Young David – without armor – slays a 9’9″ tall enemy warrior in an amazing and unexpected upset. So what’s actually behind one of the most famous confrontations of history? Believe it or not, this one success can be traced back to an ordinary young man performing seemingly insignificant duties for countless days – but doing so with extreme devotion at great personal risk.
We usually hear preachers talk of or children’s books tell of only the face-to-face encounter between David and Goliath, and we rejoice in God’s underdog seeing victory. We think only of that glorious moment and neglect to consider the tedious preparation that led to the pinnacle experience.
For the full story, we need to take note of David’s response to King Saul when the king tried to discourage David from fighting Goliath since the giant had so much war experience and David had none (I Samuel 17:33-37a, ESV):
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And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has stuck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “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.”
Let us not carelessly discount the importance of this section of God’s Word! Here we learn that David’s confidence – while ultimately rooted in the Person of God – was directly connected to his endless hours in fields with nothing but sheep for which to care. Although David could have perceived those times as rather unexciting and unimportant, he obviously chose to regard his shepherding assignment as a high calling from His Lord.
The young shepherd testifies that he would risk his life for sheep! He clearly explains that he would go after lions and bears that took his lambs, and David would deliver the sheep directly from the mouths of the beasts! In fact, he goes on to specify that at times he would take a lion by the beard and strike it and kill it. I don’t know about you, but to me, that kind of personal dedication and risk of life and limb for the sake of the job is remarkable … even … supernatural. David took most seriously his care of the sheep to which God had entrusted him.
As he walked the fields each day with his animals, David could not have known about the giant Philistine who he would one day face. His only concern was doing the right thing for the animals to which both his earthly father and his heavenly Father had entrusted him. In the mundane tasks of life, David lived with a God-given passion. And he obviously had a daily trust that the God who called him to watch over the sheep would enable him to protect the sheep, even if wild beasts were involved.
When David arose from the ordinary stream of life to an extraordinary moment such as the battle with Goliath, every ordinary moment’s purpose suddenly became evident. The trust in God that grew each time David saved a sheep from a lion with his bare hands now culminated as David saved the Israelites from the Philistine giant and his whole evil army.
What David practiced daily in the trivial enabled him to succeed in the pivotal, because – actually – the small things are the big things. Our character is formed in the trenches of everyday living and our hope in God is built in the daily grind of life.
Interestingly, David compares those wild beasts that attacked his sheep to the man Goliath who was now attacking Israel. Recall that he said, “Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for h has defied the armies of the living God” (I Samuel 17:36, ESV).
I think one reason David makes this comparison is that even though the lions and bears were only attacking various sheep (which seem of little value in the scheme of things), they were attacking what David was called by God to protect. This defiant giant is no different really; he is attacking what David is called by God to protect … the reputation of His Lord!
And so the trivial is inextricably tied to the pivotal. Living out “regular” days for the reputation of our God produces supernatural victories. We must remember, however, that living with God-given zeal will not be easy. It is costly. It requires great faith. And any time you need a boost, picture the shepherd, David, grabbing the beard of a lion for the sake of a sheep. Then remember that one day he took down a giant enemy of God for the sake of God’s people.
But for the greatest inspiration, we look to Jesus. He willingly chose the title, “Son of David” (Matthew 1:1). One reason I believe Christ chose to associate so closely with David is because of something particular they had in common. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd … I lay down my life for the sheep” (Matthew 10:14-15, ESV). Do you see it? Each time David risked his life to care so much for a little lamb, he was foreshadowing the selfless love of Jesus in dying for us – his sheep!
David functioned as both shepherd and warrior. He was shepherd first, and then became victorious in battle. In the same way, Jesus came first as our shepherd to give His life for us, and He will come again to be the victorious Warrior against our greatest enemy and all his evil army! (Revelation 19:11-21, 1 Corinthians 15:22-25).
I am thanking God today for recording the history of the life of David … and its connection to our Jesus. I am also thanking God for the ability to grab the lion by the beard in the course of everyday living.
Questions for Reflection and Application:
1. What is the “field” in which you work for countless days that makes you feel your life is insignificant?
2. Will you ask God to help you see how your dedication to His calling in these daily tasks will enable you to promote the reputation of God to the world?
3. Though our “Goliath” is ultimately Satan, what “lions and bears” are you facing? Do you see how God empowers us to grab those lions and strike them down?
4. When we care for what God has entrusted to us, we are reflecting the heart of Jesus in His care for His “sheep.” For what has God called you to care deeply and self-sacrificially?
5. Will you rest ultimately in the promise that Jesus is not only our Shepherd, but our Warrior? We will see the conclusive victory with Him!