Of course, it would be impossible to think of the juxtaposition of this donkey herder and shepherd boy without thinking of the famous story of David and Goliath. And now that we have compared the two kings, it’s time to look at the story of the boy who felled the giant.
Before we begin, this is one of those stories where you need to be sure you don’t “check out” as we discuss. As we’ve often seen, there are things in the story that we miss because of our familiarity. In case you need help snapping out of your “David and Goliath Haze.” here is an interesting TED talk on the story (which does not serve as my endorsement of the content, but does get our brains working).
Malcolm Gladwell: The unheard story of David and Goliath
So the story begins with David the shepherd boy (the last of eight sons, the “runt of the litter”) running an errand for his father; he’s sent to take a care package to the front lines of the battle with the Philistines where the brothers (who must be of fighting age) are stationed. Upon reaching the camp, David is startled to hear the taunts of Goliath, the Philistine hero. We are told that Goliath comes out to the valley every day at the morning and evening hours (this refers to the morning and evening sacrifices) to taunt the God of Israel.
David cannot believe his ears. This Philistine not only comes out to taunt the armies of Israel, but openly rebukes YHVH at the very moment Israel would seek to honor and worship Him! David may be young, but he’s also young enough to still carry a passionate, youthful naiveté about him. After inquiring why nobody does anything about this taunting rebel, David offers to go down and fight him himself, to which his brothers respond with a lack of enthusiasm. David approaches King Saul and offers his services.
And this sets the stage for what I call “the story behind the story.” You see, nobody wants to do anything. They are paralyzed with fear — capsized with the illogical.
They don’t trust the story.
But David is willing and eventually talks the king into letting him end this stalemate. After a failed attempt to fit him with Saul’s armor, David goes out to the battle lines after a quick stop by the creek to grab five smooth stones. As a shepherd boy, David is armed with his sling — the typical tool of the shepherd. Shepherds become incredibly good with a sling after using it day after day.
As David approaches Goliath, he receives a taunting rebuke — to which he responds with an assertion of who God is and what the world will see about this God whom Goliath has openly rebuked.
Because David is here to kiddush haShem.
He’s not always logical. But he’s willing.
David lets his first stone fly from his sling and it strikes the giant on the forehead, causing Goliath to fall to his face. David, stealing the sword at Goliath’s side, chops off the giant’s head and the Philistines head for the hills.
But it’s important to see this story as an Easterner.
This story is full of numbers. Some of these numbers get translated away, but I begin to notice some patterns.
Goliath is six cubits high. His spear head weighs six hundred shekels. We know from another passage in Chronicles that Goliath is famous for having a six-fingered brother.666
And Goliath’s armor covers him like scales.
Like scales? 666? You don’t suppose Goliath is supposed to remind us of evil do you? Of the serpent?
“I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15
The word for bruise is the same as crush.
David has just crushed the head of the serpent. (This is not to take anything from Jesus later, but appreciate what the “pre-Jesus” readers would have heard.)
Why does David choose five stones?
Five is the number for the book of Moses.
And where are you supposed to put the Law?
“…bind it to your forehead.”
David puts the law on this Philistine’s forehead and he bows in worship to the God he was just taunting.
We have to appreciate the story, not just for it’s factual historicity and mechanics, but for what the author is trying to tell us through his narrative.
And the bigger, greater point of the story? Why was the serpent crushed?
Because David was willing to throw his stone.
Almost every reader misses this point, but Saul is from the tribe of Benjamin. The one thing Benjamin is known for is their special detachment of left-handed men, gifted with the sling:
And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men. Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war. Judges 20:15–17
David’s not the guy who’s supposed to be out there with a sling — SAUL IS!
But the thing that fell the giant was the willingness of a servant of God. Somebody from the bottom. Somebody who remembers where they come from. Somebody who trust the story enough to kiddush haShem.
Whoever you are — wherever you are — throw your stone.
You may not be the most qualified. You may be the right guy or gal for the job. You may not see the logic in your obedience.
Throw your stone, anyway.
Because throwing your stone allows God to use you as a partner in His great story. Throwing your stone demonstrates your willingness. And your weakness demonstrates God’s power, not yours.
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Trust the story.
Throw your stone.
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