Read 1 Samuel 17: 12-15, 1 Samuel 16
It is time for David to enter the scene. First, we are told of his origin and his family. But wasn’t this just covered in the previous chapter? Why do we need to know this information again?
Is it placed here to remind us of the previous chapter and to pique our curiosity or to remind us of David’s circumstances before facing Goliath?
In future verses, we will see interactions between David and his brothers. And I don’t think we’ll be surprised that this is a typical family with scabbles amongst the siblings. But why did God choose David and not one of his older brothers?
Let’s go back to 1 Samuel 16 where the Lord sends Samuel to anoint a new King. Samuel is sent to the family of Jesse. He knew he would find the future king in that household. But he wasn’t told which son was chosen. Not right away.
When Samuel had Jesse bring his sons before him, Samuel saw some good-looking, well-suited candidates for the position. This prophet of God saw the firstborn and thought that he must be the Lord’s choice to be the next king. But he was mistaken. And then one of the most instructive scriptures from God that we can learn from, is told to Samuel.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
What an important lesson here, even for those who are super mature in their faith! There are appearances, and then there lie features underneath that at times we cannot see. Some features only God sees. How important is it for us when we need to deal with someone or need to make a decision regarding someone, that we need that additional insight from the Lord? It doesn’t matter where we are in our walk with the Lord, whether it is new, or a long-standing relationship, we need to take the time to ask Him. He is faithful to respond.
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9
Next, we see that the person who God wanted Samuel to anoint wasn’t even there. Samuel instructed Jesse to come with his sons to the sacrifice service. Jesse brought all his sons except the youngest, David. He was excluded.
What were the thoughts behind this?
Could the importance of the firstborn of the family and the sons following him leave a smaller focus on the youngest son who was given the task of tending the sheep while they did the more important tasks? Was David considered the least of the sons? We are not given this answer, but we do know he was excluded.
But God knew David’s heart. He knew the innermost workings within David’s character. God knew the atmosphere David grew up in, the talents planted within his DNA, and his potential.
When Samuel finds out that there is still another son to come before him, he tells them to get him before they proceed. How long did that take? Were the other sons patiently waiting? Were they irritated that they had to wait for their brother to be gathered from the fields, made presentable, and then the activities would begin? And when David arrives, they watch this prophet get up, greet him, and then anoint him as king. What? You have got to be kidding! How did this settle within their thoughts? We will see some of this as we get further into our story.
For Samuel, as he watches this young man appear before him, he sees similar outward traits as his brothers. He is handsome with great outward characteristics. But this time he hears the Lord say to arise and anoint David as King. Samuel came to do what he was called to do. Now the Lord would take it from there. Along with the physical anointing, the Lord was about to build on the traits that were already in David. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power.
Anointing someone is a symbolic gesture, which in this case publicly showed that God chose David for a specific role as king. But God went beyond the physical sign. He empowered David.
How much time passed between the infusion of the Spirit on David and the referral of who he was and his traits to King Saul? What training did David need to go through?
The Lord caused David to be noticed, which placed him in a position to service King Saul. What could David learn from being in the palace watching a man ruling a country? What did he learn as he watched this King be tormented by an evil spirit only to be relieved by inspirational music from the heart of a man empowered by the Spirit of God?
In chapter 17 vs. 15 we see that even in this new job in service to the King, he was still busy tending the sheep of his family. Just because he was anointed, it didn’t mean he was ready for the position yet. This was training time.
When we are born again, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). This is similar to when David was empowered by God’s Spirit. But here’s the key. What do we do from there? Do we accept and allow the Holy Spirit to train us so that we can reach our potential? Is there a specific position or task that He wants us to train for? Does He want to train us so that we can fight a future giant?
A tragic story lies just before the story of David and Goliath. It is of King Saul. He also received the Spirit of God upon his life when he was anointed as king (1 Samuel 10: 6-7, 10). But did he allow God’s Spirit to work in his life and embrace that relationship with the Lord? No! Later in 1 Samuel 15:30 when Saul was confessing his sin, he didn’t repent to God. He repented to Samuel and “Your God”. He didn’t embrace a relationship with God.
Oh, Dear friends, the gift we have available to us when we receive the Holy Spirit into our lives. When we receive that gift, we have a choice to utilize and let the Spirit manifest more and more in our lives, or we can put Him on a shelf and save Him for a later time when it’s more convenient or an emergency. And tragically, some may leave this precious gift on the shelf.
David embraced this gift. He allowed it to become a foundation of his life and character. He mediated on God’s Word and allowed the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, and train him. It became his root system which he describes in one of his many Psalms.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3
In earlier readings (episodes), we looked at our battleground, choosing which side we would be on. We also realized how first impressions can impact us when we meet other people. We never know when we, or someone close to us will face a giant. Who do we want on our side? Who do we want to rally with, whether we need to stand up for a specific fight, or we are there to help someone else? What kind of training have we gone through to face today’s battle, especially the one we face in the spirit of our soul?
As I ponder these questions, I can’t but help think about the times when I needed help, the Lord had someone there that I could talk to. At times it was even in unexpected places or person. But the Lord knows who best can help in our time of need. This is just like the selection of David, an unexpected choice. But God knew the right person for the job that was to come.
Dear friend, we may also be selected by God to be that source of help for others. We may need to stand up and help another with a Goliath. We may not even know it at the time, as it may seem as natural as can be to be there for someone, to listen, to pray with, and just be there, on their side of the battleground, encouraging them.
What traits do you have that the Spirit can train up within you and use in your life to fight off giants in this world?
