Whilst his older brothers were at the frontline with the Israelite army to war against Philistine, David was barely a teenager and was not eligible to serve in the army. Instead, his father Jesse sent him to tend the sheep at Bethlehem. Eager to hear an update on how his three oldest sons were doing at the frontline, Jesse sent young David on a mission.
He was instructed to take roasted grain and ten loaves of bread to his brothers at the army camp. As well as that, David was also to take cheeses to the commander of the army unit. Jesse perhaps knew in his heart that with his kind gesture, the commander would show favour to his sons, and David would bring back some good news.
We know the rest of the story. David when he arrived, handed the goods to the army logistics officer, and ran to meet his brothers at the battleline. When he found them, at the same time the nine feet tall Philistine giant Goliath came out to provoke the Israelites. What did the Israelite army do? They ran from the battleline.
How many of us would do what David did next? When the others ran, he stayed. He ignored the insult from his older brother and inquired about killing the Philistine giant. What did he have that others didn’t have? He had two things. Firstly, he had his faith and his identity in the God of Israel.
When the king summoned David, he presented a convincing case why he should be allowed to fight Goliath. He said to King Saul, "The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!". (1 Samuel 17:37).
The second thing he had was his skill of slinging stones. When David tried on King Saul’s armour, he said “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” (1 Samuel 17:39). He rejected the king’s offer to wear his armour and stuck to what he had already perfected, a stone in a sling and his faith in God.
So often we look for praises, affirmation, and the opinion of others so we can keep going, when all we need is to believe what the Father says about us; “For [He] You formed my inward parts; [He] You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise [Him] You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are [His] Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14). David knew this full well, that even as a teenager, nothing scared him. Not the lion, nor the bear, not even the nine foot Philistine giant Goliath.
God is looking to us to put all our trust and faith in Him. Your skills and what you have on hand whilst important, if we do not have our heart in the right place, or in the God of Israel like David did, its meaningless. If you are facing a giant today, do what David did, and confront it “… in the name of the Lord Almighty....” (1 Samuel 17:45).
David’s yes to God, became an answer to the Israelites prayers. Be the ‘yes’ to someone else’s prayer, as it also draws us closer to His heart, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21).
As we seek more faithful partners to join the work of Promise Keepers New Zealand in this financial year, I ask that you continue to stand with us in prayer and financially. Together we can fight the enemy, who is trying to keep our men from putting their faith and trust in God. Let’s be people who say “Yes” to the Lord and together be guiding and directing men to God.
In His richest blessings
Frank Po Ching
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