Why David won

The story of David and Goliath, recounted in today’s first reading (from 1 Samuel 17), has become a clichéd metaphor of mismatched opponents and the triumph of the underdog.

Statistically, of course, underdogs usually lose: most “Davids” are crushed by “Goliaths” and never see the light of day.

But in this case, David won and Goliath lost. Why?

It wasn’t just because of David’s agility or his clever technology or Goliath’s arrogant misreading of the threat. David himself gives the answer:

You come against me
with sword and spear and scimitar,
but I come against you
in the name of the LORD of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel
that you have insulted.

Arrogance is dangerous, technology is cool, and agility is good, but the most powerful weapons and the most powerful defense come from faith.

As we deal with all the many challenges in our own lives, we do well to be equipped as David was: with faith, by grace, in the name of the Lord.