The Bible story of David and Goliath is famous for the extraordinary courage and faith of a shepherd boy who defeated the most powerful warrior on earth. Many archeological sites and discoveries have been unearthed since the Tel Dan Stele (1993) that provide evidences consistent with the Biblical history surrounding this account. From the "house of David" inscription recorded by Israel's enemies to giant-sized city structures, weapons and tools fit for extraordinarily large humans, these discoveries support the accuracy and truth of the Bible.
There are many lessons one can learn from the narrative of David and Goliath. Many people draw parallels with bravery, faith and the belief that God can use seemingly insignificant people to accomplish the impossible. I chose to focus on something a little different when preparing a VBS lesson on David and Goliath for children one summer. After re-reading the account, I observed something that I had not noticed before. It was in the answer that David gave to Goliath, after Goliath threatened and insulted Israel and David.
"...Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee today in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
"This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the hosts of the Philistines this day unto the fowls 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 all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands." 1 Samuel 17:45-47
After reading this, I asked myself "What is the one thing in David's answer that reveals WHY he would be victorious?" In the first verse, David sums up what has happened so far. In the second verse, he foretells what is going to happen and how the world will view God and Israel because of it. It is in the last verse - when David explains "the battle is the LORD's" - that my mind flashed to a hand reaching through the clear, cool water to pick up stones. The five words that hold the key to our confidence in victory correspond to the five stones David selected in preparing for battle. I could just imagine the quiet moments David spent crouched by the brook, leaning over the water, his face reflected in the bright, blue sky. He had just rejected the armor and sword that were too heavy and awkward for him, and his pounding heart was probably slowing down as he focused on God. I wonder if he thought he would need all five stones since Goliath had four brothers, or perhaps that was the amount he usually carried. It is certain, however, that David understood the battle he was about to engage in wasn't his battle - it was God's - and that knowledge was enough to trust in the outcome.
So, for my VBS lesson, I collected five smooth stones from a nearby creek and wrote one of the five words "the battle is the LORD's" on each stone. After asking the children if they could explain why David had victory over the giant, I showed them the stones, reading each one as I pulled them out of the bag. It was very quiet, and I remember the smiling faces of the children, as if they had just watched a secret revealed. The truth is - they had. This understanding is vital to the Christian who wants to abide in peace and courage when facing life's battles. The fight to succeed and survive through the unthinkable is coupled with a sense of peace when one knows that both the battle and the outcome is ultimately in God's hands. Little did I know at that time, I would soon enter a decade of battles in which this truth made all the difference, enabling me to walk steadily forward with courage, peace and even joy. Although it took several evenings to complete dozens of sets, each child left that day with a bag of five small stones with the words from the Bible verse written on them.
All Scripture King James 1611
I created two different mixed media artworks about David and Goliath. The first (above) is an illustration done in watercolor and monoprints I made, cut and collaged. The second (below) is of five smooth stones under the water. Although it appears realistic, it is mostly monoprints, cut up and collaged with color pencil and oil.
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