Stories of good conquering evil can be found in most if not all societies around the world. The weak miraculously overcoming the strong can be seen today just as it was seen in the story of David and Goliath, which is found in the Hebrew Scriptures, where justice was done by God through the hands of an ordinary man (1 Samuel 17:1-58).
A prominent theme in many literary works is the nature of justice. In the well known story of David and Goliath, which is located in the first book of Samuel in The Bible, swift and miraculous justice was carried out by a divine entity through the hands of a common man.
As the story is told, the Philistines were attempting to take over portions of Israel. Both armies were gathered to do battle and were perched upon opposite mountain tops with a valley between them. The Philistines had the power of more advanced iron weapons as well as Goliath, a giant of a man, who stood six cubits and a span, which is nearly ten feet tall (Davis, Harrison, Johnson & Crawford, 2009, p.545). Every day for forty days Goliath stood upon the mountain top, wearing a full set of armor and taunting the Israelites to fight. The entire Israeli army, including Saul who was the king, was filled with fear (Davis, Harrison, Johnson & Crawford, 2009, p.546).
King Saul who felt the spirit of the lord had left him, summoned a common shepherd named David to the battlefront because he was thought by a servant to have the ability through his harp playing to cast away evil spirits (Davis, Harrison, Johnson & Crawford, 2009, p.545). David was the son of Jesse who had eight sons in total, three of which were set to participate in the battle. David left his sheep and went to the battlegrounds as he was instructed by his father who received the order from the King. Upon his arrival he was greeted less than enthusiastically by his brothers yet he immediately had the desire to aid his countrymen in the battle against the Philistines and Goliath. The King as well as the others had no faith in David’s ability to fight; he was young and small and not trained or armed with protection (Davis, Harrison, Johnson & Crawford, 2009, pp.546-547).
David eventually convinced Saul that the Lord would protect him and the King armed David with his armor. David however was not accustomed to such gear and decided to remove it and face Goliath with only his faith, a staff in his hand, five small stones in a bag and his sling (Davis, Harrison, Johnson & Crawford, 2009, p.547). Upon reaching the Philistines and Goliath David said “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied”. He further stated that it was the Lord who had sent him and that he planned to behead Goliath which would tell all that there was a God in Israel (Davis, Harrison, Johnson & Crawford, 2009, p.547).
David who was small in stature and lacked the ability to fight, ran toward the Philistine army who was trying to overtake his homeland, placed a stone in his sling and shot it into the forehead of Goliath, who then fell face first to the ground. David then stood upon the giant and used the man’s own sword to cut his head off. Without a sword of his own, armed only with a stone and his unwavering belief in his God, the young man single handedly took down the giant that put fear in the hearts of the entire Israeli army (Davis, Harrison, Johnson & Crawford, 2009, p.548). Good had conquered evil.
Miracles like this are still happening today, in the United States and other countries around the world. People are often faced with situations that appear to be impossible or have giant problems that seem to have no answer, yet miraculously they prevail.
In northern Pennsylvania, a fifth grade student wins a religious case against the Pocono Mountain school district after she was forbidden to hand out invitations to a Christmas party being held at her church (Haynes, 2011). In Iran, two American hikers wrongly imprisoned on charges of espionage were released and allowed to return home to the U.S. and their families (“U.S. hikers released,” 2011). In Jonesboro, Arkansas a woman wins a lawsuit against the Isuzu Corporation when the company fails to honor a manufacturer’s warranty based on the fact that she used the car for business purposes (Carter). The underdog doesn’t always prevail, but if a divine entity steps in, good can and does triumph over evil.
These types of stories and many more examples from religious battles to battles of sport happen everywhere in the world. Whether in a third world country or one like our own, we as people can all relate. All people have struggles and problems that seem too big to handle. It is important however for us all to realize that we are larger than the troubles that plague us, and like Biblical times, God is still using everyday common people to smite today’s giants.
References
Carter, W. (n.d.). Jonesboro woman wins lawsuit against isuzu corporation. Retrieved January 9,
2012 from http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=6504382&nav=0jsh
Davis, P., Harrison, G., Johnson, D. M., & Crawford, J. F. (2009). The bedford anthology of
world literature: The ancient, medieval, and early modern world, beginnings-1650.
(Compact ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/S. Martins.
Haynes, C. (2011, November 04). Student wins religious case against board. Retrieved January
9, 2012 from http://www.roanecounty.com/content/student-wins-religious-case-against-
board
U.S hikers released from Iranian prison, arrive in Oman. (2011, September 21). Retrieved
January 9, 2012 from http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/09/21/lawyer-for-2-us-hikers-
says-bail-deal-approved/