I came across this fantasy themed graphical image of David and I love it. It is a modern digital rendition of David verses Goliath titled Goliath. It is probably overly dramatic but we just love being theatrical, don’t we. Instead of hero-worship of fictitious characters from comics or Hollywood, why not turn to the Bible and see some accounts of real heroes; and be as dramatic as you can imagine.
And no, I have not turned into a Cosplay fanatic.
Unfortunately, in most modern day interpretation of David vs Goliath, the world has reduced it to a story or a lesson; to mere ways the of underdogs, or about facing giants; simply a battling between the big and tiny; the art of war – stacking the odds and tactics on how to overcome a much bigger opponent. Some even ridiculously claimed such (the small defeating the larger), should be the default outcome.
Let’s get back to reality.
In the biblical account, God sent the Israelites out to conquer the Promised Land, clearing out the giants starting from Canaan (Joshua 11). And in 1 Samuel 17, the Israelites were battling the Philistines in the valley of Elah. And there was a Philistine champion warrior, a “super” giant that stands at about 9 feet 9 inches; probably a descendants of the Nephilim – when demons mated with women; even after the flood in Noah’s time (Genesis 6). He wore a bronze helmet, bronze amour and a killer weapon of a bronze javelin; The metal bronze speaks of judgment and ultimately death. Goliath is like a shadow of the modern-day Satan; the evil one who looms largely and intimidatingly around like a roaring lion, shooting unjustified judgements and looking for someone to devour.
But David’s response was great, not filled with anxiety facing the giant but focused on the Lord. The secret to David’s boldness was that he was only conscious of victory and not defeat, because he knew a God who had rescued him time and again, from the lions and the bears when he was tending his sheep on the fields. David was only aware of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord and nothing else! This should be our stance and response to our opposition as well.
“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.” 1Samuel 17:45-46
From a prophetic perspective, David was also a foreshadow of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. You see, Jesus came and represented all of humanity; to go against the gigantic judgement singlehandedly. He did not take up the bronze amour of judgments but took His grace of 5 stones and took out the devil, once and for all. With the same sword of death that threatened us, He used it to cut off Goliath’s head. And by His victory, we are all victorious.
Also David took Gol-iath’s head, and brought it back to Jerusalem (v54). So it is a coincident that when Christ was crucified, it was on Gol-gotha! At the cross, Jesus Christ crushed the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).
Now, that’s a real Hero for you.
King David 