The story of David and Goliath in the Bible is a clear example of how our faith can conquer even the biggest challenges. When young David faced the giant Goliath, he showed incredible courage and trust in God. This battle wasn’t just about size and strength; it was about believing in God’s power to make the impossible possible. Join us as we explore how David’s victory over Goliath reveals the wonders of God and inspires us to face our giants with faith.
Who Is David In The Bible?
David is the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons. His place was with the family’s flock. He lovingly tended the sheep and carried them close to his bosom. Far away from home and far away in the fields, God was watching him! There was something about his tenderness and commitment to duty that God could use. So when God was looking for a man to replace Saul, he thought keenly of David. He was God’s kind of man, that is, a man after God’s own heart.
At God’s bidding, Samuel left for the home of Jesse to anoint one of his sons king of Israel. As each of the sons passed before Samuel, God made it abundantly clear that he wanted none of these who had so far been presented. At last, Jesse stood before Samuel, confused and beaten. He had presented the best and the greatest, yet none were selected. But one was remaining, the least and the .humanly unlikely candidate. He was sent for, and meanwhile, everyone and everything waited.
Eventually, when he arrived, God said to Samuel: “Kiss and anoint him: he is the one.”… And from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. At this time, a war of supremacy broke out between the Israelites and the Philistines. However, the balance of victory tilted towards favouring the Philistines. This was because there was a man, a giant and a warrior who was, in fact, the pillar of the Philistine army. His name was Goliath. Each day in the battle line, he could come out to challenge and ridicule the military might of Israel.
Goliath The Giant
Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he can fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us… This day, I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, and let us fight each other.
On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified (1 Sam. 17: 8-11). This was the situation on the ground. Israel could not stand up to this challenge. Goliath was too tough for them. No soldier wants to risk his life. Truly, no one could match him in strength and skill. It was suicidal to engage him in a mortal combat.
God was watching him from a distance. One day, Jesse sent his son David to go and visit his three elder brothers in the camp. There, David heard the abuses heaped on the army of the Lord. He even witnessed how the Israelites ran from Goliath in great fear. So much was the shame that little David decided there and then to take up the challenge. This decision was reported to Saul, who tried to dissuade David. Listen to David’s logic:
Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it, and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear,’ this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (1Sam. 17:34-37).
God was listening. David’s mind was made up. There was no going back. Victory was already in his belief. God will deliver me! It is funny, indeed. David was only a lad. He has neither received military training nor appeared on the battle line before. He has no military experience whatsoever, save being a shepherd boy.
To prepare David for this life-or-death battle, Saul had him dressed up in the king’s military gear – armour, helmet, sword, etc. This outfit was awkward on David; he could not walk around with it. He was not used to them; hence, he removed them. He went rather to the stream where he chose and picked five round stones. These he put inside his shepherd’s bag together with his catapult.
They were simple weapons picked from nature’s arsenal. God was watching him from a distance. Heaven and earth were called upon to witness this clash. David moved out to meet Goliath with his catapult and stone. Goliath observed him and discovered he was a mere youth with no tactics and no weapon.
He cursed David by his gods for this insult. David, in turn, replied to Goliath thus: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…” Then, David ran out at a deadly pace to engage Goliath. As he moved out, he took one of the stones and catapulted it. From this moment, the battle changed hands. The momentum shifted.
Let’s look at The Lessons from the Battle
A human hand drew and shot the catapult, but a divine hand gave the stone the speed, Power, and accuracy that made it the victory punch. The stone, because it was divinely manipulated, went straight into Goliath’s forehead. It was the only available space in his head. The giant fell while the lad stood. The warrior fell while the shepherd stood. Philistine fell while Israel stood. There is nothing as potent as the Name of the Lord.
Make no mistake about this: God is watching. He knows how and when to dethrone the Goliaths of every generation. David, many years later, was able to capture and re-live his experience with Goliath. He writes: “Some trust in chariots, others in horses but we in the name of the Lord. They will stumble and fall.” Just prime and pump up your faith. God will surely accomplish the remainder.
Summary
All we have done in this blog post is explore the inspiring story of David and Goliath, highlighting how faith and courage can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. David, a young shepherd, faced the giant Goliath with nothing but a slingshot and unwavering trust in God. His victory is a testament to the wonders of God’s power, reminding us that size and strength are not the only factors in overcoming obstacles. Through David’s journey, we learn valuable lessons about resilience, faith, and the belief that God can help us conquer our giants. Join us in discovering how this timeless story continues to inspire us today.
