1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17

Henry: "it is not to be expected that, if the leader be a coward, the followers should be bold. We found before, when the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul (11:6), none could be more daring nor forward to answer the challenge of Nahash the Ammonite, but now that the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him (16:14) even the big looks and big words of a single Philistine make him change color. But where was Jonathan all this while? Why did not he accept the challenge, who, in the last war, had so bravely engaged a whole army of Philistines? Doubtless he did not feel himself stirred up of God to it, as he did in the former case. As the best, so the bravest men, are no more than what God makes them. Jonathan must now sit still, because the honour of engaging Goliath is reserved for David. In great and good actions, the wind of the Spirit blows when and where he listeth. Now the pious Israelites lament their king’s breach with Samuel." Dismayed (discouraged)(02865) chathath basically refers to breaking or shattering like a boe (Jer 51:56) or ground cracked by drought (Jer 14:4). This idea of shattering is used figuratively of God shattering nations (Isa 7:8). It can also mean to fright or terrify (Isa 30:31, Job 7:14) Standing in awe of God's Name (Mal 2:5). Summary - to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid. In Hiphil to cause to be dismayed, to terrify, to shatter. 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. KJV 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. NET 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of this Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons, and in Saul's days he was old and well advanced in years. CSB 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons and during Saul's reign was already an old man. ESV 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. NIV 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul's time he was old and well advanced in years. NLT 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons. NRS 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. NJB 1 Samuel 17:12 David was the son of an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah whose name was Jesse; Jesse had eight sons and, by Saul's time, he was old and well on in years. NAB 1 Samuel 17:12 (David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons, and in the days of Saul was old and well on in years. YLT 1 Samuel 17:12 And David is son of this Ephrathite of Beth-Lehem-Judah, whose name is Jesse, and he hath eight sons, and the man in the days of Saul hath become aged among men; David: 1Sa 17:58 16:1,18 Ru 4:22 Mt 1:6 Lu 3:31,32 Ephrathite: Ge 35:19 Ps 132:6 Mic 5:2 Mt 2:1,6 eight sons: 1Sa 16:10,11 1Ch 2:13-16 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID'S FAMILY REVIEWED Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons - This is background in preparation for David to take "center stage." Smith - David was one of eight sons of Jesse, an Ephrathite. The Ephrathites were a subdivision of the Calebites from the Bethlehem region (Ruth 1:2; 4:11; 1 Chr 2:19). Ephrath was an older name for the district in or around Bethlehem. (Ibid) And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men - lit., “he came among the weak.” The implication is he was unfit for battle Charles Stanley - STRATEGIES FOR THE FAITHFUL SCRIPTURE READING: 1 SAMUEL 17:12–27 KEY VERSE: 1 SAMUEL 17:26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” A faithful child of God will reckon spiritual victory as sure and certain by applying the strategies David used against Goliath: Fight the battle before the battle. Get on your face before God and pray through the challenge. Let the Lord prune, sift, sand, and weed you as you hash over the situation with Him. Do this until you are certain that you know the will of God. Reaffirm in your heart that the battle is the Lord’s. Only the Lord can work in your situation for good, and only He can bring about true victory. Declare the victory. David not only promised to slay Goliath but also said the Lord would destroy the entire Philistine army. His was the most ambitious of declarations, because he served the most certain, true God. Wait on God’s timing. It wasn’t until David declared what the Lord would do through him that the Lord brought about the victory. Sometimes He asks us to wait. Always His timing is perfect. Proceed in God’s way. We are prone to rely upon the world’s ways when we get into battles. We have to trust God always—even when He asks us to do something that doesn’t make sense immediately. Trust God. Pray unceasingly. Fight with confidence. Believe God’s promises. Take Him—at His Word. Wait for His victory. The battle is Yours, Lord! I will wait for Your timing and proceed in Your way, trusting You to give the victory. (Pathways to His Presence: A Daily Devotional) Walter Kaiser - go to page 211 in Hard Sayings of the Bible for discussion of the question - Did Jesse father seven or eight sons? Chronicles says it was seven, but Samuel says it was eight (1 Sam 16:10–11; 17:12–14). Which one is accurate? First Samuel 16 only names four of Jesse’s sons: Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah, who is called Shimea in 1 Chronicles, and David. First Chronicles gives the names of three other sons, Nethanel, Raddai and Ozem, but specifies that David is the seventh. What happened to the other unnamed son, that 1 Chronicles 2 totally ignores, is unknown. Some commentators suggest that this unnamed son may have died without any posterity, and therefore his name was not included in the list in Chronicles. The reading of the Syriac lists an Elihu as the seventh son in 1 Chronicles 2:15 and then lists David as the eighth, thereby bringing the two lists in Samuel and Chronicles into harmony with each other. The Syriac reading is based on the Hebrew reading of 1 Chronicles 27:18, where the Septuagint has Eliab instead of Elihu (apparently going with the known name from the list in 1 Samuel). If the Syriac and Hebrew preserve accurate traditions, then Elihu is the son missing from the list of 1 Chronicles 2:15. Gleason Archer - go to page 178 in The Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties for the discussion of the topic - How many sons did Jesse have? First Samuel 16:10–11 makes it eight, but 1 Chronicles 2:13–15 makes it seven. 1 Samuel 16 names only the three oldest brothers of David: Eliab (v.6), Abinadab (v.8), and Shammah (v.9), who is called Shimea in 1 Chronicles 2:13. Yet it does specify that Jesse introduced seven of his sons to Samuel (v.10) before he had the youngest, David, called home from the field (v.11). 1 Chronicles 2:14 gives the names of the other three as Nethanel, Raddai, and Ozem, and specifies that David was the seventh. What became of the other son, unnamed in 1 Samuel 16 and totally ignored in 1 Chronicles 2? Delitzsch (Keil and Delitzsch, Chronicles, p.62) suggests that he might have died without posterity; therefore his name was not preserved as late as the period when Chronicles was composed. It may well have been that he died of illness or accident while still a young man, prior to marriage. Since he produced no descendants and contributed no exploits back in David’s time, there was no special reason for retaining him in the later enumeration of Jesse’s sons. The writer of this article had an older brother who died quite young, which would bring up the count of the children to four. Yet after the death of that earlier son, the three surviving children always spoke of themselves as a family of three siblings. Perhaps a similar event happened in Jesse’s family as well. The full number of his sons was eight, but only seven survived and played a role during David’s career. (1 Chron. 2:16 adds that there were two daughters as well, Zeruiah and Abigail. After they were married, their sons played an important role as well in the service of their uncle David.) Norman Geisler - go to page 148 in When Critics Ask for discussion of Did Jesse have eight sons as indicated in this verse, or only seven as indicated in 1 Chronicles 2:13–15? PROBLEM: Although 1 Samuel 16 only names the three oldest brothers of David, verse 10 states that Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel before he brought David out. However, 1 Chronicles 2:13–15 indicates that David was the seventh son of Jesse. How many sons did Jesse have? SOLUTION: The passage in 1 Chronicles records the names of seven sons of Jesse, perhaps because one of David’s brothers died, and his name was not preserved as late as the composing of 1 Chronicles. It is not an uncommon practice for the surviving children to speak of their family in terms of the remaining number, so that any member of a family which would have been composed of eight sons, identifies himself as one of a group of seven brothers. This would very likely be the case in David’s family if the brother had died before marriage, leaving no posterity, and had made no significant contribution during the rise and reign of David. There would have been no reason to retain his name among the genealogical records of the sons of Jesse. 1 Samuel 17:13 The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. KJV 1 Samuel 17:13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. NET 1 Samuel 17:13 Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest. CSB 1 Samuel 17:13 Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third, ESV 1 Samuel 17:13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. NIV 1 Samuel 17:13 Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. NLT 1 Samuel 17:13 Jesse's three oldest sons-- Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea-- had already joined Saul's army to fight the Philistines. NRS 1 Samuel 17:13 The three eldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle; the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. NJB 1 Samuel 17:13 Jesse's eldest three sons followed Saul to the war. The names of the three sons who went to the war were: the eldest Eliab, the second Abinadab and the third Shammah. NAB 1 Samuel 17:13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to war; these three sons who had gone off to war were named, the first-born Eliab, the second son Abinadab, and the third Shammah. YLT 1 Samuel 17:13 and the three eldest sons of Jesse go, they have gone after Saul to battle; and the name of his three sons who have gone into battle are Eliab the first-born, and his second Abinadab, and the third Shammah. names: 1Sa 17:28 16:6-9 1Ch 2:13 Shammah: 2Sa 13:3,32 21:21 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THREE SONS OF JESSE WHO GOD PASSED OVER The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle - Apparently Saul had conscripted them as described in 1Sa 14:52+ (and prophesied in 1Sa 8:11, 12+). And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah - These were the same three in the same order as presented before Samuel by Jesse as possible "king" candidates but all of which were passed over by Yahweh. 1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, KJV 1 Samuel 17:14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. NET 1 Samuel 17:14 Now David was the youngest. While the three oldest sons followed Saul, CSB 1 Samuel 17:14 and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul, ESV 1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, NIV 1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, NLT 1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest son. David's three oldest brothers stayed with Saul's army, NRS 1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest; the three eldest followed Saul, NJB 1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest; the eldest three followed Saul. NAB 1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest. While the three oldest had joined Saul, YLT 1 Samuel 17:14 And David is the youngest, and the three eldest have gone after Saul, the youngest: 1Sa 16:11 Ge 25:23 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID THE YOUNGEST SON OF JESSE David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul - While Jesse was too old, David was too young to fight in Saul's army. This is surprising in view of the previous testimony in 1Sa 16:18+ that David was "a mighty man of valor, a warrior." It would seem Saul would have conscripted him as described in 1Sa 14:52+ for "when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he attached him to his staff." All this while David is keeping his father’s sheep, but at the end of forty days God's Providence brings him to the field to win and wear the laurel which no other Israelite dares venture for. As an aside, notice that David is said to be the youngest of eight sons of Jesse. Yet Ps 89:27 calls David God’s firstborn, demonstrating that “firstborn” is as much a title and a concept as a description of birth order. Therefore, when Paul calls Jesus firstborn over all creation in Col 1:15, he isn’t trying to say that Jesus is a created Being Who had a beginning. He is simply pointing to the prominence and preeminence of Jesus. And of course reading the text in context teaches us the same truth (see the next verse Col 1:16 where Jesus created all things, so by default He could not be a created Being! The cults like Jehovah's Witnesses love to use Colossians 1:15 to falsely teach Jesus was created.) 1 Samuel 17:15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem. KJV 1 Samuel 17:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. NET 1 Samuel 17:15 David was going back and forth from Saul in order to care for his father's sheep in Bethlehem. CSB 1 Samuel 17:15 but David kept going back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock in Bethlehem. ESV 1 Samuel 17:15 but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. NIV 1 Samuel 17:15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem. NLT 1 Samuel 17:15 but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem. NRS 1 Samuel 17:15 but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. NJB 1 Samuel 17:15 David alternated between serving Saul and looking after his father's sheep at Bethlehem. NAB 1 Samuel 17:15 David would go and come from Saul to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem. YLT 1 Samuel 17:15 and David is going and returning from Saul, to feed the flock of his father at Beth-Lehem. went back and forth: 1Sa 16:11,19-23 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID CONTRIBUTED TO THE WAR EFFORT but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem - lit., “was going and returning” David did not shirk his duties as his family's shepherd, but he also came to the front of battle bringing supplies (v17-18). Smith - Some see a problem here between these verses and 16:22 where David was appointed Saul’s armor-bearer. One would expect to find an armor-bearer in Saul’s company, especially in a time of war. These suggestions have been made: (1) David’s appointment in 16:22 was not intended to be permanent. (2) David was only summoned to the palace when Saul’s madness required his services as musician. (3) The notice in 16:22 that David became Saul’s armor-bearer refers to what happened after the slaying of Goliath, and is recorded there by way of anticipation. In any case, military heroes had many armor-bearers—Joab had ten (2 Sam 18:15)—and there is no reason to think that all of them would go on each campaign. (Ibid) 1 Samuel 17:16 The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand. KJV 1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. NET 1 Samuel 17:16 Meanwhile for forty days the Philistine approached every morning and evening and took his position. CSB 1 Samuel 17:16 Every morning and evening for 40 days the Philistine came forward and took his stand. ESV 1 Samuel 17:16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. NIV 1 Samuel 17:16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. NLT 1 Samuel 17:16 For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army. NRS 1 Samuel 17:16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. NJB 1 Samuel 17:16 Morning and evening, the Philistine advanced, presenting himself thus for forty days. NAB 1 Samuel 17:16 (Meanwhile the Philistine came forward and took his stand morning and evening for forty days. YLT 1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine draweth nigh, morning and evening, and stationeth himself forty days. forty days: Mt 4:2 Lu 4:2 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE STALEMATE CONTINUES The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand - Goliath's forty days of taunting and tempting the Hebrews recalls Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness being tempted/tested by the Devil, the spiritual "father of Goliath!" (Mt 4:2+ Lu 4:2+) There is no record that any Hebrew even made a peep! Why forty days? This would have given any Hebrew soldier sufficient time to work up enough courage to say "I'll take on that uncircumcised Philistine!" And yet no one "steps up to the plate," for fear they are going to be hit with a "beanball" so to speak. The irony is that the one who would soon step up and through a pitch, would throw a perfect "beanball" at Goliath's head! Beanball is a colloquialism used in baseball, for a ball thrown at an opposing player with the intention of striking them such as to cause harm, often connoting a throw at the player's head (or "bean" in old-fashioned slang).[1] A pitcher who throws beanballs often is known as a "headhunter". Significantly, forty days (or 40 years) is used in the Scriptures rather consistently as a period of judgment and or testing. It rained for forty days in the time of Noah. Israel was in the wilderness forty years. Jesus fasted and was tempted of the devil for forty days before He began His public ministry. So here, Israel is also tested by Goliath’s mockery not once but twice per day! Saul and thousands of Hebrew soldiers just sit silent as he taunts them! 1 Samuel 17:17 Then Jesse said to David his son, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers. KJV 1 Samuel 17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; NET 1 Samuel 17:17 Jesse said to his son David, "Take your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread; go quickly to the camp to your brothers. CSB 1 Samuel 17:17 One day Jesse had told his son David: "Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these 10 loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. ESV 1 Samuel 17:17 And Jesse said to David his son, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. NIV 1 Samuel 17:17 Now Jesse said to his son David, "Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. NLT 1 Samuel 17:17 One day Jesse said to David, "Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. NRS 1 Samuel 17:17 Jesse said to his son David, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers; NJB 1 Samuel 17:17 Jesse said to his son David, 'Take your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves, and hurry to the camp, to your brothers. NAB 1 Samuel 17:17 (Now Jesse said to his son David: "Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves for your brothers, and bring them quickly to your brothers in the camp. YLT 1 Samuel 17:17 And Jesse saith to David his son, 'Take, I pray thee, to thy brethren, an ephah of this roasted corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; Take now: Mt 7:11 Lu 11:13 grain: 1Sa 25:18 Ru 2:14 2Sa 17:28 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID SERVED AS SUPPLY RUNNER Then Jesse said to David his son, "Take now for your brothers an ephah (half a bushel) of this roasted (parched) grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers - Do you see God's hand of providence? Notice that David does not initiate this trip! How often David made this trip is not stated, but it kept him in shape for he was told to run not walk! James Smith - Handfuls of Purpose - 1 Samuel 17. DAVID'S VICTORY. Faith is a sword "that smites with more than mortal blow." David learned to use this sword when but a lad tending his father's sheep among the uplands of Bethlehem. Those who win open and public victories for God are those who have triumphed in the lowly sphere of life and in the hidden kingdom of the heart. Goliath is a fit type of the God of this world, who blatantly defies the Lord's people. Tradition credits him as being the one who took the Ark of God. "Choose you out a man, and let him come down to me!" cried this giant prince of boasters. But they were utterly unable to choose such a man. The overcomer of Israel's enemy must be the chosen of God, the man after His own heart, a true type of Him who came to destroy the works of the Devil, and to bruise the head of the adversary. We shall view David here in this light. Notice his— I. Gracious Mission. "He went as Jesse had commanded him, and came and saluted his brethren" (vv. 17-22). David, like Christ, came out from his father, rejoicing to do his will, and bringing the love and gifts of the father to his brethren. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. As the bright ruddy youth went forth with the ten loaves for his brethren, and the ten cheeses for the captain of their thousand, who would have thought that this (child) was set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel? II. Motives Misjudged. "And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why earnest you down hither? I know your pride" (v. 28). This eldest brother, like the kinsmen of Christ, betrays the grossest ignorance of the real character of the pure and generous-minded David. David's motives were so unselfish that the proud self-seeking Eliab could not understand him; besides, it was a gratuitous insult to his father who sent him. It is not easy for a man to judge what is white when he persists in looking through colored glasses. David's sufferings here were akin to the sufferings of Christ, and an example of how we, too, must suffer if we are faithful to the Father's word and will. David's calm reply to this libelous charge is worthy of note. "What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" Yes, there is a cause—deep, far-reaching, and God-glorifying. III. Solemn Determination. "David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine" (v. 32). God's special purpose in bringing him into the camp at this time has come upon David as a rapidly-growing revelation. The Spirit of God has convinced him that his mission is to overthrow the defier of Israel, and, like his Lord, "he set his face like a flint" to do it. If you feel moved by the Spirit to do even some unprecedented thing for the glory of God be not deterred by the worldly wisdom which says, like Saul, "You are not able" (v. 33). As David, the stripling, stands before the tall armor-clad king of Israel, with a sling and a staff in his hands, despised and rejected by his own brethren, he looks altogether unfit for such a conflict. But God has chosen the weak things to confound the mighty. IV. Unwavering Confidence. "Your servant slew both the lion and the bear; and this Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied... the living God" (vv. 34-37). David's past and secret experiences of the power of faith in the living God nerves his soul now with fearlessness. Was it not so also with the "Greater than David?" Are there not always secret victories in the life before we openly triumph in the sight of doubting and fearful men. Those who defy the living God are not to be feared by those who trust Him. Windbags are not of much account with Him who is a consuming fire. Perhaps Saul looked upon David as one whose spirit was willing, but whose flesh was weak when he put his armor on him (v. 38). But the armor that suits a man who fights in the energy of the flesh will never suit a man who wars in the power of the Spirit. So he put them off, "for he had not proved them." The Lord's anointed must meet the enemy not as a soldier, but as a shepherd (John 10:10, 11). As an armor against the sting of pain they gave Jesus wine mingled with myrrh. But He received it not. He met the enemy in the strength of faith. V. Invisible Armor. David said, "I come to you in the Name of the Lord of Hosts, the God whom you have defied" (v. 45). Goliath could only see the stripling and his staff; he could not see the mighty Name in which David was encased as a tower of strength (Proverbs 18:10). His Name means all that He is in our behalf, and this is "the whole armor of God." Put it on (Ephesians 6:10, 11). Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty through the Spirit. Our help is in the Name of the Lord (Psalm 124:8). "If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it" (see Acts 3:16). VI. Decided Victory. "So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone" (vv. 50, 51). It was with the sling of faith and the stone of truth that David's Lord prevailed over the enemy of souls in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). As David slew Goliath with his own sword, so Christ conquered death by dying and him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14, 15). David went forth to the fight, as Christ went to the Cross, in the presence of those who doubtless thought that they would see him again no more alive. But he came back again, triumphant over the foe, and became the chief among the thousands. This great battle was between the representatives of two different kingdoms; each nation conquers or falls in their champion. So was it with God's anointed Son. "Thanks be unto God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). We are "more than conquerors" through Him. Theodore Epp - THE WAY OF VICTORY 1 Samuel 17:17-37 Saul stated that David was not able to go against the Philistine. Saul said, "Thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth" (1 Sam. 17:33). Here was a man of gigantic stature and who had been trained for war from his adolescent years. In this way, Saul sought to discourage David just as Eliab had tried to discourage him with criticism and slander. But David knew his God and would not be put off. Many centuries later Paul put into words the truth that God does not choose the great things of this world to do His work, but He calls on those things that the world considers as nothing to confound the world's wisdom (see 1 Cor. 1:26-29). Herein lies a basic difference between human reasoning and God's reasoning. David knew his God and had already seen the hand of God upon his own life in a remarkable way. David said to Saul, "Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him" (1 Sam. 17:34,35). All of us face lions and bears and Goliaths who defy the living God and scorn His people. But where is the Lord God of David? He is still the same today, and those of us who put our trust in Him will be victorious. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1). 1 Samuel 17:18 "Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them. KJV 1 Samuel 17:18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. NET 1 Samuel 17:18 Also take these ten portions of cheese to their commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are doing and bring back their pledge that they received the goods. CSB 1 Samuel 17:18 Also take these 10 portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them. ESV 1 Samuel 17:18 Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them." NIV 1 Samuel 17:18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. NLT 1 Samuel 17:18 And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing. " NRS 1 Samuel 17:18 also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them." NJB 1 Samuel 17:18 And take these ten cheeses to their commanding officer; find out how your brothers are and bring some token back from them; NAB 1 Samuel 17:18 Also take these ten cheeses for the field officer. Greet your brothers and bring home some token from them. YLT 1 Samuel 17:18 and these ten cuttings of the cheese thou dost take in to the head of the thousand, and thy brethren thou dost inspect for welfare, and their pledge dost receive.' carry: 1Sa 16:20 cheeses: Heb. cheeses of milk, 2Sa 17:29 Job 10:10 their thousand: Heb. a thousand look: Ge 37:14 Ac 15:36 1Th 3:5,6 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand (the brother's unit), and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them - NLT = "bring back a report on how they are doing." To obey these instructions he would begin to get a sense of the tenor of the soldiers in the Israeli camp (fearful). 1 Samuel 17:19 "For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines." KJV 1 Samuel 17:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. NET 1 Samuel 17:19 They are with Saul and the whole Israelite army in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines." CSB 1 Samuel 17:19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines." ESV 1 Samuel 17:19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. NIV 1 Samuel 17:19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines." NLT 1 Samuel 17:19 David's brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines. NRS 1 Samuel 17:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. NJB 1 Samuel 17:19 they are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of the Terebinth, fighting the Philistines.' NAB 1 Samuel 17:19 Saul, and they, and all Israel are fighting against the Philistines in the Vale of the Terebinth." YLT 1 Samuel 17:19 And Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. the valley: Dr. Richardson says, that in about twenty minutes, in an easterly direction, form the cave of St. John, (which is about two hours or six miles, in a westerly direction, from Jerusalem,) they came to the valley of Elah; which position seems to agree with that of Shochoh and Azekah. He describes it as "a small valley, and the place of the encampment is pointed out where it narrows into a broad, deep ravine; part of it was in crop, and part of it was under the plough, which was drawn by a couple of oxen. A small stream, which had shrunk almost under its stony bed, passes through it from east to west, from which we are informed that David chose out five smooth stones, and hasted and ran to meet the haughty champion of Gath. A well of water under the bank, with a few olive trees above, on the north side of the valley, are said to mark the spot of the shepherd's triumph over his boasting antagonist. Saul and his men probably occupied the side of the valley which is nearest to Jerusalem, on which the ground is higher and more rugged than on the other side." 1Sa 17:19 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HEBREWS FEARING MORE ACCURATE THAN FIGHTING For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines - There was no active fighting taking place. The main fighting was by the Philistine's daily defiant words calculated to arouse fear in the Hebrews. Smith - He reached the Israelite camp (מַּעְגָּלָה, ma˓gālāh). This term, as a military term, is used also in 1 Sam 26:5, 7 and may refer (1) to an entrenchment, (2) a barricade around the camp, or (3) to the camp itself which may have been circular in formation. David arrived as the army was going out from the base camp to its battle positions. (Ibid) 1 Samuel 17:20 So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry. KJV 1 Samuel 17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. NET 1 Samuel 17:20 So David got up early in the morning and entrusted the flock to someone else who would watch over it. After loading up, he went just as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the camp as the army was going out to the battle lines shouting its battle cry. CSB 1 Samuel 17:20 So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry. ESV 1 Samuel 17:20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. NIV 1 Samuel 17:20 Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. NLT 1 Samuel 17:20 So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries. NRS 1 Samuel 17:20 David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. NJB 1 Samuel 17:20 David got up early in the morning and, leaving the sheep with someone to guard them, took up his load and went off as Jesse had ordered; he reached the encampment just as the troops were leaving to take up battle stations and shouting the war cry. NAB 1 Samuel 17:20 Early the next morning, having left the flock with a shepherd, David set out on his errand, as Jesse had commanded him. He reached the barricade of the camp just as the army, on their way to the battleground, were shouting their battle cry. YLT 1 Samuel 17:20 And David riseth early in the morning, and leaveth the flock to a keeper, and lifteth up, and goeth, as Jesse commanded him, and he cometh in to the path, and to the force which is going out unto the rank, and they have shouted for battle; left the sheep: 1Sa 17:28 Eph 6:1,2 circle, 1Sa 26:5 Lu 19:43 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries So - Describes David's obedience to his father's instruction. David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry 1 Samuel 17:21 Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army. KJV 1 Samuel 17:21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. NET 1 Samuel 17:21 Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines opposite one another. CSB 1 Samuel 17:21 Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other. ESV 1 Samuel 17:21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. NIV 1 Samuel 17:21 Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. NLT 1 Samuel 17:21 Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. NRS 1 Samuel 17:21 Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. NJB 1 Samuel 17:21 Israel and the Philistines drew up their lines facing one another. NAB 1 Samuel 17:21 The Israelites and the Philistines drew up opposite each other in battle array. YLT 1 Samuel 17:21 and Israel and the Philistines set in array rank to meet rank. RSV 1 Samuel 17:21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. NKJ 1 Samuel 17:21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Valley of Elah - ESV Global Study Bible Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army - This must have been a dramatic confrontation, just like we've seen in the movies when two armies are standing across from each other, in this case separated by the Valley of Elah. 1 Samuel 17:22 Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers. KJV 1 Samuel 17:22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. NET 1 Samuel 17:22 After David had entrusted his cargo to the care of the supply officer, he ran to the battlefront. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. CSB 1 Samuel 17:22 David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were. ESV 1 Samuel 17:22 And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. NIV 1 Samuel 17:22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. NLT 1 Samuel 17:22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers. NRS 1 Samuel 17:22 David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. NJB 1 Samuel 17:22 David left his bundle in charge of the baggage guard and, running to the battle-line, went and asked his brothers how they were. NAB 1 Samuel 17:22 David entrusted what he had brought to the keeper of the baggage and hastened to the battle line, where he greeted his brothers. YLT 1 Samuel 17:22 And David letteth down the goods from off him on the hand of a keeper of the goods, and runneth into the rank, and cometh and asketh of his brethren of welfare. greeted: Heb. asked his brethren of peace, Ge 37:14 Jdg 18:15 Mt 10:12,13 Lu 10:5,6 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID RUNS TO THE BATTLE LINE Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper (keeper of supplies, "supply officer"), and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers (lit. inquired of his brothers of peace) - Clearly David was not fearful of drawing closer to the enemy. After all, he did not know when or if they might attack, but that did not seem to concern him. 1 Samuel 17:23 As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them. KJV 1 Samuel 17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. NET 1 Samuel 17:23 As he was speaking with them, the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines. He spoke the way he usually did, and David heard it. CSB 1 Samuel 17:23 While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard. ESV 1 Samuel 17:23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. NIV 1 Samuel 17:23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. NLT 1 Samuel 17:23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel. NRS 1 Samuel 17:23 As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. NJB 1 Samuel 17:23 While he was talking to them, the champion (Goliath, the Philistine from Gath) came up from the Philistine ranks and made his usual speech, which David heard. NAB 1 Samuel 17:23 While he was talking with them, the Philistine champion, by name Goliath of Gath, came up from the ranks of the Philistines and spoke as before, and David listened. YLT 1 Samuel 17:23 And he is speaking with them, and lo, a man of the duellists is coming up, Goliath the Philistine is his name, of Gath, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and he speaketh according to those words, and David heareth; according: 1Sa 17:4-10 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE GOLIATH TAKES CENTER STAGE! As he was talking with them, behold (hinneh) the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them - Behold signals the beginning of one of the most well known stories in the Bible - David and Goliath. David just "happens" to be on the front line of Israel when the big boy steps forward to taunt Israel again. Was this the 40th day? We cannot say, but it is the first time David hears Goliath and that changed everything in David's heart! 1 Samuel 17:24 When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid. KJV 1 Samuel 17:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. NET 1 Samuel 17:24 When all the men of Israel saw this man, they retreated from his presence and were very afraid. CSB 1 Samuel 17:24 When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified. ESV 1 Samuel 17:24 All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. NIV 1 Samuel 17:24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear. NLT 1 Samuel 17:24 As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. NRS 1 Samuel 17:24 All the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from him and were very much afraid. NJB 1 Samuel 17:24 As soon as the Israelites saw this man, they all ran away from him and were terrified. NAB 1 Samuel 17:24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all retreated before him, very much afraid. YLT 1 Samuel 17:24 and all the men of Israel when they see the man flee from his presence, and are greatly afraid. him: Heb. his face, 1Sa 13:6,7 sore: 1Sa 17:11 Lev 26:36 Nu 13:33 De 32:30 Isa 7:2 30:17 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HEBREWS FLEE AND FEAR GIANT SIGHTING When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid - Note they flee just at the sight of the giant, fleeing because of fear. Why do they flee? Does Scripture give us a clue? Indeed, it does, for Moses had writing "How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless (THIS IS THE KEY WORD!) their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up?" (Dt 32:30+) 1 Samuel 17:25 The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel." KJV 1 Samuel 17:25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. NET 1 Samuel 17:25 The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who is coming up? He does so to defy Israel. But the king will make the man who can strike him down very wealthy! He will give him his daughter in marriage, and he will make his father's house exempt from tax obligations in Israel." CSB 1 Samuel 17:25 Previously, an Israelite man had declared: "Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the household of that man's father exempt from paying taxes in Israel." ESV 1 Samuel 17:25 And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel." NIV 1 Samuel 17:25 Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel." NLT 1 Samuel 17:25 "Have you seen the giant?" the men asked. "He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man's entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!" NRS 1 Samuel 17:25 The Israelites said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. The king will greatly enrich the man who kills him, and will give him his daughter and make his family free in Israel." NJB 1 Samuel 17:25 The Israelites said, 'You saw that man who just came up? He comes to challenge Israel. The king will lavish riches on the man who kills him, he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father's family from all taxes in Israel.' NAB 1 Samuel 17:25 The Israelites had been saying: "Do you see this man coming up? He comes up to insult Israel. If anyone should kill him, the king would give him great wealth, and his daughter as well, and would grant exemption to his father's family in Israel." YLT 1 Samuel 17:25 And the men of Israel say, 'Have ye seen this man who is coming up? for, to reproach Israel he is coming up, and it hath been -- the man who smiteth him, the king doth enrich him with great riches, and his daughter he doth give to him, and his father's house doth make free in Israel.' the king: 1Sa 18:17-27 Jos 15:16 Rev 2:7,17 3:5,12,21 free in Israel: Ezr 7:24 Mt 17:26 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAUL PUTS A BOUNTY ON THE BIG HEAD OF GOLIATH The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel - Goliath is coming again to challenge Israel, throwing down the gauntlet as it were. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel - The situation had become so desperate, the Saul needed to offer what amounts to a bribe. So Saul puts a bounty on Goliath's head - money, wife, freedom for family. This should entice some brave soul. Bounty is often used to describe the sum paid to one who traps predatory animals, and in this case would be payment for a predatory Philistine! 1 Samuel 17:26 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" KJV 1 Samuel 17:26 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? NET 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men who were standing near him, "What will be done for the man who strikes down this Philistine and frees Israel from this humiliation? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he defies the armies of the living God?" CSB 1 Samuel 17:26 David spoke to the men who were standing with him: "What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" ESV 1 Samuel 17:26 And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" NIV 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" NLT 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, "What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" NRS 1 Samuel 17:26 David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" NJB 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men who were standing near him, 'What would be the reward for killing this Philistine and saving Israel from disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, to challenge the armies of the living God?' NAB 1 Samuel 17:26 David now said to the men standing by: "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and frees Israel of the disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine in any case, that he should insult the armies of the living God?" YLT 1 Samuel 17:26 And David speaketh unto the men who are standing by him, saying, 'What is done to the man who smiteth this Philistine, and hath turned aside reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he hath reproached the ranks of the living God?' reproach: 1Sa 11:2 Jos 7:8,9 2Ki 19:4 Ne 5:9 Ps 44:13 74:18 79:12 Da 9:16 Joe 2:19 uncircumcised: 1Sa 17:36 14:6 defy: 1Sa 17:10 De 5:26 Jer 10:10 1Th 1:9 1Jn 5:20 1 Samuel 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID'S SPIRIT ENABLED BRAVADO SPARKS CURIOSITY Then - This marks progression in the narrative. David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? - Of course, we the readers, know the answer from the previous passage - wealth, woman and family freedom. For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God? - Note David immediately focuses his question on the honor of his living God. When enemies blaspheme the Name of God, it should stir our hearts to righteous indignation. THOUGHT - How do you react when you hear someone use the glorious Name above all names, Jesus, as a profanity? Do you walk away? Do you say anything? Sometimes fear of man's opinion impedes me from saying anything, but other times I say something like they will meet Him someday, or "Do you know Him?," etc. Most of the time folks show little reaction when I counter their profanity, which is surprising. However, I know they have heard my reply. When the men of Israel said, “This man,” David said, “This uncircumcised Philistine.” When the men of Israel said, “Surely he has come up to defy Israel,” David said, “That he should defy the armies of the living God.” When the men of Israel said, “The man who kills him,” David said, “The man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel.” David saw things from the Lord’s perspective, but the men of Israel saw things only from man’s perspective. Living God - 28x/28v - Deut. 5:26; Jos. 3:10; 1 Sam. 17:26; 1 Sam. 17:36; 2 Ki. 19:4; 2 Ki. 19:16; Ps. 42:2; Ps. 84:2; Isa. 37:4; Isa. 37:17; Jer. 10:10; Jer. 23:36; Dan. 6:20; Dan. 6:26; Hos. 1:10; Matt. 16:16; Matt. 26:63; Acts 14:15; Rom. 9:26; 2 Co. 3:3; 2 Co. 6:16; 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Tim. 4:10; Heb. 3:12; Heb. 9:14; Heb. 10:31; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 7:2