God Gets The Glory

Desperate to stop Goliath from demoralizing his troops, Saul accepted David’s offer to fight him.  In an effort to improve David’s chances for success, Saul gave him his own armor and weapons.  Trying it on, David discovered it didn’t fit properly, and he wasn’t experienced with the weapons.  That unfamiliarity with his weapons could well cause his death.  Laying aside those weapons, he took up the ones he was more confident about, even though they were not considered as good, in I Samuel 17:40.  “And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.”

In one of his books about starting a business, Michael Masterson wrote that having too much money available when you start out can set one up for failure, and advises against getting a loan from the Small Business Administration.  With plenty of money, it is easy to over reach one’s abilities, signing contracts won can’t fulfill, purchasing stock that may not sell, or spending excessive amount on a new office or equipment and vehicles before there is sufficient income to pay for it and leaving the business without money to operate.  It can also result in one investing too much in one area that he cannot adjust to changing trends or unexpected competition. 

Masterson pointed out that  businesses that grow naturally are five times as likely to succeed as those who were given huge amounts of money to get started, partly because the owner is spending his own money and tends to be more careful how it is spent, working harder to make sure he is making good decisions.  As a result, mistakes or bad decisions tend to be manageable, and as he learns, become less common, enabling him to grow the business. 

David had used his sling and his staff to fight a bear and a lion, and knew how to use them, understanding that his success depended on God rather than his own skill.  As a result, he was able to boldly confront Goliath, despite his superior size and weapons.  Goliath was insulted that they didn’t even bother to send out an armed soldier to fight him, as I Samuel 17:41-44 tells us.  “And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.  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 the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.”  While a dog might run away if struck with a rock or a stick, surely they didn’t think an armored soldier would.  It was really insulting and he cussed him out. 

David pointed out that Goliath was depending on his weapons for success while he was depending on God, who Goliath had defied.  He thoroughly expected God to give him the victory just to show the Philistines who God was, as I Samuel 17:45-47 says.  “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.”

The contest ended almost before it began.  God guided David’s stone so that it struck just below the edge of Goliath’s helmet, fracturing his skull and knocking him out, as I Samuel 17:48-51a describes.  “And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.  And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.  Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith…”  With Goliath unconscious, David had no trouble using his own sword to cut off his head, killing him. 

Confident no one could defeat Goliath, the Philistines were horrified to see him killed by an unarmed boy.  They were totally demoralized and panicked, as I Samuel 17:51b-53 describes.  “…And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.  And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.  And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.”  The Philistines didn’t stop running until they were safe in the forts at home. 

Clearly, David had not needed Saul’s weapons when he had God to make him succeed.  Had he used Sau’s armor and weapons, his defeat of Goliath would have been less shocking, even if he had won.  God gets far more glory when we just use what he has given us instead of depending on what somebody else gives.