Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” [1 Samuel 17.41-47]
Consistent with all the Bible, the story of David and Goliath is about idolatry.
Now, before you think I have lost my direction and become unnecessarily fixated on idolatry, look at what Goliath did, "And he cursed David by the names of his gods" Uh-hmm... idolatry!
Goliath's incitation of the names of his gods changes everything about this story.
David's actions, following his words, tell the remarkable story of faith in God alone. We should pay close attention to David's weapon of choice for taking down Goliath: a sling. Is this not a bit odd since David touted his ability with a club?
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. [1 Samuel 17.34-35]
Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. [1 Samuel 17.38-40]
Is it possible that David was so intent on the victory being God's alone that he chose at the last minute to use a sling instead of a club just to prove "that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!"? David's actions revealed that he neither trusted in Saul's armor nor in his own proven abilities with a club. David also knew everyone was watching.
THINK! Although David had a sling with him, we have no Biblical record that suggests he was an expert with it. We know from the Bible that he was an expert on the harp and we have David's own account of his expertise with a club, but we have no indication from the Bible that he was an expert with a sling. The Bible has always been clear however that although David had the sling with him (in his shepherd's bag), he had no stones in that same bag! Why would an "expert" carry a gun without bullets - a bow without arrows - or a sling without select smooth stones? Hint: he wouldn't.
The fact that David rejected Saul's armor (and sword) and his own club as his weapon of choice to take down Goliath is proof-positive that David was intentional that the glory for killing Goliath went to God alone and not himself. David was keenly aware of how idolatry works! Idolatry does not care what we trust so long as it is not God alone! Goliath threw down the gauntlet by inciting the names of his gods (because that's what idolatry does) and David brilliantly responded in faith in God alone... again, because everyone was watching.
I used to think that David must have been a true expert with a sling. I have even written convincing articles to that end based on my own suppositions. But today, after much more reading of God's Word and realization of idolatry's role in the whole Bible, David's actions are in perfect alignment with God's 1st Commandment: "You must not have any other god but me." David not only believed this but was intentional in proving it using his own life as the example. David proved his faith while everyone was watching.
It could be said here that David fulfilled Jesus' demand to give up your own way (the way of man's armor, or our own abilities), take up your cross (ignoring death's threat), and follow Me (God's indisputable miraculous way), long before Jesus said it.
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
How absolutely revelatory is that?
Father in heaven, may my life prove Your powerful intervention in the lives of those who believe and trust You alone. As You continue to reveal the role of idolatry in the history of Your people, may I rightly conclude its significant role today. May I not only resign to giving up my own way, taking up my cross, and following Jesus, but intentionally seek opportunities to do so for Your glory. So be it.
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