In reading Psalms recently, I’ve been thinking about the mighty acts of God that David often sings about. God often intervened in David’s life in miraculous and powerful ways. The one great event that comes to mind is when David slew Goliath. God’s Spirit worked mightily in David so that by faith David had the courage and confidence to go up against a giant, though he was only a fresh-faced youth. Whenever I think about this historical event, I feel like a child who never tires of reading the same story over and over again.
1 Samuel 17
All the men were “camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines.” For 40 days, the Philistine (Goliath) taunts the Israelites (“This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” ) and “Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.” Jesse sends David to check up on his three oldest sons who followed Saul to war. David reaches the battle line and as he speaks to his brothers, Goliath steps out and “shouted his usual defiance.” The Israelites run away from him. So it seems that each morning as the Israelites and Philistines prepared to face each other in battle, all that was necessary to scatter the Israelites was for Goliath to step out and shout his threats. Upon hearing the Philistine’s boasting against Israel, David’s spirit becomes stirred because of the disgrace and responds “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” This question is loaded with significance. To be circumcised is to belong to God, to be chosen and set apart. “Armies of the living God” is a glorious phrase; it brings to mind that Israel was God’s instrument to exercise justice and righteousness. Herein, I see the beauty of holiness.
The next scene is, frankly, hilarious. Eliab, one of David’s brothers, hears David speaking to the men about “what will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace upon Israel?” Eliab “burned with anger at him and asked, ‘Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.’ ” This dialogue is so true to life with Eliab, the older brother, incensed at what he perceives to be David’s impudence and naive zeal.
Saul sends for David because of his strong words and the commotion he causes among the men. David explains to King Saul that he can take on the Philistine:
36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”
I don’t know what was going on in Saul’s mind in allowing David to face the Philistine; 1 Samuel doesn’t get into the cultural nuances in order to help explain the logic of the decision. David was not of fighting age and he was going to face a seasoned and terrifying warrior? Perhaps it was that Saul knew the same God that David knew; the God who is mighty and fought for Israel through peculiar means. Perhaps he thought back to the ways in which God fought for Israel during the times of Moses, Joshua and the Judges. Evidently, Saul had some faith in David’s confidence and fervor because he tried to dress David with a coat of armor and a helmet.
The Philistine looks upon David with contempt: “Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?” What David says in response is from the Spirit of God:
45 David said to the Philistine, “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, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
In these words, I see David giving the glory to his God, the God who has chosen a people and a person for His own to make known His judgments and righteousness — and also His mercy and lovingkindness. In these words, I see the majesty and splendor of God reflected upon the nation of Israel and upon David, His anointed, who will eventually sit upon the temporal throne of Israel. David points to the prophesized King who will one day rule with an iron scepter forever and ever.
Originally published June 13, 2010