1 Sa. 17: A Giant Problem...heh heh.

1 Samuel 17:49 "Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground."

This must be a flashback...or not chronological with chapter 16. At the end of 16, David is serving Saul in the king's court. At the end of 17, Saul doesn't know who David is. Does Saul have that many people in his court? I don't know. But anyway.

This is perhaps one of the best-known Bible stories ever. The birthplace of sports cliches, David and Goliath. David, the unknown shepherd boy coming out of nowhere...the least among the family of Jesse. Goliath, the nine-footer out of Philistine State. Offerings of the king's daughter's hand in marriage...tax exemption.

David had complete and total faith in God. David drew from the experiences of killing a lion and a bear to protect the flock he was charged with guarding. How could he be afraid in this situation? I'd take on a nine-foot warrior over a lion or a bear any day. Maybe. Right? I wonder.

David took the typical criticisms...too small, inexperienced, wrong weaponry...but David needed one of the five smooth stones he took from a stream to kill the giant. I love how David ran at Goliath. Just throwing aside anything resembling fear or hesitation, and rushing headlong into battle. He knew he was going to be the victor, without a doubt in his mind. And something tells me it wasn't just the impetuousness of his youth.

And because of this, the Philistines freaked, because this was their guy, and some kid took him down. The Israelites were given a huge military victory that day. David's trust in God brought God's victory.

Was Goliath a Nephilim? If the flood was a total wipeout of Earth's population except for Noah, then no. An Anakite? Perhaps. Joshua says that Anakites remained in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod...Gath being Goliath's hometown.