David’s Three Victories

David had defeated Goliath in single combat, center stage, in full view of both armies. Thousands witnessed his act of bravery and the humility he expressed in crediting God with the victory. “The perfidy of the Philistines became apparent the moment their champion was slain. They had promised to become the servants of the Israelites in the event that Goliath should be killed ([1 Samuel 17:9]). By running away they forfeited the consideration proposed in their own challenge to the army of Saul, and demonstrated, furthermore, that had Goliath been victorious they would have dealt unmercifully with Israel.” The Israelites charged the panicked Philistines and struck them down as they fled. For more than ten miles, the slaughter continued until, finally, the army of Saul returned to plunder the tents of their enemies.

David triumphed three times that 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. . . . “David won his second victory when he was escorted into the presence of his king. . . . 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.” “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.”