Bible Studies for Life: June 22

David: A faith that meets adversity head-on • 1 Samuel 17:1-47

By Becky Brown

About a thousand years before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, another little baby boy from the tribe of Judah was born in that same town. Years apart, both of them would reign in Jerusalem as anointed kings. Both would be shepherds of flocks dedicated to God. Both would be “last man standing” after brutal battles. Both would be dedicated servants of the Most High God. Both would stare “fear” in the face head-on and watch it slink right back down. David means “beloved.” Jesus was all that and more. 

We could ask total strangers to the scriptures about the battle of David and Goliath and they would have at least HEARD the story. Book editors delight in using an imagined picture of the battle as their cover illustration. This is so much more than an action story. 

As we continue to think about people who walked by faith, David stands out. He is the youngest son of Jesse of Judah in Bethlehem. Scripture says he was the youngest of eight brothers. His daily responsibilities included tending a flock of sheep. Bethlehem nights would have been glorious. With no streetlights to distract, the star-filled skies would have caused him to catch a deep breath of awe and wonder.  

The Psalms include many composed by David as he was inspired by The StarMaker. I am certain that he kept them written down and safely stowed inside that leather shepherd’s pouch at his side. He was a “strings” player with well-known ability. He had also attacked and killed lions and bears with his own bare hands to protect his sheep. 

David’s three oldest brothers were in the army of King Saul of Israel.  Jesse sent David westward toward the Mediterranean Sea to the battle front in the Elah Valley to take food to his sons and to King Saul himself.  David arrived, not to witness victory, but to hear the shouts of the Giant of the Philistine army. His name was Goliath. For forty days and forty nights, he had flooded the soldiers of Saul with taunts and jabs, causing them to flee in great dismay and raw fear.  Even Saul was unwilling to stand up to the giant. Scripture says Saul was TALL, head and shoulders way above average.  

When troubles come, the truly faithful stand tall. Adversity is the provider of moments to display strength and courage. David was literally shocked that these armies of the Living God were petrified.  In David’s mind (and heart), they had no logical reason to shrink away. How big was Goliath?  Nine feet, nine inches tall. His spear weighed 18 pounds. His armor weighed 120 pounds. His shield was hand carried by a full grown man. How big was David? His brothers probably called him “Squirt.”

David knew that God had preserved him in the shepherd fields even in the darkest of nights. He trusted that God would never fail to sustain him in any battle. He volunteered to fight Goliath. Saul offered David his own personal armor. David refused to be limited by armor that didn’t FIT him properly.  Reward? Nope. Wife? Nope. Trophy? Nope. Just take me to the giant.  

David chose five smooth stones and armed himself with his favorite weapon, his sling. David moved toward Goliath. The giant saw this “pip-squeak” kid and mocked him with a curse based on his pagan gods: “Let me feed you to the birds and beasts.”  

David’s response gave glory to God for the victory BEFORE the battle: “You come to me with a sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day, the LORD will deliver you into my hands. I will strike you down and remove your head from you and give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and beasts that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that this assembly (of chicken liver soldiers!) may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give you into our hands.”

An angry giant charges. A young man moves forward with faith and courage. One stone finds its mark.  Giant down. Borrowed sword. Head removed. Victory belongs to the LORD. 

Brown leads LittleBrownLight Ministries.