Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45–47
In the sports world there have been plenty of occasions in which a serious underdog has won in what journalists called “David versus Goliath” contests. In 1966, UTEP defeated Kentucky for the national championship in basketball. In 2007, Boise State defeated the Oklahoma on a trick two-point play in the Fiesta Bowl. Of course, these don’t really begin to compare to the matchup between the young shepherd and the intimidating veteran. What can we learn from this inspiring story?
We learn that faith always changes our perspective. From man’s point of view, there was no reason for David to win. Goliath seemed to have every advantage––size, armor, weaponry, experience, reinforcements, etc. David came armed only with a sling, five stones, and the name of his God. From faith’s viewpoint, however, there was no way David could lose. To use David’s words, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). In a very real sense, faith is itself a victory––“the victory that overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4).
We learn that the truth is always victorious. Although Elijah stood alone against 450 prophets of Baal, there was no response when his opponents leapt and cried out, but Elijah’s humble prayer to the true God brought fire from heaven (1 Kings 18). The truth––the “sword of the spirit” (Ephesians 6:17)–– is the only weapon we need. Through prayerful study we must put our weapon to the test and know how to use it. David had not tested Saul’s sword, but he had tested his God, and he knew that God had never failed him. In this war it doesn’t matter if you are the bravest or the strongest warrior; what matters is that you are on the side of truth.
We learn that courageous deeds are not always rewarded. Saul rewarded David by trying to kill him and forcing him to seek asylum with the enemy. Then again, courage is contagious. When Goliath fell and the shepherd boy severed his head, the Israelites pounced on the enemy (1 Samuel 17:52). Sometimes it only takes one courageous person to encourage others to take action.
David’s son learned that “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). This was a lesson his father had taught to Israel many years before when he told the giant, “All this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47).