Tale of the Tape (Part 3)

 Continuing with our past study of David’s battle with Goliath, we finish with the final three stats.

WEAPONRY

Goliath: Goliath was well prepared for battle as he had three weapons. The first was the “…target of brass between his shoulders” (1 Samuel 17:6). The Hebrew word here is the same which is used for “spear” in Joshua 8:18. Therefore, this was probably a javelin which was made from brass or something very similar. This was a long distance weapon. He also used a large spear as we read“… staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron…” (1 Samuel 17:7). The thickness of the beam was the thickness of the beam of a weaver’s loom. While the size of the weaver’s beam is not known it was thought to be around twenty six feet long. We do know the weight of the spear’s head. It was six hundred shekels of iron with equaled out to around seventeen to eighteen pounds. This was a medium range weapon. Goliath also carried a sword, which will be mentioned more in detail later. We know this as David acknowledged that Goliath carried such as David said, “…Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield…” (1 Samuel 17:45). This was used for close combat. Goliath had all of his bases covered concerning the types of weapon he was able to use.

David: David seems to be at the disadvantage yet again. Goliath had three different types of weapons but David only chose one type. He did not have a sword at his disposal. Saul tried to provide David with a sword but it was too cumbersome for the lad to use with Saul’s armor. Instead, he chose a long distance weapon for use in this battle. “And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:40). Some would say that this was not a smart move on the part of David. David is fighting against this giant individual but he chooses five smooth stones and a sling as his weapons instead of others. It should be noted that the sling in the hands of a well trained individual can be a very dangerous thing. Seven hundred left handed men of Benjamin were very proficient in the use of a sling (Joshua 20:16). Also, there is preparation seen on the part of David as he intended to use one rock on Goliath and possibly the other four on Goliath’s brothers (2 Samuel 21:15-22). Still, when one compares the in the field of weaponry, Goliath has the advantage because he has weaponry for any type of combat whereas David only has one long ranged weapon.

Advantage: Goliath.

YEARS EXPERIENCE

Goliath: Before allowing David to try on his armor it seems that Saul doubted David’s ability to battle against the Philistine. “And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth” (1 Samuel 17:33). While David was a young shepherd, Goliath had been trained in the art of battle since he was a child.

David: David, while not an expert in armed combat, was no stranger to fighting. “And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God” (1Samuel 17:34-36). It is one thing to be able to kill a lion or bear. It is an entirely different thing to kill both in the same battle. It takes someone who is not only courageous but strong as well. Still, Goliath still had the advantage over David as he was trained from childhood.

Advantage: Goliath.

CORNER

Goliath: Goliath had his armor, weapons, experience, and size in his favor. Goliath had an entire army who was pulling for him. His brothers were behind him. Yet, there really was no one in Goliath’s corner. He was readily relying on his own strength to pull him through this battle. “And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field” (1 Samuel 17:44). His mentality was, “I will defeat the champion of the Israelites. I will make this a victory for the Philistines. I will make the Israelites our slaves.” After all, he is the one who posed this challenge to Israel. He trusted in his might and his might alone to win this victory.

David: This is where so many battles are decided. In the past, there have been many men who have won battles, when according to the tale of the tape, each should have lost. A strong corner can be the deciding factor. Who was in David’s corner? His brothers were not in his corner as his eldest brother rebuked him for coming to the location of battle (1 Samuel 17:28-29). What about the Israelite army? They were too busy cringing in fear concerning the giant hurling insults in their general direction (1 Samuel 17:24). Surely, Saul, the king of Israel, was behind David. To a certain extent he was as he allowed David to take part in this battle. But David did not rely on these to be his strength and shield in this battle. “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee” (1 Samuel 17:37). God was ultimately in David’s corner. Goliath relied on himself to win this battle but David relied on God. “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee 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 carcases of the host 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.” (1Samuel 17:45-47).

                                             

Advantage: David.

The scorecard reads 5-1 in favor of the giant of the Philistines. Were these five advantages enough to secure the victory for the Philistines? The Bible is quite clear in giving us the answer. “And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled” (1Samuel 17:48-51). There were two strikes in this battle. David struck Goliath with the stone from his sling and Goliath struck the ground. He had no chance of winning this battle because Goliath chose to fight against more than the Israelite army. He chose to fight against the One True Living God.

Let this be a lesson to those who choose to fight against God. To battle against God is to choose failure. Goliath could have been twenty or thirty feet tall. God would have prevailed. David could have faced off against the Philistine by himself while Israel watched. God would have prevailed. At the same time, there is a lesson to be learned by the child of God. Sometimes, things may seem tough. We may have our own personal “giant” before us. Trust in God as David did and you will prevail. “And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him” (Psalm 37:40). The “Tale of the Tape” may put you as the underdog but the child of God will prevail, ultimately to a reward in Heaven.