Valley Of Elah

A Place of Decision: Face your gaints 1 Sam 17: 1-54, Eph 3: 10-21

The Valley of Elah shows that giants fall when faith outweighs fear. David, armed only with a sling and trust in God, defeated Goliath, proving victory comes from God’s power, not human strength. Giants often begin as small compromises, sin tolerated grows into strongholds. Like David, we must train in secret, surrender to God, and fight with His armor. In Christ, we fight from victory, not for it giants still fall.

Introduction

God instructs Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint David as king because He rejected Saul, as king of Israel. The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David, while the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and the Lord sent a harmful spirit to torment him. David came to Saul and stood before him, playing the lyre. Saul took a great liking to David and appointed him as his armour-bearer.

BUILD -UP (1 Sam 17:1-11)

1. The battlefield setting (1 Sam 17:1–3). We find the stage set for a military standoff between the nation of Israel and their long time enemy, the Philistines (Griever, Burrower , kept on coming back and attacking). The Philistines were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim (Boundary of blood). The Philistines weren’t just after Socoh. Their next target? Bethlehem. And if they took Bethlehem, what came next? Jerusalem. And then? Gibeah—Saul’s headquarters. The Israelites were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah (terebinth/oak). Valley of Elah is located in the lowland area between the Judean hills and the coastal plains 15 miles SW of Jerusalem. Strategic Importance: Whoever held Elah could monitor trade routes and military movements. Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them - natural arena for single combat.

2. The battle terms defined. (1 Sam 17:4–10) It would have been suicide for either side to attack the other and forfeit their advantage of higher ground and so we have this beautiful stalemate. In order to try and break the deadlock the Philistine champion, Goliath, came forward with his shield bearer twice a day in the morning and the evening to challenge Israel to send a champion to fight him. Who was Goliath (Exposer, Exile)? Picture of FEAR.

1 Sam 13:19-22. At that time - Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened. only Saul and his son Jonathan had a sword/spear.

Goliath stood in the valley between the two armies, and cried with a loud voice taunting Israel for 40 days (v16). Something like this ‘l am Goliath the Philistine of Gath, remember what happened to Hophni and Phinehas (the sons of Eli, the high priest), and how we won and carried the Ark of God to the temple of Dagon. Same will happen now, can your God protect you? What has your king Saul done? If he is a valiant man let him come down and do battle with me; but if he be a coward, choose yourself a champion to fight me that the battle may be decided by us two alone. Your God could not save you that time and this time too.” You are inferior to me, you are servants of Saul but in reality what did God call them Deut 7:6 declares: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” Saul was the logical choice to fight Goliath (Saul was head and shoulders taller than other Israelite men), and we can expect that others assumed that he should fight Goliath.

The struggle in the valley of Elah was a peculiar challenge by Goliath – not army against army, but one on one. The outcome of the battle was far more significant than we might realise. If the Israelites lost, they would become the Philistines' servants. It was a “winner takes all” battle. v11 The hearts of the Israelites were jolted to their core, and they became terrified and greatly afraid. Goliath defeated the Israelites with fear alone. But though they were too terrified at Goliath's appearance to venture to meet him, still they held their ground for forty days. In any contest, it’s always useful to demoralize your opponent and strike fear into their heart. This is a significant strategy of the devil against believers.

3. David arrives at the Valley of Elah and accepts the challenge to fight Goliath (1 Sam 17:20–27)

V12-18: David’s family and background. Around 17-20 years of age, the youngest of 8 sons of Jesse (already old and advanced in years) from Ephrata in Bethlehem. His 3 eldest brothers Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah were in the army. David was only called to the palace when Saul was afflicted by the distressing spirit. His primary role was that of a shepherd to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. He had 3 older brothers at home, yet Jesse directed by God’s providence sends David with food supplies (ephah of parched grain, 10 loaves of bread and 10 cheeses) to his brothers at the camp in Elah and to check on their welfare and bring back news. It was common custom.

David rose up early in the morning, he left the sheep with a keeper and comes to the encampment (a circle of wagons formed a fortification about the camp of Israel.) leaves his baggage, the provisions in charge of the keeper of the baggage and runs to the ranks/”front” greets his brothers checking on their welfare. Israel and all the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army in line of battle - shouting the war cry. He hears Goliath’s voice of taunts and insults rolled the valley again. David did not begin by looking; he began by listening. David is passionate about the honour of the LORD His God and it angered him that this Philistine should defy the armies of the living God. Let’s contrast David’s response with that of the army of Israel at the battle field.

#	Men of Israel (Army) V25 Natural	David V26 View : God & Covenant view
1	This man who has come up?	Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?
2	He has come up to defy Israel.	That he should defy the armies of the living God.
3	“The man who kills him,”	The man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel

God open our eyes, enlarge our vision and correct our heart posture to see rightly the way you see.

4. King Saul reluctantly agrees to allow David to fight Goliath. (1 Sam 17:31–37)

   
   

When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. For 40 days no one had dared to volunteer and yet only shortly after David’s arrival we find him offering to go himself to fight Goliath. At first king Saul thinks it a ridiculous idea and tries to dissuade him saying he was merely a young man and Goliath had been a warrior from his youth. Amazing to see a young shepherd who just came has more courage than all the mighty men of Israel! David convinces Saul that this battle was no different to the times when he had fought the lion and the bear. This is not bravado , it is quiet confidence in His God. David’s focus is not on Goliath but on God.

This was a huge risk for Saul but I think he sensed something quite different. David was clearly trusting in God to rescue him. In David’s eyes, if God was for him, it didn’t matter who the foe was. Saul agreed and told David to “‘Go, and the Lord be with you”

5. David choses His own weapons (1 Samuel 17:38-47) in the battle with Goliath.

   
   

Saul’s words don’t match his actions and he tries to clothe David with his armour. He thought David needed the best armour in all Israel – the king’s armour. David walked a few steps beneath it, then shook his head. “I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them” I have no skill nor experience in the management of this kind of arms

This is a test for David probably bigger than fighting Goliath. Often we try to fight our giants/battles with another person’s armour. David had to put it off completely. Satan will tempt us to seek human additions to the finished work of Christ something that will detract from the glory of the Son of God.

David’s weapons : His Staff, sling , only five smooth stones and the name of the Lord.

A champion - "a man between the two camps:" one who did not fight in the ranks like an ordinary soldier, but came forth into the space between the hostile camps to challenge the mightiest man of his enemies to come and fight him. He belonged to a family of giants, the remnant of the sons of Anak which found refuge in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. Height : Six Cubits and a span → 9.5 feet.
Armour Items	Approximate weight (pounds)
Helmet of bronze	8-15
Coat of Mail (Bronze) - 5000 shekels	125-150 pounds
Bronze greaves / armour on legs	8–10 pounds
Weapons (including spearhead)
A bronze javelin slung between his shoulders A spear with an iron point weighing 600 shekels	Spearhead weighed “600 shekels,” 15 pounds Combined approx. : 20–30 pounds
A conservative combined estimate around 160 to 200 pounds. For ancient warfare, this is extraordinary. Most warriors wore little/ no armour because weight drained energy quickly. He was a fighter trained from youth to carry enormous mass. A picture of power and intimidation

V40: David took his staff (shepherd’s staff :which he used in keeping his father's sheep, and chose rather to appear in the habit of a shepherd than of a soldier) in his hand and 5 smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand. The slightest rough part on the stone would cause it to fly out of the sling in the wrong direction and miss its mark. A smooth stone would leave the sling perfectly and hit the mark. These stones were smooth because they had been in the bottom of the brook, a rushing stream of water. In the riverbed they rubbed against each other, and all the rough edges were worn off just like him who was trained in secret.

REVELATION moment: David saw in the quiet places (wilderness) far away from family and human eyes alone with the sheep, winds, stars, rivers, a sling balanced in quiet hands and predators God had trained his hands for war to fight, to trust Him , grow in intimacy and ready to kill giants (Secret place experience: He saw that God saw a warrior formed in secret places what he did in secret , v37: And David said, (faith in action)“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

He needed one so why 5? 1 possible explanation. 2 Sam 21:15-22 tells us that Goliath had four brothers. David came prepared not just to kill one giant but to slay a bloodline of intimidation. David wasn’t just facing a man; he was facing a spiritual legacy of opposition of God’s people. And he came ready to end it all. David had grasped something about God’s way of working: namely that God doesn’t depend on human means but He does use human means.

V42: 47: When the two champions met, they generally made each of them a speech, recite verses , hurling contempt and defiance at one another. David, with just 5 smooth stones and a sling, went into battle against a heavily armed, experienced fighting machine, who was a giant of a man and had his armour bearer with him. David didn’t need armour because his confidence came from intimacy with God. Philistine warrior v/s shepherd boy.

• 2 v/s 1 it seems unfair and Goliath disdained David for his appearance. David was a youth , 5.5 feet tall with no armour or conventional weapons of war. He did not have the countenance of a warrior. There was nothing – nothing – in David that struck fear or respect in Goliath’s heart.

• Goliath is fully loaded and clothed in armour. He had looked about, expecting to meet some tall, strong man; but when he saw what a mean figure he made with whom he was to engage, he despised him, and thought it below him to even fight David. He felt insulted that they sent David (Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?). And he cursed David by his gods and probably even cursed the God of Israel.

V44: Goliath was so overconfident of this victory and declares David you’re dead meat – come and I will give your flesh to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. This would have struck fear into the heart of all around there especially army of Israel. In contrast David, full of faith, answered this defiance with bold, believing courage in his youthful voice. It does not matter what weapons you bring against me (sword and with a spear and with a javelin) – I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts (Jehovah Tsevaout), the God of armies of Israel whom you defiled (We are invincible team) and his motivation in the battle was the glory of God and the protection of His name: “So that all the earth even Israel & Saul may know that there is a God in Israel who saves without sword and spear (Ps 33:16-20) ”. He was careful to say, the LORD will deliver you into my hand. When he says, “The battle is the Lord’s”, he is drawing from promises (Deut 20:1- When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt)

V45-47: David’s God thoughts outnumber his Goliath-thoughts nine verses two. When battles and giants arise let your God thoughts outnumber your giant thoughts.

#	God Thoughts	Goliath thoughts
1	I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty/ Lord of hosts	You come against me with sword and spear and javelin
2	The God of the armies of Israel,	whom you have defied.
3	This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands
4	and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.
5	This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals
6	and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
7	All those gathered here (Israel & Philistines) will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves;
8	For the battle is the Lord’s,
9	He will give all of you into our hands (David’s humility) – our hands not my hands

Not just the whole earth but even Israel needed to know that there was a God in Israel who saves not with sword and spear. (Ps 33:16-20)

6. The Sword of the Enemy Becomes the Victory of God (1 Sam 17:48–52)

   
   

What a scene! Goliath, enraged at David’s boldness, drew near to quickly kill David. David didn’t run away. He didn’t hide. He didn’t panic. He didn’t drop to his knees and pray. Instead, David hurried and ran…to meet the Philistine. David put his hand into his bag and took out a stone and slung it, and it struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone penetrated his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. (Similar to what had happened to Dagon falling before the ark of the Lord. David did not stop at a fall , he made certain the enemy was dead and ran again, stood upon the Philistine, “and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it “

What happens when we surround ourselves with giant slayers? Israel romps over the Philistines and and plundered their camp. And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armour in his tent. Every giant that opposes God carries within it the instrument of its own destruction. What was once the weapon of fear becomes the trophy of faith 1 Sam 21:9, we find out David retrieves Goliath’s sword and keeps it—“There is none like it,” he says.

God desires for the ekklesia to walk with kingdom authority and dominion in every area of life, now, and until Christ returns.

What is the eternal purpose of the ekklesia? Eph 3:10 Apostle Paul lays out the eternal purpose of God for the ekklesia- to glorify God and display the manifold wisdom of God not just to mankind but also to principalities and powers in the spiritual realm.

For this, God in Christ has provided tools

1. Access into His Presence : Not only in prayer but all communion through Christ we have access in one Spirit to the Father.

2. Boldness (Confidence) and Courage : Boldness/liberty & spiritual security of speaking not as slaves but as children.

3. Faith not Fear (v11-13). Boldness is not rashness; and faith is not presumption; but we may come without hesitating, and with an assurance that our prayers will be heard.

A faith expectancy in God not one’s plans, prayers, efforts . This sets a generational flow of praise, adoration and gratitude to God in every circumstance. v20-21. Eternity is made up of ages, and ages of generations.

Take-aways:

The Valley of Elah (PLACE OF DECISION) reminds us that:

1. God often chooses the unlikely vessel—a young shepherd rather than a seasoned warrior. He looks at the heart not the outward appearance.

2. Victory comes not from our own strength, but from trust in God’s power and calling.

3. God is a faithful Rewarder who never ignores what is done in secret. David was trained in sling and God used that sling in hand of David to defeat Philistines. The secret places are often the seedbeds for open rewards. You may be hidden from the eyes of men, but never from the eyes of God. Check what you are doing in the secret – the Lord will reveal in public.

4. We all face “giants” in life—fears, doubts, challenges—but like David, we are invited to walk into our valleys with faith, not fear. When we face battles, before we engage, let us be like David and ask the Lord – should I go ahead and will you give me success.

• Focus on your giants—you stumble. Focus on God—your giants tumble. Remember that every believer is in a spiritual battle. The battle rages all around us. Fear can paralyze us, much like it did to Saul and the Israelites. We are commanded to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might and to put on Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. God’s armour need to be worn at all times – I cannot take it off and put something else on. Eph 6:10-12. We fight with the armour of God on always and with His might. We cannot be only defending, we need to attack with God’s armour & His presence.

• Small compromises become tomorrow's giants. Goliath was from Gath—one of the cities that Joshua failed to completely conquer when Israel first entered the Promised Land (Josh 11:21-22). Goliath doesn’t always look like a 9-foot man. He often comes disguised as something small : a shame, an insecurity , an addiction, a silence in your prayer life , a fear. It may be small today but we cannot tolerate it and let it grow into a Goliath. You might think, Oh, it’s just a small sin. It’s not a big deal. But those little compromises? Those “small” sins? They grow. They get stronger. And one day, they might stand before you as an unstoppable giant. Lust. Pride. Greed. Anger. Unforgiveness. Whatever sin you allow to remain will eventually grow into something you can’t handle. So, ask yourself and let the Holy Spirit search , reveal and correct: What sin in your life have you been tolerating? What needs to be destroyed before it destroys you?. Don’t wait. Kill it now bring it before the cross of Jesus – confess it and receive His pardon , forgiveness , grace and strength and victory. Crucify the flesh don’t tolerate it.

• God delights in using surrendered people—not perfect. God Uses Flawed People and Complex Characters. David was young, overlooked, merely a shepherd in eyes of people but He was anointed and God’s chosen instrument. God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for surrendered hearts where His power and glory can be displayed. Ask “Lord, how can You use me today?" If He is using today ask Him to check your motivation – It should be for His Kingdom and His glory alone. Phil 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect [this goal of being Christlike], but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

• Don’t focus on glory of past victories. Even when the next battle comes ask the Lord like David – ‘Shall I go into this battle?’ and ‘will you give me success?’

Summary: for those in Christ:

• You fight from victory, not for it—because the Greater David - Yeshua has already won.

• You are not what others call you—you are who God anointed you to be in secret. Don’t live to expectations of others , live to expectations of your God.

• Let this be your reminder: giants still fall. And when they do, they make the earth tremble not in fear—but in praise for generations.

Background

Kainos Church India, Bengaluru led by Ps. Manoj and Lincy Iype is a gathering open to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church is ideally located for believers in the Koramangala, HSR Layout, Agara, Sarjapur Road, Bellandur areas of Bengaluru and our Church Service in English starts at 10am on Sundays.

These notes are from the Sunday Sermon held on 9th August 2026