David and Goliath
I recently went back and read the old bible story about David and Goliath again. I guess I have read it more than a few times through the years but I don’t think I ever took a “critical” look at all the elements of the story. I was amazed at how much of the story is still relevant advice for us today. Even though I’m hesitant to recommend killing as the “go to” solution for solving problems it seems obvious that there are times when it just works. In spite of that fact the importance of this story doesn’t hinge on the fact that David killed him but rather on the techniques David used to overcome his opponent. The techniques are timeless and should be taught at all levels.
I listened to a sermon a while back and the preacher seemed to miss the point. He labored and labored over how a young boy went into battle with a giant and used a pebble and God to kill him and win the battle. He talked about how if you have God on your side you meager skills will be enough because he will magnify your efforts. While I don’t disagree that God can certainly magnify anything he wishes I saw a lot more than meager efforts from the young man that was being groomed to become king.
In case you don’t remember the story the two armies were camped close enough to hurl insults at each other and Goliath was yelling a challenge every morning that if they had a solider that would come fight him that they could settle the battle and declare a winner without everyone going into battle. All they had to do was select a solider to meet him and beat him in battle. Only problem was Goliath was at least twice the size of most men and an experienced expert at hand to hand combat that had never lost. I’m sure he was covered with scars from battle and had back hair thicker than the girls from Dover! You have probably met more than one of these loud mouths in your life but apparently Goliath could back up his boast. At least it looks like the soldiers believed he could because no body wanted to try when the cost of losing was certain death from a big rusty sword! So it had been a stalemate for a while before David showed up to drop off stuff. He wasn’t even a solider but he hears the challenge and immediately accepts. He is too small to wear the heavy armor or carry the big sword so he goes into battle with only his slingshot and wins. Everyone is amazed and he is an instant star.
How did he do it? The bible leaves no doubt that it was the hand of God but exactly how did God get the outcome he desired. It seems to me that David was groomed for this fight long before he ever saw Goliath. He used his past training, skill, cunning and bravery on that day along with good dose of common sense. Here is how he did it.
He stuck with a proven performer. Seems a lot of us want to abandon what has always worked in favor of something untried when we face a new problem. Sure the sword was the weapon of choice for war but David knew he would lose in a sword fight. Goliath was far to strong to fight up close and the slingshot would allow him to pelt him from a safe distance. It was a weapon David had practiced with and he knew it’s strengths and weaknesses. It would not kill unless the hit was perfect but it would sure make for a bad day for “Big Boy” even if he could only score hits. Remember “stoning” was a particularly painful form of execution.
He had a plan. How can you go do anything if you don’t have a plan? Notice the part of the story where he picked up the stones? He selected 5 stones. Did this mean he didn’t have faith? No it simply meant his plan was to do the best he could with what he had. I’m confidant that if Goliath hadn’t had enough after the fifth stone that David would have picked up more and more until the giant’s head looked like it had been through an all day hail storm.
He had technique! You can’t do anything well unless you have a technique. You can practice the technique, improve the technique, change the technique or even abandon the technique but unless you have a technique you won’t improve. It was a technique he had perfected as a Shepard guarding his flock. He knew that if he stayed far away and threw the stones that Goliath would have time to dodge or deflect the stones. His weapon of choice would have to be used up close. The bible says he ran straight towards him and was close enough that Goliath had no time to react but not close enough that Goliath could use his sword.
He matched his equipment to the task. How many times have you tried to use the wrong tool and gotten poor results. The bible says he selected smooth stones from the river bed. Ever wonder why. Wouldn’t a jagged stone make a nastier wound? Certainly it would but David was going to use all his skill to make a good shot (sounds like he went to Atlantic Shooting School!). He knew a jagged stone would not fly straight or come out of the sling at precisely the right time so even back then premium ammo was worth the effort.
He didn’t stop till he was sure the job was done. I’m guilty of this one! Start celebrating when the hard part of the job is done but something goes wrong finishing up the easy part! When Goliath went down he cut off his head without delay. Imagine if he had run back to his side to gloat after knocking him down and Goliath had gotten back up ready to fight! The old surprise slingshot technique might not work twice!
How many Goliaths are you facing? Even if you have never faced a real challenge you can be sure that some are waiting in your future. Maybe some of the same techniques that worked thousands of years ago will work for you too. Bottom line is you have to do your part and that means doing it the best you can, as hard as you can and for as long as it takes. After all, God didn’t design you to fail. So when the times to take down the giant have a plan, stick with what you know, use your most effective technique, have good equipment and don’t give up till you are the winner! Don’t worry about God doing his part, you just make sure you hold up your end of the bargain!
Timothy P. Whealton