Send Out Your Champion!

War with the Philistines resumed, and the armies drew themselves up on either side of a valley called Elah. In the middle of the valley was a steeply sided ravine that could be crossed only at certain narrow spots. It formed an effective barrier between the two camps.

As a frontal attack would be difficult to mount, the Philistines decided that rather than commit to a pitched battle, they would seek trial by combat to determine the outcome.

The losers would become slaves. Goliath was their challenger.

He was a resident of Gath and probably not a Philistine by birth, being a descendant of Anak, but he was their best fighter. The exact height of Goliath is not known.

Some say he was 9.5 feet tall, basing their estimate on his given height of “six cubits and a span” (1 Samuel 17:4). A cubit might be anywhere from 17.5 to 20.5 inches.

Ellen White writes, “The Philistines propose their own manner of warfare, in selecting a man of great size and strength, whose height is about twelve feet, and they send this champion forth to provoke a combat with Israel, requesting them to send out a man to fight with him. He was terrible in appearance, and spoke proudly, and defied the armies of Israel and their God.” Goliath’s torso was covered with bronze armor weighing around 125 pounds.

He carried a javelin with an iron head weighing around fifteen pounds.

His armor-bearer carried a shield before him.

Every day for forty days, he came out and dared Saul to send someone to fight. “Here Saul, an egotistical despot, was confronted by another braggart, and knew not what to do. Furthermore, Saul was a giant among his own people, and was the logical one to accept the challenge. He stood head and shoulders above his fellows and had a bronze helmet and coat of mail ([1 Samuel 17:38]), yet trembled before Goliath.

Although he had forfeited the presence and protection of the Spirit of God, he realized that he must win this stalemate or lose face with his people.” How often do you place yourself in tight spots without having first taken God into your plans?