DAVID & GOLIATH: HEAVY IS THE HEAD
SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Samuel 17:1-32
SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2026
Pastor Muche Ukegbu
Grow as men & women after God’s own heart.
What’s Happening:
The defiance
Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elahand drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. 4 A champion named
Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.
His shield bearer went ahead of him. 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let
us fight each other.”
v1-10
When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.
Psalm 50:20
God’s silence is not His absence, agreement, or compliance.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Galatians 6:7
God offers something better than trying to outrun or bury bad choices—grace.
The despair
On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified…
v11
Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.
v24
For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.
v16
When my present circumstances overshadow God’s past faithfulness, despair & disobedience are inevitable.
The dialogue
When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 29 “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.
v28-30
Critiquing from the sidelines is easier than cheering from the sidelines or getting in the game.
Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
v33
“‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
Leviticus 26:6-8
When you’re in a back and forth with yourself, fight to let God’s voice be the truest & loudest.
The defiance
What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. 32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” v31-32
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?”
v26
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:1
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Matthew 6:9
Is God’s name worth honoring & protecting?
The dependence
What David says:
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because
he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
v32-37
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is
the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
v45-47
What David does:
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream,
put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
v38-40
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
v50-51
Whatever age they are or stage of life they are in—give your kids to Jesus.
Biblical dependence is rooted in God confidence & expressed with faith & wisdom.
The deliverance
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.
v51-53
“the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know”
v46-47
It’s never just about us.
The encouragement & example:
There’s a God who fights for us.
The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him,and his own righteousness sustained him. 17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
Isaiah 59:15-17
Jesus is a warrior.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age,
Galatians 1:3-4
God fights for us—through us.
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:4
Men & Women after God’s own heart are warriors, fighting the right battles—the right way.
The way of the warrior:
Treasure The Name—give meaningful time to understanding God’s character.
Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
v26
Trust the process—give meaningful time to private development more than public activity.
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep.
v34
Take a stand—develop your convictions & discernment.
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.
v23
Take a shot—eagerly do what you can with while resisting the temptation to control what you can’t.
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.
v48
What’s Happening:
The defiance
Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elahand drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. 4 A champion named
Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.
His shield bearer went ahead of him. 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let
us fight each other.”
v1-10
When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.
Psalm 50:20
God’s silence is not His absence, agreement, or compliance.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Galatians 6:7
God offers something better than trying to outrun or bury bad choices—grace.
The despair
On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified…
v11
Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.
v24
For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.
v16
When my present circumstances overshadow God’s past faithfulness, despair & disobedience are inevitable.
The dialogue
When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 29 “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.
v28-30
Critiquing from the sidelines is easier than cheering from the sidelines or getting in the game.
Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
v33
“‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
Leviticus 26:6-8
When you’re in a back and forth with yourself, fight to let God’s voice be the truest & loudest.
The defiance
What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. 32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” v31-32
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?”
v26
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:1
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Matthew 6:9
Is God’s name worth honoring & protecting?
The dependence
What David says:
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because
he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
v32-37
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is
the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
v45-47
What David does:
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream,
put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
v38-40
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
v50-51
Whatever age they are or stage of life they are in—give your kids to Jesus.
Biblical dependence is rooted in God confidence & expressed with faith & wisdom.
The deliverance
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.
v51-53
“the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know”
v46-47
It’s never just about us.
The encouragement & example:
There’s a God who fights for us.
The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him,and his own righteousness sustained him. 17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
Isaiah 59:15-17
Jesus is a warrior.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age,
Galatians 1:3-4
God fights for us—through us.
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:4
Men & Women after God’s own heart are warriors, fighting the right battles—the right way.
The way of the warrior:
Treasure The Name—give meaningful time to understanding God’s character.
Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
v26
Trust the process—give meaningful time to private development more than public activity.
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep.
v34
Take a stand—develop your convictions & discernment.
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.
v23
Take a shot—eagerly do what you can with while resisting the temptation to control what you can’t.
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.
v48