus far. Human beings like to make first impressions based on our sight and our hearing. For example, Eli was the priest and he outwardly played the role very well. Inwardly, he was not a good priest at all. On the other hand, Samuel was a child who literally dropped off on the tabernacle doorstep, raised by Eli and a rotation of priests and Levites. Outwardly he was a castaway without much family, but inwardly he had the Spirit of God. Saul was an incredible physical specimen and looked like a powerful leader. Outwardly he looked like a great choice to be king, but inwardly he had few qualities necessary to lead.
Goliath comes out with a huge stack of outward appearances in his favor. He was massive. He was armored. He boasted and looked capable of backing up his boasts. His weapons could kill with a single wound if not defended properly.
God doesn’t see the world in the same way that we do. God knew Eli and Saul for what they were. He also knew Samuel for what He was. Outward appearances fool human beings, but they don’t fool God.
