1Sa 17:26 | KingComments | STEP | The Israelites talk to each other about whether they have seen the giant. There is no thought of God in them. They also talk about Goliath defying Israel. They do not think of the fact that he defies God. Another topic of conversation is Saul’s promise that whoever will defeat the Philistine will receive a reward. In fact, three rewards are involved: great wealth, getting Saul’s daughter to be his wife and thus becoming son-in-law of the king, and being free from all charges, like taxes and conscription, for all who belong to him. Here we see a picture of the reward the Lord Jesus received for defeating the enemy, the devil. What Saul promises, the Lord Jesus received from God: great riches, i.e. all power in heaven and on earth and a bride, the church. Also, all His family are free from all charges: they are in the freedom of God’s children, they are free from the law. David asks once more about the reward for defeating the Philistine. He is, as it were, surprised at such a great reward for such a, in his eyes, the eyes of faith, so simple thing. The reason for David’s calm is clear. He does not measure the giant against himself, but he understands that it is a matter between the Philistine and God. His words about the Philistine show that he speaks of him with contempt. David’s concern is not with the reward, but with the reproach that is done to the LORD. He speaks of the army of Israel as “the armies of the living God”. It is also the fight of “the living God”, an expression that contrasts God with the false and dead idols ( ). Faith does not see the enemy against the insignificant man, but against the almighty God.

‏ 1 Samuel 17:26

The Reward That Saul Promises

The Israelites talk to each other about whether they have seen the giant. There is no thought of God in them. They also talk about Goliath defying Israel. They do not think of the fact that he defies God. Another topic of conversation is Saul’s promise that whoever will defeat the Philistine will receive a reward. In fact, three rewards are involved: great wealth, getting Saul’s daughter to be his wife and thus becoming son-in-law of the king, and being free from all charges, like taxes and conscription, for all who belong to him.

Here we see a picture of the reward the Lord Jesus received for defeating the enemy, the devil. What Saul promises, the Lord Jesus received from God: great riches, i.e. all power in heaven and on earth and a bride, the church. Also, all His family are free from all charges: they are in the freedom of God’s children, they are free from the law.

David asks once more about the reward for defeating the Philistine. He is, as it were, surprised at such a great reward for such a, in his eyes, the eyes of faith, so simple thing. The reason for David’s calm is clear. He does not measure the giant against himself, but he understands that it is a matter between the Philistine and God.

His words about the Philistine show that he speaks of him with contempt. David’s concern is not with the reward, but with the reproach that is done to the LORD. He speaks of the army of Israel as “the armies of the living God”. It is also the fight of “the living God”, an expression that contrasts God with the false and dead idols (1Thes 1:9). Faith does not see the enemy against the insignificant man, but against the almighty God.