1 Samuel 17:34 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Thy servant kept his father’s sheep. — Here follows in the colloquy between the king and the boy that simple brave narrative which children listen to with glowing cheeks — that simple story, bearing the stamp of truth on every word — of what had happened to him in past days. Fierce wild animals, the terror of the Hebrew shepherds, had attacked his flock: these he had met and slain, almost without arms. Another had helped him when he did his brave duty then; and he felt that the same invisible Guardian would give him nerve and strength now in this more dangerous encounter. Only let him try. There was nothing to fear; he must succeed, he and his Divine Helper!