What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 17:48?

As the Philistine started forward

• Goliath takes the initiative, brimming with confidence in his towering stature and weapons (1 Samuel 17:4–7).

• The advance of an enemy often feels overwhelming, yet the Lord is never caught off guard; He “frustrates the plans of the wicked” (Psalm 146:9).

• Like Satan, who “prowls around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8), Goliath embodies the adversary’s aggression, reminding us that spiritual attacks can look very tangible.

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To attack him

• The Philistine’s intent is lethal—he means to cut David down, just as he has vowed in 1 Samuel 17:44.

• Evil always seeks destruction; Jesus warned, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

• Yet believers do not wage war in their own strength; Ephesians 6:12 calls us to recognize the true battle “against the spiritual forces of evil.”

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David ran quickly

• Instead of freezing, the young shepherd charges—faith produces action. Hebrews 10:39 praises those “who have faith and preserve their souls”.

• His speed reflects a heart free from fear, for “God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power” (2 Timothy 1:7).

• Proverbs 28:1 notes, “The righteous are as bold as a lion,” perfectly capturing David’s demeanor.

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Toward the battle line

• David does not rely on distant slingshots alone; he moves into the very space where victory or defeat will be obvious to all.

• Obedience often means stepping right up to the front lines—Joshua 1:9 urges, “Be strong and courageous…for the LORD your God is with you.”

• James 4:7 promises that when we “resist the devil, he will flee,” but resistance requires closeness to the conflict, not retreat.

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To meet him

• Meeting the giant face-to-face displays David’s conviction that “the battle belongs to the LORD” (1 Samuel 17:47).

• Romans 8:31 echoes this confidence: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

• The encounter foreshadows Christ’s ultimate meeting with sin and death—He too stepped forward, not away, and secured decisive victory.

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summary

Every phrase of 1 Samuel 17:48 spotlights contrasts: human arrogance versus God-given faith, destructive intent versus courageous obedience. Goliath moves first, but David’s God-centered confidence answers swiftly, proving that bold, immediate trust in the Lord overcomes even the fiercest attack.