This is an excerpt from a message I heard from my mentor, Apostle Emmanuel Iren.
The story of David vs. Goliath is probably one of the top 10 most popular biblical stories worldwide, often celebrated as a beautiful underdog tale. It’s similar to Leicester winning the English Premier League or Bayer Leverkusen clinching the German Bundesliga title. However, what if I told you that the fight between David and Goliath was actually a fair contest? Let me explain.
First, considering his experience, David was no novice to combat. Despite his small stature and young age, David had killed both a lion and a bear.
1 Samuel 17:34-36 (New American Standard Bible) says:
34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a sheep from the flock, 35 I went out after it and attacked it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I grabbed it by its mane and struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.”
It’s one thing to kill a wild animal, but to kill a hungry, angry, wild animal with your bare hands is a different level of bravery and skill. David’s résumé was arguably more impressive than many of the soldiers present, and his past experience was a source of inspiration for him.
Secondly, David had a weapon. While he had previously killed wild animals with his bare hands, this time he had the added advantage of a sling. Often overlooked, the sling was a formidable weapon of war. In Judges 20:16, the Bible describes Benjamin’s elite troop of soldiers: “Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss”. If a sling could be used with such precision, then Goliath was an easy target for someone as skilled as David.
Thirdly, the fate of the nation rested on the shoulders of the person fighting Goliath. If the chosen warrior lost, all of Israel, including the king, would become slaves to the Philistines. It would have been foolish for a king to let a young boy decide the nation’s fate unless he truly believed David had a fighting chance.
Yes, David had a spiritual edge, but fundamentally, he was competent. Based on skill alone, David had a fair chance of winning. He wasn’t blindly going into battle in the name of the Lord; he was prepared and confident in his abilities. To illustrate his confidence, David even inquired about the reward for defeating Goliath before accepting the challenge.
David was young but highly competent. This story serves as a powerful lesson for us all: Age should never be an excuse for incompetence, nor should spirituality. Competence and skill know no age boundaries.
Life favors the skilled, rewarding those who put in the effort to master their craft. While divine favor can give us an edge, fundamentally, our success hinges on our own competence. 1 Corinthians 3:6 says “Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase”. This shows how human effort and divine blessing work together: yes, God made things grow, but it depended on humans planting and watering first. So, it is essential that we do our part with diligence and excellence.
Have a great weekend!
3 thoughts on “David vs. Goliath: A Fair Fight and a Lesson in Competence”
Life favours the skilled.
Our success hinges on our competence.
Thank you for the amazing piece Sir
The importance of skill in destiny fulfilment cannot be overemphasized. Unfortunately, most people run with “I will win by the grace God”. Forgetting grace only amplifies what’s inherent. if nothing is inside, I can imagine grace amplifying nothingness. Mhen, the failure will be massive.
Awesome inspiration! God will surely reward the competence and preparation thanks for sharing