David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:41-51)

Picture description: David and Goliath
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meaning

The weak challenges the strong.

origin and application

The battle between a young man David and a nine-feet tall giant Goliath, started out as a battle between the weak and the strong. But it was David, who later became King of Israel, who won the battle through his faith in the Lord.
The whole Israelite army was terrified of Goliath, a giant from Philistia whose army had gathered for war against Israel. One day David heard Goliath shouting his defiance which caused great fear among the Israelites, so David volunteered to fight Goliath. Carrying with him a pouch of stones, David approached Goliath.
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied … today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air … and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel … it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)
As Goliath moved closer to attack him, David reached into his bag and slung one of his stones at Goliath’s head. Finding a hole in the armour, the stone sank into the giant’s forehead and he fell face down on the ground. David then took Goliath’s sword, killed him and then cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the Israelites pursued, chasing and killing them and plundering their camp.
The famous battle has now become a metaphor for a contest where the weak challenges the strong. This expression is often used of sport, when a small team sides against a big team even when the small team loses.