The Second Sunday after Trinity – 21 June 2009
I Samuel 17, Psalm 76, I John
3:13-24, Luke 14:16-24
The story of David and Goliath is one
of the most widely known and popular stories in the Scriptures. It is so popular that most Americans, whether
they are religious or not, know this story.
In fact, the story of David and Goliath is so woven into the warp and
woof of American identity that most competitions such as the Superbowl, World
Series, Stanley Cup and American Idol, are often called a battle between David
and Goliath. This could be because
during the birth of our nation, the Revolutionary War, we believed that we, a
small group of colonies with a small volunteer army, were like David fighting against
a better-trained and armed military of the English Empire, which was like Goliath. Most
popular references to the story of David and Goliath assume one of two
things. First, that David and Goliath is
a motivational story about the victorious underdog, who through courage,
bravery and faith, defeated a larger, better-trained opponent. The second assumption made about this story
is that David is a role model for us who shows us how to face the giants in our
lives that seem invincible and unassailable.
To be sure, we as Christians are called to be courageous as Moses said
in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and
courageous” and as
If the story of David and Goliath is
not primarily about us and our courage, bravery and faith, what is this story
about? The book of I Samuel, in which we find the story of David and Goliath,
was composed when the Jewish people were living in a terrible mess that they
could not get out of; they were living in exile.[1] Consequently, one of the purposes of Samuel was
to show the Jewish people how they would get out of the mess of exile. We can see this purpose woven into the story
of David and Goliath. At the beginning
of the story the Jewish army is in a mess, they are in a state of panic and
disarray because no one is courageous, brave and faithful enough to fight
against Goliath but at the end of the story the Jewish army is victoriously
plundering the Philistines for the giant, Goliath, has been slain. I believe the question the first readers of
Samuel would have asked is, “How did the Jewish army become victorious and get
out of the mess they were in?”
We find our
answer in these words of David, “Let no
one lose heart on account of this Philistine: [I] will go and fight him.” The only person with enough faith, bravery
and courage to fight against
If the story
of David and Goliath was not written as a “How to Guide” for courage, bravery,
and faithfulness, then the story of David and Goliath is not about us, our
bravery, our courage or our faith. This
story is about the victory of God’s people when someone from the house of David
fights on their behalf. It is a story
that has its final fulfillment in Jesus, the son of David, who fought against
our enemies on our behalf and who as our representative “took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…he was pierced for our
transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities: the punishment that brought us
peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep have gone astray, each of
us has turned to his own ways; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us
all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)
In fact, there are a few similarities
between the ways David fought on behalf of the Jewish army and Jesus fought on
behalf of all of us. Just as David went
into battle without armor, so Jesus went into battle as silent as a lamb before
the slaughter. (Isaiah 53:7) Just as
others mocked and ridiculed David, so Jesus was mocked and ridiculed. Just as David fought his enemy using a
despised weapon, the sling, so Jesus went into battle using the despised weapon
of the cross.
We often
forget that in the story of David and Goliath, the Jewish army was not
victorious through their own courage, bravery, faith and valor on the battlefield;
they were victorious when David fought on their behalf. This means that we are not victorious when we
are courageous, brave and faithful; we are victorious because Jesus has fought
on our behalf and because Jesus has fought on our behalf we are victorious
through him. Is your enemy an inability
to love? Jesus has conquered that enemy through his love on the cross,
therefore go forth in his love. Is your
enemy guilt and shame? Jesus has conquered that enemy through his sacrifice on
the cross, therefore go forth in his forgiveness. Is your enemy pride? Jesus conquered that
enemy through his humility on the cross, therefore go forth in his humility. When Jesus, the son of David, fights on our behalf,
we are victorious, therefore let us go forth in victory, not because we are
courageous, not because we are brave, not because we are faithful, but because
Jesus, our representative, was brave, was courageous, was faithful, and has
already defeated the Goliaths in our lives.
Finally, let us now come to the Eucharist, the memorial feast of Jesus’
victory, not only remembering the victory Jesus won on our behalf, but also
knowing that our champion, our warrior, our saviour is here in our midst.
[1] I am
assuming that I Samuel was written during the exile, although there an argument
that this book was written after the nations of Judea and