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Let’s talk about David and Goliath... and how so many people get it wrong. The story of David and Goliath is oftentimes misunderstood and misapplied in the sense that it has been condensed to the following: (1) the underdog (or weak) overcoming the top dog (the strong) and (2) overcoming an obstacle/giant in your life (“who’s/what's your Goliath?”). What's interesting is how the language of David and Goliath is even popularized, even in sports and culture and media—and again, how they all get it wrong.
Honestly, if people (as in, Christians) would read Scripture in context, I wouldn’t need to write this. Anyway, before I present the story of David and Goliath and its significance (and this isn't some newly discovered revelation), allow me to first combat one popular notion that appears to have misinterpreted the text.
David—An underdog?
Where in Scripture (or, in 1 Samuel 17) do you see David described as an underdog? The truth is, if you ask this question while reading the text, you’ll see how these popular notions (technically, presuppositions) have crept into the text, whereas the text does not affirm them.
The statements that seemingly portray David as an underdog are 1 Samuel 17:33 and 17:42-43. Saul’s comment that David was just “a youth” (17:33) while Goliath was a “man of war from his youth” might portray how he did not expect David to win. In 1 Samuel 17:42-43, where Goliath curses David may also reflect how Goliath didn’t feel threatened by him. But are these statements enough to justify David being an underdog?
If we look at the story in context, David, for one, did not consider himself an underdog. He was confident that he was going to kill that giant. In fact, David says to Saul, “your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them.” (17:36) Yes, David didn’t go to the duel with armor, but Scripture presents him as a fearless warrior.
Most importantly, the result of the duel didn’t reflect a “surprise victory” or an underdog beating a top dog. It was literally a slaughter—completely one-sided. David killed the giant without suffering any damage. His HP remained at 100%. He killed Goliath “with a sling and with a stone”. Now some people might claim that David was just lucky, but that also completely defies the text! If anything, David was a skilled slingshot—likely in the way Scripture describes skilled slingshots in Judges 20:16, “every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.” He defeated anything that came his way—lions and bears (1 Sam 17:34)—and this time it was no different.
David was not an underdog. Moreover, can God’s anointed be an underdog when God’s Spirit abides with him? No way.
What David & Goliath is all about: God’s Anointed with God’s Anointing
When it comes to narratives, it is generally better to consider the larger picture as a whole in order to determine what the author is trying to communicate. This way, we can grasp the intended themes and recurring ideas of the author. For example, 1 Samuel deals extensively with God’s anointing (or, “whom the Lord is with”). It began with the prophet Samuel (in contrast to Eli), then Saul, and lastly, David.
But here’s where the Goliath story matters. In 1 Samuel 16 (the prior chapter), David was anointed king (16:12-13). God’s Spirit was with David (16:14) and not with Saul (16:14). The whole point is that God’s anointing was not with the then-present king of Israel, Saul—but with the youngest son of Jesse, David.
With this in mind, we hit 1 Samuel 17. The king of Israel was tasked to “go out before us [Israel] and fight our battles,” (8:19) while organizing the army for war (8:11-12). But when Saul and his army were facing Goliath, Scripture writes that “Saul and all Israel...were dismayed and greatly afraid.” (17:11) Why was Saul afraid? Because God’s anointing had departed from him as God had rejected him from being king (15:23-26). When Saul first became king, a similar thing happened to him as with David, “the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul” (11:6) and he led Israel into battle and defeated the Ammonites (11:11).
Thus, the narrative of David and Goliath reflects that God’s anointing and presence was with David—as he fought and defeated Goliath and the Philistines. Furthermore, this narrative sets up the upcoming chapters as " David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war” (18:5), representing how God’s anointing was with him and that he would be king over Israel (18:7-8).
Practical applications:
A biblical application of this story is not asking the question “who/what is your goliath?” or “what is a giant in your life?” Both David and Goliath are historical characters. They’re not symbolic or figurative. Would you read stories of the second world war and think, who's my Hitler?
The problem with allegorizing biblical characters or objects (or making them symbolic/spiritual) is that the people who do that, usually end up picking and choosing certain aspects or preferences of each object without considering the whole. For example, if one were to see Goliath merely as an obstacle or “giant” in his/her life, one is ignoring the historical, geographical, cultural, and biblical context as a whole! Goliath’s ethnicity (as a Philistine), character (anti-God), occupation (soldier), and more importantly—role and function in Scripture are completely thrown out. So, in a sense, a person’s “goliath” could literally be anything, and that throws out authorial intent. What I am trying to say is that, with allegorization, you’re making anything in Scripture appear to be anything you want it to be. With allegorization, you are making meaning based on your own understanding, not according to Scripture.
Therefore, a truly biblical approach considers the question, “what is the function (intended purpose) of this narrative—especially in light of the larger narrative of 1 Samuel?”
And I believe the answer is clear. Again, this narrative is about God’s anointing with God’s anointed. David’s victory over Goliath reflects God’s abiding Spirit that is with him, and that he would be king over Israel. That’s what can be applied and transferred today into our own context (of the New Testament), that is: (1) Just as God's Spirit (anointing) abided in/with David, His Spirit abides in us and gives us boldness and courage in a time of need—especially when we face the enemies of our time, namely, the spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6).
Or (2) (this is more generalized) Just as God's Spirit (anointing) abided in/with David, His Spirit abides in us and sets us up for His glory and vessels in promoting His Kingdom.
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