David & Goliath - Why David Won

          Just when I thought I knew the David and Goliath story, after taking time to actually read each word I learned something more probative that explains why David won.
          My perspective on this is written after I had already completed reading the entire Bible, front to back.  I finished Revelations on May 15, a day after my younger sisters birthday.  This is the first post since I accomplished that feat.  I wanted to be sure I added my two cents on the David & Goliath story because it appears we have misused it to a large degree.
          We all know the general story: David, sometimes seen as a young boy ultimately has to fight a giant man, maybe as big if not bigger than Shaq and David kills Goliath with a slingshot to the head and then beheads Goliath.  One moral of the story is that with the right amount of faith and determination, small people (either in stature or otherwise) can compete and dominate those who appear to be bigger and more powerful.  This moral is often invoked figuratively in adversarial competitions or arenas, be they physical, intellectual, etc.  However the perception has always been that on paper, Goliath had no business losing to this smaller sized human being.
          "Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver's beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds."  1 Samuel 17:4-7.

Goliath taunted the Israelites and challenged the following: "Choose one man to come down here and fight me. If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves. I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!" 1 Samuel 17:8-10.  

This challenge terrified Saul and the Israelites. 

          The part we rarely focus on however is how prepared David really was for this particular encounter.  If attention is paid, one could reasonably conclude that David was well prepared for the fight and Goliath arguably was out of his league.  Here's David:

"'Don't worry about this Philistine,' David said to Saul. 'I'll go fight him!'  'Don't be ridiculous,' Saul replied. 'There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth.'  

But David persisted.  'I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats. When a lion or bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club to rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.  I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!'"  

1 Samuel 17:32-37

  

          I can only speak for myself.  I would have put money on David without hesitation.  A boy who's skilled at rescuing lambs from the jaws of lions and bears is my friend indeed!  So the next time you hear someone apply the David and Goliath story to an actual situation, be sure that the "David" in that situation is more than just someone or some group who is small going up against a big person or group , a "Goliath".  The "David" must have spent time and effort preparing not only for a battle, but specifically for a battle tougher than his opponent had ever faced.  As this story is told, we only see Goliath as a "champion," a tall muscular fighter who is the best the Philistines have to offer. We are not told he fought dangerous animals like, lions and tigers and bears, Oh My!!  

          Knowing David had such a background fighting very dangerous and wild animals and rescued lambs from their claws and jaws reminds me to continue working harder than any potential opponent is, to master any craft I hold true, and be confident that proper preparation prevents poor performance no matter the enemy.     

I recommend that you go back and read the entire book of 1 Samuel involving, but not limited to, the story of David and Goliath, Saul's fall from God's grace, King Samuel's reign, Saul's attempts to kill David, David sparing Saul's life twice, Saul's ultimate death and more.

Job's Job

       Can you tell who this picture represents?  Well I guess one could assume based on the title of this post.  If this is your first piece written by me, I have as of today finished reading the entire Old Testament, the goal being to read the Bible in full.  Based on notes in the margins, I began and most likely finished this book on April 6, 2010 at 4pm on the third floor of the Union Square Barnes & Noble in New York City.

       You all I'm sure know the story of Job: extremely rich and blameless man in the land of Uz, who is challenged by God in severe ways, cries in anguish before his friends and questions God, ultimately submits himself to God's infinite wisdom and is given back everything God had taken away and more (kids, land, health).  You may have even applied or related that story in your own life - the story begging the questions:

"Why must the innocent suffer"; and
"Why doesn't God intervene when God has the power to do so?"
 

"The story of Job in my mind is the root of today's suspicious mantra, "God works in mysterious ways."  And of course you can take into consideration Bishop Desmond Tutu's stance back in 2003:

"One of the extraordinary things is that we have a God, the omnipotent one, who created all that is without our help. Yet, the paradox is that this omnipotent one is impotent - this God wants to wait on humans to collaborate with God on what God wants to do. God is quite willing to jeopardize his projects because God is willing to wait. He seeks to persuade unwilling partners." 

       But this note isn't about that aspect of the story.  Although the Bible is very dense, a close read will lead you to notice minor or major things you had never imagined would be in the Bible at all.  And of course certain stories leave you confused.  I've had many of these moments while reading the Old Testament.  The moment in question in the book of Job can be found within the first two chapters.  For me it was significant that Job, the 18th book of the Old Testament, is the first time a devil of any kind is even mentioned in the Bible.  Mine, a New Living Translation, does not clearly state that Satan is in fact the serpent in the Garden of Eden and most stories of destruction in the OT that I've read were by and large excused by God's blessing, or directed by God directly.

       The scene starts with God being approached by "The Accuser, Satan."  God casually asks Satan what he's been up to.  Satan responds, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on."  Job 1:6-7.  Then God, almost in an effort to prove that such humans existed, replied, "Have you noticed my servant, Job?  He is the finest man in all the earth.  He is blameless, a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil."  Long story short, Satan then challenges God with indecent proposals and God ultimately agrees with Satan's wishes, which were to:

1) take away all of Job's possessions and have his family killed; and
2) force Job to suffer through painful boils all over his body as tests.   

       Ok, hold it right there.  This story basically begins by giving the reader the impression that God often gives Satan permission to wreak havoc on the masses below.  It's like the relationship between Hades and Zeus of Greek mythology fame, but I digress.  But why would God initiate that specific challenge to the Accuser, Satan...as if God had something to prove to Satan?  This baffles me and I've never seen more mysterious ways than that.  We always envision God punishing us directly, and Satan working in direct opposition to God, w/o God's permission.  To think they work in tandem is a bit scary.

And I haven't even touched on how the author was able to hear this entire conversation between God and Satan.  I simply cannot believe that aspect of the story, but ultimately...although the lessons learned in Job are valuable, the truth of the story to me not only is immaterial, but beyond my level of understanding (like the tortoise and the hare. C'mon son! Do you really think the hare would lose?).  So, discuss amongst yourselves if you are so moved and read the entire book of Job when you get a chance.  At the very least it shows how we should accept the bad with the good in life, while always striving to live blameless existences. 

Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment.