Bible Studies

---

Part II: The Warrior

We left off last time just as David had been anointed king, though it will be a long time before he actually takes the throne. In the mean time, the spirit of God has left Saul due to his disobedience and as a result, he is tormented (meaning he is in mental anguish or agony). While tending sheep, David also plays the harp. King Saul’s men tell him they know someone who can play the harp and calm his spirit. So Saul sends for David and he immediately likes him. David then becomes one of Saul’s armor-bearers.

The future king of Israel is now tending sheep part-time and working for King Saul part-time. His three oldest brothers are fighting the war against the Philistines with King Saul. One day David’s father, Jesse, sends him to the battlefield with food for his brothers and the commander of the army. So David leaves the sheep and goes to the battlefield. While he is there, the champion of the Philistines (Goliath) comes out. Goliath is over 9 feet tall. He is wearing bronze armor, a bronze helmet, and bronze greaves on his legs. His armor alone weighs about 125 lbs and the tip of his spear weighs about 15 lbs. So he comes out and starts talking smack about God and the Israelites. David hears this and is angered. He asks some of the men, “What will happen to the man who kills Goliath?”. They tell him, “The king will give him great wealth, his daughter’s hand in marriage and tax exemption.” So, when Saul sends for David, David tells him, “Don’t worry about this man, I will take care of him.” Of course, Saul replies, “You cannot fight this man, you are just a boy.” But then David tells Saul how he killed lions and bears with his bare hands while tending sheep. He tells him that Goliath is nothing more than an animal and that “the Lord who delivered me from…the lion…and the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (I Samuel 17:37).

So David dresses in Saul’s own tunic and armor. However, it is too big and David is not comfortable in it, so he tells Saul, “I cannot go in these” (vs. 39). He takes off the armor, goes out with his staff and sling and chooses five smooth stones from the stream. As David approaches, Goliath sees him and despises him. Seeing his size, age and apparel, Goliath curses at him and says, “Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?” (vs.43). “Come here and I will give your flesh to the birds…and beasts.” David replies, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel who you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me.” WOW, what powerful words. And God did exactly that. David ran to the battle line, sling in hand. He reached into his bag, took out ONE stone, slung it at Goliath and hit him right in the forehead. Goliath was knocked out immediately, and then David went over and cut off his head with his own sword. Once the champion was dead, the Philistine army immediately retreated and was defeated.

So many times we are like David. God has promised us something, or we have trusted God for something but it has taken too long to come to pass. We can choose to be impatient or disobedient like Saul and suffer the consequences. OR, like David, we can choose to trust God and reap the rewards. Trusting God is not easy, it is extremely difficult sometimes, but it is so worth the effort!!! Here is what David said in Psalm 37:3-7:

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this.
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”

Read the continuation in Part III: The Faithful Friend.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE