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1 Samuel 17
Philistines camp makes a large horseshoe
Saul and army have been facing the Philistines for 40 days. This is testing (number 4). So God has tested them to reveal what's in their hearts and what they find is fear.
Observations
Saul and company have camped for 40 days and done nothing
David shows up a few hours and is ready to go do something - he'll stand up for Yahweh to Goliath's defiance.
David calls Goliath the "uncircumcised Philistine" - drawing attention to Israel's covenant
Goliath
Goliath has "scale-like" armor
Goliath is 6 cubits tall, 6 fingers (1 Chronicles), his spear head weighed 600 shekels
There are illusions to wickedness (666), and the serpent back in Genesis 3.
David shows up a *type* for Jesus
Tribe of Benjamin in Judges 20
Benjamin mobilizes 700 well-trained sling-men (Judges 20:15).
Saul is from the tribe of Benjamin. Saul should have been the one facing Goliath with the sling.
David
"Golden-age" of Israel when David was king
David is concerned not with his own name but with keeping God's name holy
David cares about "restorative justice", not conquering.
Discussion videl
- What do we think of David as a person? The ark of his life - not just as a boy, or not just focusing on the sin with Bathsheba - keeping all in mind what do we think of David as the king after God's own heart?
- What does it mean to be a leader in the context of competing kingdoms (empire vs shalom)? What are tangible things we are doing or can do to demonstrate God's loving kindness to everyone?