I'm just trying
to figure out how David became a man willing to stand up to a giant. Some estimates put him at about age 22-25
when he stood up to Goliath, so that means he spent 12+ years looking after
sheep for his father, a task left to the youngest of the family while the elder
brothers took on the more manly jobs.
Somewhere in that time, David learned to trust the Lord in a way many of
us never do. He learned to rely on the
Lord for help.
It seems to me the life of a shepherd is a
secluded one. I can’t imagine being gone
from home for days without some kind of other people around. There, in the pasture land, with no tvs,
ipods or game systems to distract, David formed a relationship with the
Almighty. There, he honed the techniques
of his trade using rod, staff, sling and stone.
He learned what worked and what didn’t.
He learned that God would protect him.
David speaks of his experiences to King Saul:
But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to
keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a
lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of
his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him
and killed him.
Your servant has struck down both lions and bears,
and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied
the armies of the living God." And David said, "The LORD who
delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver
me from the hand of this Philistine."… 1Sm. 17:34-37
(all ESV)
David had much
experience with predators after the sheep.
He did whatever was necessary to save the sheep. When a predator took a sheep, David beat or
wounded it and saved the sheep. If the
animal went after David, he restrained it by its hair and killed it. Ummm…
that’s a little too bold for me! Why was
he so courageous? Read v. 45-47 and his
bold proclamation to Goliath of God’s deliverance, "this day the LORD will deliver you
into my hand" (v.46).
See, David
wasn’t relying on his own strength.
He was trusting God to win the battle, for it was His battle. "…the LORD saves
not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you
into our hand." (v.47). In effect,
David wasn’t ‘seeing’ the 9 to 12 foot giant before him wearing the 150ish pound
coat of mail, and carrying a spear with a 16ish pound spearhead. He was ‘seeing’ Almighty God who would save
His people from the ‘jaws’ of the enemy.
And that is why David was so bold as to run "…quickly
toward the battle line to meet the Philistine." (v.48)
Oh Lord, help me trust you that way!