June 12, 2010

The story of David and Goliath [1 Samuel 17]

Synopsis:

Israel was at war with the Philistines, with battle lines forming on opposing hillsides. A huge Philistine champion, named Goliath, left the ranks to mock and taunt the Israelites, offering the challenge of a single fight with one Israelite to decide the fate of the battle. Goliath's bravado and physical stature demoralized Israel.

No one wanted to take the challenge, except a young boy named David. King Saul, of Israel, reluctantly sends David to meet Goliath. Goliath mocked the boy and started toward David. David puts a stone in a sling and launches it at Goliath, striking him on the forehead. Goliath falls to the ground, and David cuts off his head. The Philistines run away in fear, with the Israelites giving chase.
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#1 (17:8,10) [Goliath] stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine... ...I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together."

Here, Goliath's pride in his size causes him to step out from behind the protection of the Philistine line, maintaining the defense of only a single shield-bearer. The Israelite's reaction gives a clue to the process of how Goliath's pride was bolstered throughout his life. Pride in something material in nature can be artificially built-up to the point of seeming impervious to destruction. If left uncontrolled, the source of one's pride could become the source of one's downfall.
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#2 (17:24,51) All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid... ...When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

Here, fear grips Israel and the Philistines because of the actions of two men. The fear causes a shift from an objective perspective to one that is subject to the immediate isolated circumstance. Each army is defeated by the fear, without even fighting the battle. Fear can cause us to flounder in self-defeat and lose touch with an objective perspective.
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#3 (17:50) So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.

Here, David is at a distinct physical disadvantage. David is no match for Goliath's size, for hand to hand combat. A resourceful David, instead, uses his skill with a sling to gain the advantage of projectile warfare, allowing him to circumvent Goliath's gross physical advantage. We should exploit our strengths, while guarding our weaknesses, if we intend to be successful.