David and Goliath

1 Samuel 16:1-18:16

Something happened between yesterday and today! What happened that King Saul would now seek after Samuel's life? Samuel was already old-we read that yesterday and so he must be a little older today-but why is Saul-this humble considerate King now thinking of killing Samuel-the Lord's prophet? Boy being a prophet isn't easy is it?

Samuel comes "peaceably" to Bethlehem, looking for Jesse. -WAIT! We read about this-remember 'Obed fathers Jesse,' is this that Jesse? Let's see.

Samuel sees beautiful young men-and thinks these must be the one-as Saul was beautiful and head and shoulders above the rest-literally and yet none of these beautiful young men are what the Lord seeks. He is seeking something within that makes them different. We already read yesterday that God gave Saul another heart-perhaps the one Samuel seeks this time already has this new heart? Let's see.

This one God seeks is the youngest-and of the smallest tribe-one who wouldn't normally be King material-certainly not of noble birth-and yet we remember that he has been awaited. Samuel anointed him and "The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him from that day forward." WOW. That sounds like something!

The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul-is there only one Spirit? Can it be on David and not on Saul? Or has Saul turned away from the Spirit of the Lord? Saul, tormented sends for this young talented David, this shepherd. As the youngest, and the Kings servant, he must do his King's bidding. Didn't we just read this about Kings in Samuel's warning?

David's presence refreshed Saul and the harmful spirit departed from Saul. Where the presence of the Lord is, there is peace? David's Spirit-filled presence brought the tormented king peace.

Today's titled reading: David and Goliath is quite something. Jesse's three eldest sons are on the field of battle under command of King Saul, and Jesse wants word of them, so he sends his youngest son off to give them a bite to eat and find out how it goes with them and at the battle. David hears Goliath boasting and taunting the Israelites, and wonders why does this giant defy the armies of 'the Living God'?

This is indeed a good question? Does Israel forget Jericho? Does Israel forget Egypt? David knows the Lord, and says  "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

Do we remember the Lord's work in our lives and trust Him in this way? David is too young, David is not a soldier, surely he cannot fight for the Lord...Well Saul can't find anyone else willing-either in valor or stupidity I'm sure they are thinking, so they let David go for them. Why send a man when you can send a boy? Such men of valor, who forget the Lord! (NOT.)

What happens?

And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand."

That is something. David was paying attention. Today's reading ends in another cliff hanger-what will tomorrow bring?

Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

Today, let us remember whom we serve. And whose business we should be about, and remember the work of the Lord in our lives.

See you tomorrow.
-maggie