Samuel anointed David king when he was a young man, but Saul was still in office and was jealous of David. For about 13 years David endured several climactic experiences that prepared him for his ultimate destiny. It was important that he know how to act like God’s king before the crown was given to him. Crowning an unprepared candidate didn’t work with Saul, and it wouldn’t work that way again. This time God installed the king, and he did it slowly with preparation. Being anointed was not enough for effective ruling. There had to be the discovery of real authority through weakness and faith. The biblical story is familiar. There was a war going on between the people representing God and the people who represented paganism. Jesse’s boys were in the struggle, while David was still watching sheep for his dad. One day Jesse asked David to take some food and refreshments to his brothers on the battlefield. When he arrived he discovered the true nature of the battle. It was the “champion” of the Philistines challenging the “champion” of Israel. Goliath was about 9 ft. tall. He carried a giant sword and spear. His armor weighed more than 100 lbs. Daily he came out and mocked the Israelites, demanding they send a man to fight him. The scene bothered David. He saw it as a battle between the name of God, and the names of the gods of fear. He was offended for the reputation of God, who had adopted Israel as his own people. It looked like the God of the Israelites was weak. (The early perspective of a king was beginning to emerge.) He heard from the soldiers that king Saul would reward anyone who would fight the Philistine champion. He would give his daughter, riches, and tax-free living. David offered to fight the giant even though his brothers mocked him. Saul tried to give David his armor. David quickly realized he could not wear the armor of the previous administration. He was a new king ruling a new kingdom a new way. He remembered the faithfulness of God in his behalf when the bears and wolves came against the sheep he protected. He had been representing Jesse, and God had enabled him to succeed in his responsibilities. He now would represent God against another foe, and he was confident God would again work in his behalf. His anointing was now connecting with his assignment. There was about to be a happening! He was getting involved in a battle God had some interest in. Instead of trusting the armor of Saul, he used the skills that he had incidentally developed in his previous job. He took his sling and picked up five smooth stones and ran toward Goliath, who was talking trash to the little boy with the sling. (Some say David was actually running toward a picture in his mind of the girl he was promised by Saul.) As he released the stone, it was guided to the only vulnerable spot on Goliath’s body. The stone sank deep into his skull and the champion dropped like . . . well a dead man. David went over and took the very sword of the enemy and cut off the head of the Philistine champion and carried it back with him. The Israeli soldiers on the hill saw what had happened and took courage. They took advantage of their champion’s victory and began routing the Philistines. They chased them for miles and picked up the spoils. David acted like a true king that day, when the presiding king was too fearful to fight. He was preparing for the day when he would have not only the anointing and the assignment, but also the acknowledgement as king. We all know that David is a type of a greater David who would reign on the throne of God over the earth. Though there are many nuggets of truth we could mine from this story that would encourage us to act in faith etc., the good news of this story relates to Jesus and what he has won for us. David’s model is inspiring, but apart from the obvious presence of God, Goliaths make us run for cover. We need more than moral principles gleaned from this text. We need to see Jesus. Like David who was hidden in the fields tending sheep, ignored by father and brothers, Jesus grew up in obscurity. He lived in a small town called Nazareth. He was accused of being a bastard and had no earthly qualifications. There were many itinerate teachers roaming the hills of Judea. He was just another. David was faithful to work for his father Jesse. He represented him well by taking seriously his responsibilities. Jesus spent almost 30 years working with Joseph in the carpenter shop. For both it seemed too long to wait while the situation continued to worsen. David was anointed when he was about 13 and had to wait for the job to open. Jesus was born a king and waited for the day of his appointment. David went out to fight the champion of the enemy as representative of God’s people. Israel went out to fight in the form of one man, and a young one at that. Jesus represented the people of God. He was called, Son of man, identifying with mankind as the last Adam. He was also called, Son of God, referring to his identity with Israel. He lived and died to fulfill the destiny of mankind and Israel. David somehow knew his assignment. He could not allow the name of God to be mocked. Confident of his anointing he stepped into his assignment and won the victory. Jesus knew early on that he would be about his Father’s business. He knew he was sent from God and would go back to God. This knowledge of who he was and what he was to do, allowed him to wash the disciples feet and to die a sacrificial death. He knew he was going back to the Father. David had to battle against a rejected king. Saul having been rejected by God was determined to persecute and destroy the new regime. Jesus came to his own and they rejected him, because God had already rejected them. They had made an idol of the law and the customs of the Jewish leaders. These hounded Jesus until his death and then hounded the disciples until in 70 AD their city and temple were finally destroyed. Saul’s armor wouldn’t fit David. The customs of Israel’s traditions would not fit Jesus. He refused to be defined or confined by the legalistic interpretations of God’s laws. He knew he was the temple and would not idolize buildings and teachings that shrouded the true image of the Father. David was very interested in the girl who would become his wife as a result of defeating the champion. Jesus is very interested in the bride that is his because he died to forgive her sins, and lives to perfect her in every way. Both David and Jesus get the girl. (Actually David didn’t get the first daughter, but a younger one. Jesus didn’t get the first daughter—Israel, but he got the Church made up of Jews and Gentiles.) David used what he had, a stone and a sling. Jesus used what he had. He was man and God. He was humble and submissive. And he was the stone. Daniel, the prophet, had seen a vision about a stone being cut out of a mountain without human hands. It rolled down the mountain and destroyed the kingdoms of the earth while setting up an everlasting kingdom of God’s people. Jesus identified with that stone and declared that those who fell on it would be broken (good thing), but the stone would crush those who rejected it. David used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head. Satan walked the valleys of man’s heart swinging the 100 lb. sword called death. He ruled the day with his threat of death. Jesus took death upon himself and used it to defeat Satan.
"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." Hebrews 2:14-15 (ESV)
David could confidently say, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil…” Jesus could boldly say, “No one takes my life. I lay it down.” Christians can exultingly say, “O death where is your sting? O grave where is your victory?” The greater David has faced the champion and cut off his head. He has also come to live within the people of God who can now appropriate his life. There is something in us all that must be akin to the courage that arose in the hearts of David’s brothers when they saw the giant fall. We want to rout the enemy and take the spoils. It is our heritage. We can now face the giants of our own existence by trusting in the victorious Champion who lives within.
SYNERGY - Better Together: October 01, 2010 click for more > Five Pillars of New Testament Discipleship: : October 15, 2010 click for more > Family Reunion Retreat: December 03, 2010 click for more >
