Now David's words were overheard and reported to Saul, who called for him. Now David’s wordsThe phrase "David’s words" refers to the statements made by David regarding the Philistine giant, Goliath. In the Hebrew text, the word for "words" is "דְּבָרִים" (devarim), which can also mean "matters" or "things." This indicates that David's speech was not just idle talk but carried weight and significance. Historically, David's words reflect his faith and confidence in God, contrasting with the fear and despair of the Israelite army. His words were bold and filled with conviction, demonstrating his trust in God's deliverance. were overheard
The term "overheard" suggests that David's conversation was not initially directed at Saul or his officials but was spoken among the soldiers. The Hebrew root "שָׁמַע" (shama) means "to hear" or "to listen." This implies that David's words were compelling enough to capture the attention of those around him, leading to their report to Saul. The act of overhearing signifies the providential nature of God's plan, as David's faith-filled words reached the ears of those in authority. and reported to Saul
The phrase "reported to Saul" indicates that David's words were considered significant enough to be brought to the attention of the king. The Hebrew word "נָגַד" (nagad) means "to declare" or "to make known." This reporting marks a pivotal moment in the narrative, as it sets the stage for David's introduction to Saul and his eventual confrontation with Goliath. It highlights the divine orchestration in David's rise to prominence, as God uses the report of his words to position him for a greater purpose. who called for him
The action "called for him" shows Saul's interest and perhaps curiosity about the young shepherd who spoke with such confidence. The Hebrew verb "קָרָא" (qara) means "to call" or "to summon." Saul's decision to call for David demonstrates the impact of David's faith and courage, as it leads to a personal audience with the king. This moment foreshadows David's future role as a leader in Israel, as God begins to elevate him from obscurity to a position of influence and authority. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidA young shepherd who later becomes the King of Israel. At this point in the account, he is not yet king but is known for his faith and courage. 2. SaulThe first King of Israel, who is struggling with fear and indecision in the face of the Philistine threat, particularly Goliath. 3. GoliathAlthough not mentioned in this specific verse, he is the Philistine giant challenging the Israelites, setting the stage for David's rise. 4. Israelite CampThe setting where the Israelite army is encamped, facing the Philistine forces. 5. PhilistinesThe enemy nation opposing Israel, representing a significant threat to the Israelites. Teaching Points Courage in FaithDavid's willingness to speak up and face Goliath demonstrates a profound faith in God. Believers are encouraged to trust God in the face of daunting challenges. God's SovereigntyDavid's actions remind us that God often uses unlikely individuals to accomplish His purposes. We should remain open to how God might use us in unexpected ways. The Power of WordsDavid's words, overheard and reported to Saul, set in motion a series of events leading to victory. Our words can have significant impact and should be used wisely. Divine AppointmentsDavid's encounter with Saul was not by chance. God orchestrates events in our lives for His purposes, and we should be attentive to His leading. Preparation for ServiceDavid's previous experiences as a shepherd prepared him for this moment. God often uses our past experiences to equip us for future service. Bible Study Questions 1. How does David's faith in God influence his actions in this chapter, and how can we apply this kind of faith in our own lives? 2. In what ways does God prepare us for the challenges we face, as seen in David's life? 3. How can we ensure that our words, like David's, are used to encourage and bring about positive change? 4. What are some "giants" in our lives today, and how can we face them with the same confidence David had? 5. How does understanding God's sovereignty and divine appointments change the way we view our daily interactions and opportunities? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 16Provides background on David's anointing by Samuel, indicating God's choice of David as king, which sets the stage for his actions in chapter 17. Psalm 23Written by David, this psalm reflects his deep trust in God, a trust that is evident in his willingness to face Goliath. Hebrews 11This chapter highlights the faith of various biblical figures, including David, emphasizing the importance of faith in overcoming challenges. People Abinadab, Abner, David, Elah, Eliab, Ephah, Goliath, Israelites, Jesse, Saul, ShammahPlaces Azekah, Bethlehem, Ekron, Ephes-dammim, Gath, Jerusalem, Shaaraim, Socoh, Valley of ElahTopics David, Declare, Hearing, Overheard, Receiveth, Rehearsed, Repeated, Reported, Saul, Spake, Spoke, SpokenDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 17:20-51 5658 boys Library The victory of Unarmed Faith
'And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock; 35. And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureApril the Thirtieth the Test of victory
"David behaveth himself wisely." --1 SAMUEL xvii. 55--xviii. 5. The hour of victory is a more severe moral test than the hour of defeat. Many a man can brave the perils of adversity who succumbs to the seductions of prosperity. He can stand the cold better than the heat! He is enriched by failure, but "spoilt by success." To test the real quality of a man, let us regard him just when he has slain Goliath! "David behaved himself wisely"! He was not "eaten up with pride." He developed no "side." …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year April the Twenty-Ninth the Mood of Triumph
"I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts." --1 SAMUEL xvii. 38-54. The man who comes up to his foes with this assurance will fight and win. Reasonable confidence is one of the most important weapons in the warrior's armoury. Fear is always wasteful. The man who calmly expects to win has already begun to conquer. Our mood has so much to do with our might. And therefore does the Word of God counsel us to attend to our dispositions, lest, having carefully collected our material implements, …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year The Call of David.
"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone."--1 Samuel xvii. 50. These words, which are taken from the chapter which you heard read just now in the course of the Service[1], declare the victory which David, the man after God's own heart, gained over Goliath, who came out of the army of the Philistines to defy the Living God; and they declare the manner of his gaining it. He gained it with a sling and with a stone; that is, by means, which to man might seem weak and …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII How David Prevailed.
"So David prevailed over the Philistine!"--1 SAMUEL xvii. 50. Yes, he did, but he would not have done so if he had remained as quiet as the other Israelites. David was one of those who could not be easy so long as the enemies of his country were in the ascendant. To see a Philistine strutting about, defying the armies of the living God, was more than he could bear. Is not this the spirit which should animate Christians to-day? It is not one GOLIATH merely, there are many. DRUNKENNESS, PROFANITY, …
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ
John Knox, the great Scottish reformer, was born at Giffordgate, four miles from Haddington, Scotland, in 1505. He first made his appearance as a preacher in Edinburgh, where he thundered against popery, but was imprisoned and sent to the galleys in 1546. In 1547 Edward VI secured his release and made him a royal chaplain, when he acquired the friendship of Cranmer and other reformers. On the accession of Mary (1553) he took refuge on the Continent. In 1556 he accepted the charge of a church in Geneva, …
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I Hwochow Women's Bible Training School
COURSE OF STUDY FIRST TERM Book of Genesis. Gospel according to St. Luke or St. Mark. Acts of the Apostles, chapters i. to ix. "A Synopsis of the Central Themes of the Holy Bible." Reading Lessons, with necessary Explanation and Writing of Chinese Character. Arithmetic. Singing and Memorisation of Hymns. SECOND TERM Book of Exodus, Numbers, and 1 Samuel i. to xvi. The Gospel according to St. John. The Epistle of St James. "A Synopsis of the Central Themes of the Holy Bible"--(continued). Reading …
A. Mildred Cable—The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh The Shepherd-King
'And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt them mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel! fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons. 2. And Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. 3. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Temporal Advantages.
"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."--1 Tim. vi. 7, 8. Every age has its own special sins and temptations. Impatience with their lot, murmuring, grudging, unthankfulness, discontent, are sins common to men at all times, but I suppose one of those sins which belongs to our age more than to another, is desire of a greater portion of worldly goods than God has given us,--ambition and covetousness …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6.
Several interpreters, Paulus especially, have asserted that the interpretation of Micah which is here given, was that of the Sanhedrim only, and not of the Evangelist, who merely recorded what happened and was said. But this assertion is at once refuted when we consider the object which Matthew has in view in his entire representation of the early life of Jesus. His object in recording the early life of Jesus is not like that of Luke, viz., to communicate historical information to his readers. …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Samuel 17:31 NIV1 Samuel 17:31 NLT1 Samuel 17:31 ESV1 Samuel 17:31 NASB1 Samuel 17:31 KJV
1 Samuel 17:31 Commentaries
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