Beginning of the End: David’s Special Educator

 As Moses was trained for his work, so the Lord was fitting the son of Jesse to become the guide of His chosen people. Animal predators lurked in the lonely hills and wild ravines where David wandered with his flocks. Frequently lions or bears, fierce with hunger, came to attack the flocks. David was armed only with his sling and shepherd’s staff, yet he protected his flock courageously. Describing these encounters later, he said: “When a lion or bear came and took a lamb out of  the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.” His experience developed his courage, fortitude, and faith.

When Israel declared war against the Philistines, three of Jesse’s sons joined the army under Saul, but David stayed at home. After a time, however, he went to visit the camp. His father gave him a message and a gift for his older brothers. But Jesse did not know that the armies of Israel were in danger, and that an angel had directed David to save his people.

As David came close to the army, Israel and the Philistines were drawn up in battle lines, army against army. Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, came out and with insulting language defied Israel to provide a man from their ranks who would fight with him. When David learned that the Philistine hurled his defiance at them day after day without any champion stepping forward to silence the boaster, he was fired up with zeal to preserve the honor of God.

The armies of Israel were depressed. They said to each other, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel.”

Ashamed and indignant, David exclaimed, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Even as a shepherd, David had revealed daring, courage, and strength rarely seen, and the mysterious visit of Samuel to their father’s house had made the brothers suspicious of the real object of his visit—their jealousy had been aroused.

And now Eliab regarded the question that David asked as a rebuke to his own cowardice in making no attempt to silence the giant. The elder brother exclaimed angrily, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” David’s answer was respectful but firm: “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”