Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 17
Overview:
Goliath's challenge.
(1-11) David comes to the
Camp.
(12-30)
David undertakes to fight
Goliath.
(31-39) and goes to meet him.
(40-47) He kills
Goliath.
(48-58)
1-11 Men
So entirely depend upon
God in all things, that when
he withdraws his help, the most valiant and resolute cannot find
their hearts or hands, as daily experience shows.
12-30 Jesse little thought of sending his son to the
Army at
that critical juncture; but the
Wise God orders actions and
affairs,
So as to serve his designs. In times of general
formality and lukewarmness, every degree of zeal which implies
readiness to go further, or to venture more in the cause of
God
than others, will be blamed as pride and ambition, and
By none
more than
By near relations, like
Eliab, or negligent superiors.
It was a trial of
David's
Meekness, patience, and constancy. He
had right and reason
On his side, and did not render railing for
railing; with a soft answer he turned away his
Brother's wrath.
This conquest of his own
Passion was more honourable than that
of
Goliath. Those who undertake great and public services, must
not think it strange if they are spoken ill of, and opposed
By
those from whom they expect support and assistance. They must
humbly go
On with their work, in the
Face not only of enemies'
threats, but of friends' slights and suspicions.
31-39 A
Shepherd lad, come the same morning from keeping
Sheep,
had more courage than all the mighty men of
Israel. Thus
God
often sends good words to his
Israel, and does great things for
them,
By the weak and foolish things of the world. As he had
answered his
Brother's
Passion with
Meekness,
So David answered
Saul's fear with
Faith. When
David kept
Sheep, he proved himself
very careful and tender of his flock. This reminds us of
Christ,
the good
Shepherd, who not only ventured, but laid down his
Life
for the
Sheep. Our experience ought to encourage us to trust in
God, and be bold in the way of duty. He that has delivered, does
and will continue to do
So.
David gained leave to fight the
Philistine. Not being used to such
Armour as
Saul Put upon him,
he was not satisfied to go in that manner; this was from the
Lord, that it might more plainly appear he fought and conquered
in
Faith, and that the victory was from Him who
Works By the
feeblest and most despised means and instruments. It is not to
be inquired how excellent any thing is, but how proper. Let
Saul's
Coat be ever
So rich, and his
Armour ever
So strong, what
is
David the better if they fit him not? But
Faith,
Prayer,
Truth, and
Righteousness; the whole
Armour of
God, and the mind
that was in
Christ; are equally needful for all the servants of
the
Lord, whatever may be their work.
40-47 The security and presumption of fools destroy them.
Nothing can excel the
Humility,
Faith, and
Piety which appear in
David's words. He expressed his assured expectation of success;
he gloried in his mean appearance and arms, that the victory
might be ascribed to the
Lord alone.
48-58 See how frail and uncertain
Life is, even when a
Man
thinks himself best fortified; how quickly, how easily, and
By
how small a matter, the
Passage may be opened for
Life to go
out, and
Death to enter! Let not the strong
Man Glory in his
strength, nor the armed
Man in his
Armour.
God resists the
proud, and pours contempt
On those who defy him and his people.
No one ever hardened his
Heart against
God and prospered. The
history is recorded, that all may exert themselves for the
honour of
God, and the support of his cause, with bold and
unshaken reliance
On him. There is one conflict in which all the
followers of the
Lamb are, and must be engaged; one enemy, more
formidable than
Goliath, still challenges the armies of
Israel.
But "resist the
Devil, and he will flee from you." Go forth to
battle with the
Faith of
David, and the powers of
Darkness shall
not stand against you. But how often is the
Christian foiled
through an evil
Heart of unbelief!