The story of David and Goliath is one of the most popular Bible stories of the Old Testament. It’s a story that is loved by children, and it’s been the focus of innumerable Sunday School crafts and lessons. It’s a story that is just as popular with adults, which is evidenced by the many David and Goliath sermons that have been prepared and delivered on Sunday mornings. Many well-known pastors, like Louie Giglio, Max Lucado, and David Jeremiah, have even written books that are centered on the David and Goliath story. Everyone loves an underdog story, and David was certainly an underdog!

But many teachers, pastors, and authors, even those who are very well-known, get the story of David and Goliath wrong. They focus on the wrong details, they miss the main point, and they end up leading their students, congregants, and readers astray.

Let’s start at the beginning of the story, which is found in 1 Samuel 17. Israel, led by King Saul, was preparing to battle the Philistines, who had been fierce enemies of the Israelites for some time. A champion of the Philistines, Goliath, came out from the camp in full armor made of bronze. Goliath was essentially a giant who stood at over nine feet tall, and he shouted over to Israel’s camp. He challenged Israel to send a champion to fight him. If Israel’s champion could fight and kill him, the Philistines would become Israel’s servants. But if Goliath fought and killed Israel’s champion, Israel would become servants of the Philistines. All of Israel, including the king, were greatly afraid of this giant, and Goliath shouted out this challenge every morning and evening for forty days.

David, the youngest son of Jesse, had older brothers who had gone to the battle, and Jesse sent David to the camp to bring food and also to see if his brothers were well. He came to the camp and was talking with his brothers when he heard the challenge of Goliath. While the men of Israel fearfully fled from Goliath, David asked,

“What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26b, ESV

The men answered that whoever killed Goliath would receive great riches and even be given the king’s daughter in marriage, but nobody was willing to go fight the giant. So, David went to King Saul and told him that he would go fight Goliath. When Saul tried to object due to David’s youth, David answered that he had conquered many wild beasts as the shepherd of his father’s flock.

“And David said, ‘The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’” 1 Samuel 17:37a

Saul relented and attempted to clothe David in armor, which he refused to wear, for he was not used to wearing such things. Instead, he chose what was familiar to him – a sling and five smooth stones. David and Goliath approached each other, Goliath mocking David for his youth. But David didn’t back down.

“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds 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 that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s and He will give you into our hand.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47

After his magnificent battle speech, David ran quickly towards Goliath, put a stone in his sling, and slung the stone at Goliath. The stone struck and sank into Goliath’s forehead, and he fell onto the ground. David then drew out the giant’s sword to kill him and cut his head off. Now, it was the Philistines who fearfully fled, and Israel pursued after them and plundered their camp. David, the boy who nobody took seriously, had defeated a giant with simply a sling and a stone because He believed that God would give Israel victory.

And this is usually where a lot of teachers, pastors, and authors get it wrong when they’re talking about this passage. As they get to the application portion of their lesson, they start comparing us with David. We have big giants in our life, whether it be finances, relationships, or other life circumstances. We may feel small, but God is with us and has given us victory. All we need is a little bit of faith, and then we can slay our giants.

But this is not the purpose of the David and Goliath story. We are sinful. We are weak. And we cannot slay the “giants” in our life on our own. This story points to something bigger than just us. Allie Stuckey writes,

“We are not David in this story – Jesus is. He slayed the ultimate giant – sin and death – when he died on the cross for our transgressions and rose again three days later.”^[1]

You are not David. You are not the hero of the story. Jesus is. He is the true and better David who slayed the giant of sin and death. If you are anybody in this story, you’re one of the frightened Israelites who couldn’t save themselves from the enemy. You can’t save yourself, and you don’t have to. Jesus accomplished your salvation 2,000 years ago on a Roman cross, and He has given us victory over sin.

So, next time you feel like you’re facing a “giant” in your life, whether you find yourself in a tough financial spot, a difficult relationship, or an overwhelming situation, remember that you’re not David. Remember that you don’t have to be your own hero and conjure up enough faith to solve all your problems. Jesus is your hero. Jesus is your Savior. And when you feel like you’re losing your battle, Jesus is with you, and He will remain faithful to you, regardless of what happens. When the battle gets hard, trust in Him-

“When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saved the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:17-19

^[1] Allie Stuckey, You’re Not Enough (and that’s okay) (Sentinel, 2020), 73.