A shepherd kid against a giant, no armour, no sword, just five stones and a whole lot of nerve. We all know the story of David vs Goliath, but do we really get it?

As someone who’s studied this particular episode of Scripture in class, I’ve seen it spark a lot of different takes and opinions. Some say it’s about courage, others say it’s about being clever, but most people miss the heart of it: David’s victory wasn’t really about him. It was about who he trusted.

The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 highlights David as God's chosen one, destined for kingship, who confronts a seemingly invincible Goliath not through his own strength, but through unwavering faith that "the battle is the Lord's." The real giants in the narrative are human pride, fear, and reliance on worldly power, which David exposes by trusting in God. Furthermore, the narrative foreshadows Jesus, the ultimate "true David," who conquers sin and death.

If you skim over this, you might miss something that could hit a little too close to home, because Goliaths aren’t just giants on a battlefield. They show up in our own lives, too. So let’s take a closer look at the real meaning of David vs Goliath, the context around it, and what it might mean for us today.