When Israel was gathered to fight the Philistine Goliath both the enemy and the host of Israel were situated on the mountains. The low land of the valley would be the scene of the battle. Goliath was not painted as the typical enemy and the mode of warfare was not the typical warfare. In fact this scenario can be seen as a type and shadow of the victory that the seed of the woman our Lord would gain over the serpent. The sons of men could not meet the challenge to secure Israel her peace from the enemy.  

David was the anointed one of God set to be king in the room and stead of King Saul. David was sent to nurture up the warriors set to battle the giant. When David came to the battle scene David heard Goliath tell Israel to choose a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

Israel was unable to save themselves from Goliath just as man is unable to save himself today. Israel and King Saul were described as dismayed, and greatly afraid. All the men of Israel, when they saw Goliath fled from him, and were sore afraid. David heard that Saul would enrich the man who killed Goliath with great riches, and would give that man his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

From outward appearances David was but a youth. Our Lord outwardly appeared to be just a man.  Goliath was a man of war from his youth. Israel said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him. Israel could no more discern the character of David than they could naturally discern the Ancient of Days, the Man of War, when He was born of a virgin and walked amongst His people. David said to Goliath, this day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. 

When God showed his faithfulness to Israel and bruised the head of Goliath in that valley, David was brought to King Saul with the head of Goliath severed and still in David's hand. King Saul was interested in whose son David was. David spoke and when he was finished speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan (Saul's son) was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war.

Jonathan rejoiced in the good news. When one hears the good news of the gospel of their salvation and delights in it there are those with whom they might have their souls knit together in the Kingdom of His dear Son. Jonathan loved David as his own soul. So should the child of God love the Lord's Church. As Jonathan and David entered into a covenant, so do the children of God made a covenant when they are blessed with an entrance and home in the Lord's Church. These have professed the fact that they not sufficient of themselves to think any thing as of themselves; but their sufficiency is of God. They identify with the Lord when they follow him in baptism and rise to walk in the newness of life and have a place in the congregation of the living.  Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. These were purposefully given the recipient. Likewise when we are raised from the watery grave of baptism, we having already put on Christ are clothed with his righteousness and are equipped with his armour for the ensuing warfare. And Saul took David that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Elder Marty Hoogasian 12/26/2003