This scripture is a treasure trove of truth about ourselves. Here we have the example of what we can become when we are unsure of ourselves as Goliath was when he shouted, “Am I not a Philistine?” We can imagine the Philistines feel less esteem as a group than the Israelites but not because the Israelites treat them that way. Certainly the actions of the Philistines cause Israel to view them as the enemy.
What happens when we begin to view ourselves as part of a segmented group, which in my case could be WASP, jock, senior citizen, or Georgia Bulldog? We may lose sight of who we are as individuals and take on the group’s identity. In these verses, we witness the concept of posturing—the grand ploy of the ego—on full display. The Philistines and Israelites engage in childhood playground antics by yelling dares and double-dog dares back and forth at each other. And the elected representative has a uniform of armor second to none.
This stage production begins to border on comedy. On the one hand, we have all this noisy chaos with two groups screaming at each other. Surely this image is the worst in us. On the other hand, the youthful David walks in calmly, fresh from tending his flock. He shuns elaborate war dress for five smooth stones, providing a picture of divine assuredness, comfortable in his own skin.
When David arrives, he greets his brothers and hears Goliath’s challenge. His reply, “Your servant will go and fight.
. . . The Lord will save me.” We learn then that the best in us can rise above and overcome the worst in us with God’s assurance!