Read 1 Samuel 16, 17; Proverbs 13
Verse chosen for meditation: 1 Samuel 17: 47 ESV
47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”
Reflect
There're many lessons that can be gleaned from the two chapters of 1 Samuel. With such a rich and compelling narrative, loaded with anecdotes, it's little wonder that it's a page turner.
The age-old story of a boy who defeated a giant with a sling and stone occupies the greater part of three interwoven stories.
The anointing of David by Samuel is one of them, although to be precise, it was God who chose the shepherd boy, the youngest of Jesse's eight sons, often referred genially to as the 'son of Jesse'.
The other is the torment of Saul by a terrorising spirit, which happened when the Spirit of the Lord left him. But it served to pave the way for David and his music to enter the king's court. David, the musician, was subsequently able to soothe the inner torments of none other than the king himself with his music.
Though it must be said that the real highlight is David, the boy warrior. From shepherding behind - the - scenes, he was suddenly catapulted to hero status in front of the entire Israelite army, no less, after winning the fight against the indomitable Goliath, someone many times his size, and many times more equipped and experienced in warfare.
Even then, lest we forget, all this is but a backdrop for God's wisdom, sovereignty, might and faithfulness to shine forth. God is the real story here.
Relate
When fielding a candidate for any position, how do we know that we've chosen the right person? Do we look at qualifications, capabilities, attitude and appearance, though not necessarily in that order? Or do we look at the heart? In most interviews, rankings and nominations, the tendency is to look at the former, or in a word ‘appearance’.
God, however, looks at the heart. Appearance, in all its forms, does not attract us to God even though David was a killer in that department. This is what is said of God's choice of the greatest man (Isaiah 53:2-3 NIV): He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
No one would have thought that this man would ultimately be responsible for changing the entire destiny of mankind. And he's no marvel character or superhero.
In this story, David himself was overlooked twice. Once by his own father who didn't think it was important enough for him to be around when Samuel was making his selection. Samuel himself had overlooked him by being quick to appoint one of his older brothers since they had all looked good appearance wise. The other was by his own brother who didn't think it was appropriate at all for him to be at the battlefield. Like Goliath, he had underestimated him. And even misunderstood him.
Therefore, credit should be given to Saul for being willing to give a nobody like David a try even at the cost of humiliation and defeat by the Philistines. He had only known David as the musician who eased his tormented mind and spirit. Could that alone be good enough for him to trust the words of a shepherd boy when his own brother wouldn't give him the time of day? Or could it be that the name and reputation of the Lord no longer bothered him the slightest bit since the Spirit of the Lord had already left him?
Whatever it is, the spectacular showdown with Goliath was an impressive debut by a hitherto unheard - of shepherd boy who was only a while ago overlooked, underestimated and misunderstood. His own share of deadly encounters with lions and bears while tending his father's flock had prepared him well for this day.
Armed with only a sling and five stones, he charged ahead to face off with his opponent, a menacing giant of a warrior in full battle armour. Whatever could have possessed him to take on such a challenge when all of Israel's elite army stood back in fear? Was it a case of reckless chivalry? Or was he hoping for an instant shot at fame? After all, he was at that age where one is predictably restless, impulsive and impressionable.
But this is no fictional K - drama or Hollywood blockbuster. No sane person would have accepted the gauntlet thrown down by an adversary like Goliath, not even for a million bucks or an instant shot at stardom. Not unless he or she values not his or her life.
As for David, he obviously valued the name of God more than his own, even at the cost of his life. Where do you think he got his rare extraordinary confidence from? He got his confidence from knowing the God whose name he valued the most. The God who was with him when he fought against the lions and bears. The God who was with him when he stared death in the face. It was not an overnight, half - baked faith. He did not just decide to use a sling and stone that day, but had used them many times before. In fact, looking at the way the drama unfolds, his shepherding days was actually his training or preparatory days for the main event.
In other words, what's considered thankless, behind - the - scenes, difficult, even risky, without anyone knowing, turns out to be a stepping stone.
And rightly so, for at the end of it all, David knew that it was not about him. This was not even his story though his life was involved, and placed in great peril.
This is about God. The battle is the Lord's.
Rest
Lord, you do not look at appearances or credentials, but at our hearts. You prepare us for greater things through our trials and behind - the - scenes tasks. The faith that we have does not come so much from being sure of things, but from knowing you and is dependent on how much we really know you. In this life, let it be known that it is all about you, and not about us, no matter how involved we may be or perilous our tasks may be. For the battle belongs to you. Indeed, everything belongs to you, Lord God Almighty.
Naville Chia
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