David and Goliath, Part I
I Samuel 17
Note the order of names. David’s name came first for a reason. Goliath may have been bigger in stature, but David was bigger in God. That is what mattered, so I tend to believe it was no mistake whose name is recorded first. If you see an enemy of God who may ‘seem’ bigger than you, remember that Jesus in believers is greater than he who is in the world. (I John 4:4)
Goliath, a champion from the Philistine camp had been hurling insults at King Saul and his army (the Israelites). One day the giant stood and shouted, telling the army to send a man to fight him; bold men of God are sometimes hard to find! The Israelis were in a state of dismay, as Goliath’s taunts had gone on for forty days. Day after day of negative news will wear on you, and it will try and convince you of what isn’t, and try and tell you who you’re not!
In the meantime, David had been off tending sheep while his brothers were in the Israeli army. One day his father asked him to go check on his brothers and bring back news. So when David arrived at the camp, the army was headed to their battle positions shouting their battle cry, but it was they who were losing heart, not Goliath. Sound familiar?? While David talked to his brothers, he heard Goliath shout his threats, and it got to a point that the Israelis would run away in great fear. Not David, though! He was incensed at the giant for defying the armies of God!
David was not going to tolerate Goliath one bit! He asked what would be done for the one who would kill Goliath. Hey, if you’re going to take on and take down an enemy, you might as well see what’s in it for you, right? I am kidding, but he wasn’t. This would be a hint of how the selfish side of his personality would play a role in some of the disastrous decisions he would make in his future. Sad, yes. Repercussions, yes. But still, “he was a man after God’s own heart.” I didn’t say it, God did.
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ (Acts 13:22, ESV)