Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.” And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” And the people answered him in the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.“
Comment: How much more you can get from reading if you read it carefully. The word ‘fighting’ is used in the first sentence but I think the author had a sense of humour. The Philistines wanted a nearly bloodless coup, the Israelis were in truth scared to have more than maybe a few sideline skirmishes.
Everyone else sees a huge man and their only positive is a desire to get the prize which Saul is offering. Admittedly it is a huge prize, Saul’s daughter in marriage, thus making him part of the royal family, and taking away all servitude and making the victor a freed man. On the other hand David, with ‘spiritual eyes’, sees an uncircumcision oddity challenging the armies of the living God! How dare he, David seems to exclaim.
Prayer: Help me to realize that You do not allow me to stand alone, when about Your business.
As I read it! 