And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
Goliath's taunt was a demand for single combat in which one Israelite would face him to decide which nation would serve the other, pressed for forty days by a champion about twelve feet tall until all Israel, including Saul, was afraid. The defiance was aimed at God as well as at the armies of Israel, and because transgression had weakened Israel's trust, Saul dared not meet it, so God saved his honor by raising up David to defeat the giant and to rule his people. David was stirred by the unanswered boast to vindicate the living God and the credit of his people, and he overcame the Philistine by trusting in God. The same defiance is repeated when proud opposers trample God's law, the transcript of His character, and heap contempt, ridicule, falsehood and personal abuse on Sabbath-keeping defenders of truth. To leave such loud, boasting defiance unanswered would dishonor God, so its terms must be met, yet those who proclaim truth must not imitate Goliath by provoking debate in a railing spirit but speak with humility and love. The controversy must be carried with humble reliance on God under the Holy Spirit, with dignity, prayer and without loss of temper or boastful self-confidence, for truth will expose the boaster's weakness and bring light out of darkness as surely as David's small stones laid Goliath low.
Goliath's Defiant Challenge
The verse is Goliath's demand that Israel choose one man to meet him in single combat, a form of warfare chosen by the Philistines in which the outcome would decide which people would serve the other. The champion who issued it was about twelve feet tall. His proud challenge was repeated day after day for forty days, filling Israel with fear and making even Saul afraid.
The defiance was aimed at God as well as at the armies of Israel. Israel's transgressions had weakened its trust in God, so that Saul and the people dared not face him. But God would not let an idolatrous nation boast against Him, and He saved Israel through David, whom He had raised up to rule His people, rather than through Saul. The unanswered defiance stirred David to defend the honor of the living God and the credit of his people. He later faced and defeated the Philistine champion by trusting in God.
Answering Defiance Today
The same defiance of Goliath toward Israel is repeated when an intellectually proud, trained debater boasts that he will wipe out God's Sabbath-keeping people and challenges them to debate the Sabbath question. It is repeated also when opposers of the law of God trample God underfoot by abusing His law, the transcript of His character, and heap personal abuse and ridicule on those who defend it. Such defiance is loud, boastful opposition marked by ridicule, proud assertions, falsehood and misrepresentation while keeping the appearance of godliness, carried on in a high, boasting, infuriated spirit that gathers a noisy rabble around it. Contempt and ridicule are the worst kind of insult and the most difficult to endure patiently.
The defiance of truth by error will be overcome, and light will shine out of darkness. Though the defier appears strong, his weakness is made apparent when met by truth, which works like the small pebbles David used to bring about the boaster's defeat. To leave such boasting defiance unanswered would dishonor God, so the terms of meeting it must be agreed upon.
Those who proclaim truth must not imitate Goliath by challenging or provoking opponents to debate with a defiant, railing spirit, for Israel did not begin the defiance. They should speak with humility and love and let the truth itself do its work. God's cause must be defended with humble reliance on God rather than boastful reliance on prepared arguments or self-confidence, since boasting and misplaced confidence can bring harm to the defenders and others. The controversy must be carried under the guidance of the Holy Spirit with dignity and without loss of temper or sharp severity, with brethren standing by and special prayer offered every night that the Lord will give victory to the truth.
Goliath's taunt was a demand for single combat in which one Israelite would face him to decide which nation would serve the other, pressed for forty days by a champion about twelve feet tall until all Israel, including Saul, was afraid. The defiance was aimed at God as well as at the armies of Israel, and because transgression had weakened Israel's trust, Saul dared not meet it, so God saved his honor by raising up David to defeat the giant and to rule his people. David was stirred by the unanswered boast to vindicate the living God and the credit of his people, and he overcame the Philistine by trusting in God. The same defiance is repeated when proud opposers trample God's law, the transcript of His character, and heap contempt, ridicule, falsehood and personal abuse on Sabbath-keeping defenders of truth. To leave such loud, boasting defiance unanswered would dishonor God, so its terms must be met, yet those who proclaim truth must not imitate Goliath by provoking debate in a railing spirit but speak with humility and love. The controversy must be carried with humble reliance on God under the Holy Spirit, with dignity, prayer and without loss of temper or boastful self-confidence, for truth will expose the boaster's weakness and bring light out of darkness as surely as David's small stones laid Goliath low.
Goliath's Defiant Challenge
The verse is Goliath's demand that Israel choose one man to meet him in single combat, a form of warfare chosen by the Philistines in which the outcome would decide which people would serve the other. The champion who issued it was about twelve feet tall. His proud challenge was repeated day after day for forty days, filling Israel with fear and making even Saul afraid.
The defiance was aimed at God as well as at the armies of Israel. Israel's transgressions had weakened its trust in God, so that Saul and the people dared not face him. But God would not let an idolatrous nation boast against Him, and He saved Israel through David, whom He had raised up to rule His people, rather than through Saul. The unanswered defiance stirred David to defend the honor of the living God and the credit of his people. He later faced and defeated the Philistine champion by trusting in God.
Answering Defiance Today
The same defiance of Goliath toward Israel is repeated when an intellectually proud, trained debater boasts that he will wipe out God's Sabbath-keeping people and challenges them to debate the Sabbath question. It is repeated also when opposers of the law of God trample God underfoot by abusing His law, the transcript of His character, and heap personal abuse and ridicule on those who defend it. Such defiance is loud, boastful opposition marked by ridicule, proud assertions, falsehood and misrepresentation while keeping the appearance of godliness, carried on in a high, boasting, infuriated spirit that gathers a noisy rabble around it. Contempt and ridicule are the worst kind of insult and the most difficult to endure patiently.
The defiance of truth by error will be overcome, and light will shine out of darkness. Though the defier appears strong, his weakness is made apparent when met by truth, which works like the small pebbles David used to bring about the boaster's defeat. To leave such boasting defiance unanswered would dishonor God, so the terms of meeting it must be agreed upon.
Those who proclaim truth must not imitate Goliath by challenging or provoking opponents to debate with a defiant, railing spirit, for Israel did not begin the defiance. They should speak with humility and love and let the truth itself do its work. God's cause must be defended with humble reliance on God rather than boastful reliance on prepared arguments or self-confidence, since boasting and misplaced confidence can bring harm to the defenders and others. The controversy must be carried under the guidance of the Holy Spirit with dignity and without loss of temper or sharp severity, with brethren standing by and special prayer offered every night that the Lord will give victory to the truth.