1 Samuel 17:45, commentary and pictures

Goliath came trusting in sword and spear and shield, in size and armor and boastful threats and contempt, while David stood before him as a youth without weapons or armor to match him. David set aside Saul's untried armor and met the giant with only the familiar sling and stone. He came trusting in the name and power of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel's armies whom Goliath had defied, making his boast in the Lord rather than in human strength or skill. The battle belonged to the Lord and not to sword and spear, so that by saving Israel He would make known to Israel and to all the earth that there is a God in Israel. When God's cause calls His servants to meet defiance today, they are to go forth like David in the name and strength of the God of Israel, relying wholly on Him rather than on self to give the truth the victory.

David's Trust Against Goliath

Goliath came with sword and spear and shield, trusting in his armor while uttering threats and contempt and ridicule, standing as a proud and boastful champion against a seemingly insignificant young man who had no comparable weapons or armor. His contempt and ridicule were the worst kind of insult and the hardest to bear with patience. David would not put his trust in Saul's untested armor, but laid it aside and went out with the familiar sling and stone by which he slew the Philistine who defied Israel.

His zeal was stirred because that defiance dishonored the living God and His people. To defy Israel was to defy the Lord God of Israel Himself, the ruler of Israel's armies, and David had been directed to save Israel. He came in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom Goliath had defied, putting his confidence in the Lord's name and power for victory rather than in human strength, skill, or equipment. He made no boast of superior skill but made his boast in the Lord, remaining calm despite insults and threats.

The battle belongs to the Lord and not to sword and spear, so the victory would show that God saves and delivers Israel, that Israel and all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. It illustrates that truth overcomes error and light shines out of darkness, for proud and boastful Goliath stating falsehood as though it were truth is defeated by truth as by small pebbles, with his weakness made apparent. With steady faith David looked to God and defeated the giant. That victory cost the Philistines their champion and turned the tide of battle against them, in contrast to his later fear, distrust, and flight when he sought refuge from Saul among Israel's enemies.

Applying David's Victory Today

When God's cause truly requires His servants to meet a defier, they are not to defy and provoke opponents but to let defiance remain with opposers of truth, and then to go forth like David in the name and strength of the God of Israel. In that need they are to rely wholly on God rather than on their own strength, trusting Him to carry them through and to make His truth triumph. Going forth like David means refusing to trust in prepared arguments just as David refused to trust in Saul's armor. It means refusing to go forth confident and boastful and magnifying self like Goliath, but humbling the heart, hiding behind Jesus, and trusting in faith for God to give the truth the victory. Without that humble dependence on God, defense of the truth loses balance, fails, and injures both the defender and others.

In controversy, such as over the Sabbath, victory does not come by being sharp and severe with an opponent and losing the temper, but by carrying the discussion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit without once losing self-control. The work is to be carried forward with brethren standing by and with special prayer every night that the Lord will give victory to the truth, with the Lord standing by His servant, so that it is carried through with dignity and leaves a right impression that causes many to favor the truth. The proud and boastful Goliath, who states falsehood as though it were truth and comes with sword and spear and shield and with contempt and ridicule, is defeated by truth as by David's small pebbles, and his weakness is made apparent. Contempt and ridicule are the worst kind of insult and the most difficult to endure patiently, yet to defy Israel is to defy the Lord God of Israel Himself, just as to abuse His law, the transcript of His character, is to trample God underfoot. Those who support their position against the law of God mainly by abuse and personal ridicule of its defenders stand in Goliath's place, while God's people stand in the place of Israel and David, called to endure patiently and to move forward by faith.

David set aside Saul's armor, which he could not wear, and faced Goliath with the familiar sling and stone and slew the Philistine who defied Israel. This shows that no person is to sink individuality in another or pattern after any man's character, pattern, or gifts. Each is to work with God-given ability in the armor God has provided for him, and need not imitate another person's pattern or gifts to do the work God assigns. The consecrated life is to be developed and beautified in its individuality under the molding of the Holy Spirit.