1 Samuel 17:50

So David prevailed. How quickly one test followed another. This was David’s third victory in the one day. His first victory came when he was taunted by Eliab as being unfit for aught but caring for sheep. He might have made a justly sharp retort, but refused to reply in kind. Calmly composed, he merely said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” (v. 29). Such a character is not born in a moment. Had he not learned patience with his sheep, he could not have been shown patience with his jealous brothers. By ignoring the opportunity of entering into a petty quarrel, David showed himself a master of his own spirit. Thus it was with Christ, who, having demonstrated His meekness under the worst provocation, said, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:29). Only thus can any man become a true leader and guide of others.

David won his second victory when he was escorted into the presence of his king. Looking at the spirited youth, the king could not help contrasting the youthful blitheness and lack of military training with the cunning of the old-timer at war games. If Saul, with all his commanding personality, had refrained from the combat with Goliath, how could a stripling like David attempt it (1 Sam. 17:33)? Never dreaming of the possibility of a supernatural intervention, Saul planted seeds of doubt in David’s mind, and tempted him to wear the king’s own armor. But again with courteous deference, David won the victory over doubt by adhering to his Heaven-inspired purpose of maintaining faith in, and total dependence on, the Lord.

All of this prepared him well for his third victory — that over the Philistine, who was the very personification of blasphemy. It was a victory of spiritual forces over material brute strength. In view of the events of previous months, how necessary it was that Israel be taught this lesson! In reply to Goliath’s curse, David exultantly cried, “I come to thee in the name of the . . . God of the armies of Israel” (v. 45). A simple stone from the brook plus a lad’s skill and his confiding trust in the eternal God gave the Israelites a lesson they were never to forget, even though they seldom emulated it.