1 Samuel 17:42
And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
When the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him because he was but a youth. Ruddy and of a fair countenance means young, handsome, and fair-faced. David appeared as a youthful shepherd, well-built but unarmored and without visible armor, carrying only simple weapons, in sharp contrast to the giant's massive size rather than looking like a formidable fighter.
Goliath judged David by his youthful looks and underestimated and derided him, rather than recognizing the mission and courage he had come to fulfill. Outward appearance and simple weapons did not measure David's strength or the outcome of the encounter. Goliath's contempt showed itself in mockery, in treating David's challenge as an insult to his own dignity, and in boasting, threatening, and defying Israel. His contempt and confidence in his own strength covered real weakness.
David was not irritated, afraid, or shaken by Goliath's scorn or threats. He trusted that God would deliver Israel rather than trusting in outward weapons or appearances. Goliath's underestimation of David is illustrated again when Johnson underestimated Healey, dismissing him as a beardless boy.
Goliath in his contempt and confidence in his own strength is an example of ministers who provoke debate and rely boastfully on prepared arguments instead of humbly trusting God to give the truth victory. The small pebbles David used are plain truth, which brings defeat to boastful falsehood and misrepresentation and exposes its weakness. Victory in controversy for the Sabbath truth comes when its defender works under the guidance of the Holy Spirit with special prayer, without sharpness, severity, or loss of temper, and with dignity, while the Lord stands by His servant to give victory to the truth and leave a right impression that causes many to favor it.
David could not wear Saul's armor and dropped it, taking instead the sling and the stone with which he was familiar, and with them slew the Philistine who defied Israel. This teaches that each person must work with his own God-given ability in the armor God provides rather than leaning on man, sinking his individuality in another, or patterning after another man's character. God does not give all minds the same likeness or fashion all characters after man's pattern but after the Lord's ideal, giving each his assigned part in harmonious diversity with unity in diversity, so fellow workers are to be allowed to grow in religious experience under the molding of the Holy Spirit and none is to demerit and belittle God's workmanship and workmen because he does not bear his likeness.