Lessons from the Life of David - Chapter 3
The Soldier
We continue our studies, in which we are looking at the life of David. Today we will think about David the soldier. We read about his first experience of battle in 1 Samuel chapter 17. We are told that the Philistines, avowed enemies of the nation of Israel, had gathered their forces for war. Saul, king of Israel at that time, assembled with his army and camped in the valley of Elah. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
Wee are told that the Philistines had a champion named Goliath, who presented himself twice a day for forty days. He is described in the following detail:
He was in height, over nine feet tall.
His coat of armour weighed five thousand shekels (fifty-seven kilos) and was made of bronze.
The shaft of his spear was like a weavers beam, its head weighed six hundred shekels (seven kilos).
He carried a bronze javelin across his shoulder.
His huge shield was carried by a bearer.
Saul and the army of Israel, never for a moment underestimated his power and military potential. On hearing his voice and challenge we are told that Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
One day, David, the shepherd lad, was instructed by his father Jesse to go to the field of battle with quantity of food for his brothers who were serving in Saul's army. Early in the morning David set out, obeying his father's instructions. On arrival, he sought out his brothers and as he was greeting them Goliath the champion of the Philistines stepped out from his lines and challenged the army of Israel yet again. David heard him and noted to his dismay that when the Israelites saw Goliath they all ran from him great fear. David asked the men near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?" He was told that the king would give great wealth to the man that defeated and killed him. He would also give him his daughter, a princess, in marriage.
David then with great maturity, asked, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he would defy the armies of the living God?" On hearing this, his older brothers burned with anger towards him and accused him of being conceited. However, what David said was overheard and reported to King Saul, who then sent for him. David said to the king, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him." Saul said, "You are only a boy and he has been a fighting man from his youth." How true, he was only a shepherd boy. He was not officially in the army. He had never been trained as a warrior, but he was to prove that age is no barrier to becoming a spiritual warrior for God. He had not come to the battle scene to ask for conflict, but he was prepared to stand for his God. To see the armies of Israel, God's people, defied by a heathen champion, was to David the cause of great shame. It was the honour of the God of heaven, whom he loved and served, that was at stake.
Someone has said that on that day, "The boy who has held communion with his God on the hillside minding sheep becomes a man in the presence of that which threatens God's glory on the battlefield. He becomes bold before the enemy because he has been bowed before the Lord his God. He knew his God intimately and as a result was not deterred from undertaking exploits for him that others are afraid to face." The apostle Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 10 verse 4 come to mind. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. Paul also said in Romans chapter 8 verse 31, "If God is for us, who can be against us."
Our story tells us that Saul provided armour for David to wear but it was too heavy for him, so he took it off and went out to meet Goliath with his staff in his hand and a sling. Seeing a stream before him, he chose five smooth stones and approached Goliath who on seeing David coming said, "Am I a dog that you should come to me with sticks. Come here and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the fields." David replying said, "You come against me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel. This day the Lord will hand you over to me and strike you down and cut off your head. For the battle is the Lord's." David then reached for a stone. He slung it and struck the Philistine on his head and he fell face down on the ground dead. Standing over him, David took his sword and cut off his head.
David's fight that day is a vivid picture of the constant conflict which every believer has to wage against the world, the flesh and the devil. It is our spiritual warfare. Thanks be to God that He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. David showed what a man born from above can do by the exercise of faith.