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David And Goliath
What is the story of David and Goliath?
Most people today read and teach the story as either an allegory or one full of metaphors. It is often stated that 'Goliath represents giants in our lives …'. Then the teacher / reader will find an aspect of their own life that they think parallels this story. They often speak of things in their lives as 'their giants' that they must face. One writer wrote that David is said to take up the sling of ‘faith’ and gather the five stones of ‘obedience’, ‘service’ and so on. Is this why God put that into our Bible?
Again I would suggest that the story is about God and His plan to bring redemption through Jesus. Let us look back at how we got to this story.
God has overthrown Egypt, the most powerful army of that day, and led Israel out of bondage. God led them through the wilderness and provided for them when there was no other source of life. God has time and again helped them in accomplishing His purpose of them giving them the promised land. He has overthrown countless peoples in the conquering of the land. He had raised up judge after judge to lead Israel in victory against their enemies. This was often done against seemingly insurmountable odds. He used men to accomplish much of this plan, yet it was God that brought the victory. It was the fact that God was with them in the battle that would cause Joshua to "be strong and courageous, to not be afraid or tremble at them" (Deut. 31:6).
Specifically God has promised: "When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory’" Deuteronomy 20:1-4).
Israel has faced other giants. When the spies returned to give Moses a report of the land, they reported that they had encountered the giants of the land. "We are as grasshoppers in their sight" they said, lacking faith in the power of God. Although Joshua and Caleb argued that God would provide the victory, they got 'out voted' by the unbelievers. (Num. 13:27-33).
In 1 Sam. 2, Hannah had spoken about God: “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed” (1 Samuel 2:9-10).
When Jonathan and his armor bearer faced a whole Philistine outpost, it is recorded: " Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6).
Surely Israel will prevail if they only trust God and obey His command. Yet here they are facing the Philistines and are afraid. Their fear is a lack of trust in God. Goliath, this uncircumcised Philistine, comes and not only ridicules the men of Israel but in effect, despises the LORD.
David sees this not as a battle between a man and a giant, but as standing for the glory of God. David sees Goliath as one who defies the armies of the living God (17:26, 36). David then states that Goliath has defied the God of the armies of Israel (17:45). This is not about David's honor or glory, but about God's.
When Saul tells David that he is not able to fight and win, David tells Saul that with the LORD's help he had killed both a lion and a bear. He expressed it: “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” (1 Samuel 17:37). David's confidence is in God, not in self. David's confidence is based firmly on what God had said and promised.
David faces Goliath and exclaims: "You come to me with a sword and 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" (1 Samuel 17:45). David promises that "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel" (1 Samuel 17:46). Thus David explained that "this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:47).
The focus of the story is really God. God is faithful. God has promised to be with them, to provide for them, to give them the land He had promised long ago to Abraham. God has promised to overcome their physical enemies. They need to stand and fight, but they will have God with them. Even giants 10 feet tall cannot make God compromise His promise and covenant. This is not an allegory about 'my giants', but a story of the glory, power, and faithfulness of God to His word.
