The story of David and Goliath is one we come across early in childhood as more of a fable story rather than illustrating that this could essentially educate us into the power of courage. Although parents do their best to instil this word “courage” in our ability to face the world, it is only through the modelling of behaviour that we can truly begin to cultivate what courage really means for us in our daily lives. 

David and Goliath was purposed to show David’s identity as the true King of Israel, where Goliath’s status is representative of paganism, in contrast to David, the champion of the God of Israel. 

The story follows that Saul and the Israelites were facing the philistines near the valley of Elah. Twice a day for 40 days, Goliath, the champion of the philistines, comes out between the lines and challenges the Israelites to send out a champion of their own to decide the outcome in single combat, but Saul and all the Israelites are AFRAID.

David, the youngest of the brothers bringing food to his brothers overhears Saul’s promise of reward for any man who defeats Goliath and accepts the challenge. Saul reluctant to agree offers his armour to David who kindly declines and instead takes only his sling and three stones from a nearby brook.

David and Goliath confront each other, Goliath with his armor and shield, David with his staff and sling. “The philistine cursed David by his gods”, but David replies: “this day Jehovah will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that God serves not with sword and spear, for the battle is God’s, and he will give you into our hand”. 

David then hurls a stone from his sling with all his might, and hits Goliath in the center of his head. Goliath falls on his face to the ground and David cuts off his head.

I feel this story is highly representative of how our society is run and how we relate to this word “courage”. From the get go we understand that individuality is essential in this story, where David tries to live a simple existence where he masters survival in the wilderness by choosing two tools, namely a staff and a sling. 

He perfects the usage of the sling, which signifies a burning desire to know the inner workings of his tools to which he has available to him. We’ve all heard the saying “a jack of all trades and a master of none”. This does not apply to David, as he focuses on the mastery of his tools.

David also teaches us the meaning of “economy”, which is the careful management of available resources, to which he manages himself perfectly. He is patient, calm and at peace within himself, awaiting the opportune moment to strike with vigor, integrity and force. When this moment presents itself, he does exactly what he has trained himself to do so as to reap the benefits of his actions. 

Many of us reach the point of economy; however fail a few steps before the desperate need for “push”. This is an extraordinary word for me in that most of us encounter push from another human being rather than taking ownership and becoming accountable to ourselves. We prefer to remain accountable to others which lessens the burden of responsibility in us. 

You may ask how is this so when you are taking on more responsibility by being accountable to someone else, and the answer is this: when we are truly authentic with ourselves, we cannot deny that we have sold ourselves short by not giving enough or trying hard enough and giving that last push.

I would describe this as tapping into a feeling, which sparks an internal rage—much like the feeling we get when we observe injustice unfolding. It is an immediate sense of “I’m not going to let this beat me!” With this feeling we experience a sense of urgency and need for justice. This is justice for our own wellbeing.

A beautiful paradox is the knowledge that if you pushed hard enough you will always succeed, and you did not you will fail. Surrendering to this given, you no longer give yourself bullshit excuses and you do what is necessary to succeed. Imagine for a second, David did not succeed. His failure would have resulted in his death…and he knew this!