The battle of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58) is a popular Bible story. For some, it is a classic “underdog wins” scenario. On the surface, it’s a story about beating the odds, a victory for the little guy. But of course, it is much more.
Goliath never stood a chance.
Faith and trust in God are what brought victory to David. When Saul told him it was silly to think the small and young shepherd could fight Goliath, David explained how he fought off wild animals in the fields.
“The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear… will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37 KJV).
David gave God credit for his previous victories and was already giving credit to God for the victory to come against Goliath.
But even David could not foresee how easily the victory would be realized. The Bible tells us he went out to face Goliath with five smooth stones. He did not know that one would be enough.
The first shot knocked Goliath out, allowing David to kill him and cut his head off with Goliath’s own sword. Victory was swift and easy and the Israeli troops rallied and won a great victory against the Philistine army.
What if it wasn’t that easy? What if David fired off all five stones and Goliath was still fighting? If the battle became one of wits and endurance, would it have been as great a victory?
Had David returned to the Israeli lines with Goliath’s head in one hand and a bloody stump where his other hand should have been, would the troops have rallied? What if he only wounded Goliath enough to allow the other Israelis to finish him off?
Well, we’ll never know for sure because God was in no mood to fool around with the giant that day. David didn’t know if he would need five stones, fifty stones, or a stealth bomber jet to bring down Goliath; but he did know that Goliath was going down.
It did not matter that David was among the smallest men on the battlefield because he was not providing the strength or skill or smarts needed to gain victory.
This was God’s battle.
David put it completely in God’s hands. He never said, “I will defeat the Philistine.” Instead, he told Saul, “God will deliver me from his hand” and then declared to Goliath that “God will hand you over to me.”
However it happened, it was going to be a glorious victory.
And there is the true lesson of David and Goliath. It’s not that we can do anything if we are faithful. It’s that God will do anything for us if we trust Him enough to ask and declare it.
When we are faced with Goliaths of this day and age, we need to declare that God will deliver us from their grasp and forge ahead with faith and the other tools God provides.
I pray that you and I and many others can find David’s faith and trust God to slay their Goliaths.
And I believe all of us will emerge victorious with God.