I Samuel 16:6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
David, the youngest of Jesse's sons was chosen. One of the first stories mentioned of David is the story of David and Goliath. I find it interesting that for forty days, twice a day, morning and evening Goliath strutted in front of the Israelite army, taunting them to fight him. David's brothers were in the army and his dad wanted him to take some food to his sons and see how the battle was going. When David arrived, he heard of what Goliath had been doing, and he went to King Saul and told hm he would fight the Goliath. But Saul told him he was ridiculous, that he was only a boy. David's response was: I Samuel 17:34 “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
David was wise enough to know that it was God who gave him the ability to defeat the lions and bears that he encountered. And because of that, he had no fear of this giant that stood before him. He know his 'living God' would take care of him. Here is their encounter: I Samuel 17:40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
What faith David had! And he was concerned with God's name, and not his own. He didn't even really consider himself. He came in the name of the 'Lord of Heaven's Armies', not his own name, and he was concerned for God's honor. I see that even though he knew God would kill Goliath, he also knew that God would use him to do it. I get the feeling that there was no way he would have done this had he not known God was with him. He was totally dependent upon God.
I Samuel 18:14 says "David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him." And instead of Saul embracing that and being blessed with David, he was jealous and sought to kill him. David did nothing wrong. All he did was trust in his God and do his best to serve Him. But we see that not everyone will embrace a lifestyle of service and faith. But how did David respond? Did he retaliate? No, he went to God and took all his troubles to Him:
Psalm 59:1 Rescue me from my enemies, O God.
Protect me from those who have come to destroy me.
4 I have done nothing wrong,
yet they prepare to attack me.
Wake up! See what is happening and help me!
5 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,
wake up and punish those hostile nations.
Show no mercy to wicked traitors.
6 They come out at night,
snarling like vicious dogs
as they prowl the streets.
7 Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths;
their words cut like swords.
“After all, who can hear us?” they sneer.
8 But Lord, you laugh at them.
You scoff at all the hostile nations.
9 You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me,
for you, O God, are my fortress.
10 In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.
16 But as for me, I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge,
a place of safety when I am in distress.
17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises,
for you, O God, are my refuge,
the God who shows me unfailing love.
If only we could turn all our hurts and injustices to God, trusting in Him to show us His unfailing love.
David would be considered a fool by worldly standards. The world states that we must only do something if there is something in it for us. David had a reason to do it for the world, the chance at a wife and exemption from taxes. But he chose to fight for the name of the Lord.
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