Written by: John Marshall – Saltmine Trust

1 Samuel 16 v 18-20
One of the servants said, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem play the harp. He is brave and courageous. He is a good speaker and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” So Jesse loaded a donkey with bread, a leather bag full of wine, and a young goat, and he sent them with his son David to Saul.

Notes
I’ve met some very special people at various times in my life. I don’t necessarily mean T.V. personalities, politicians or pop-stars, although I’ve had the occasional brush with them! The people who really impressed are those who have a quiet and gentle confidence in God. It sounds irreverent but the Lord just ‘oozes’ out of them. It’s their manner, their being as much as their words. You know they’ve spent time in the presence of God.

David must have been someone like that. When King Saul was searching for a good musician one of his servants recommended David, still a boy out on the hills, caring for sheep. After listing David’s looks, his bravery and his ability to string a few words together, the servant adds; ‘The Lord is with him.’ Or to put it another way,’ I’ve seen the godliness in his life. When I meet him, God blesses me.’

Praise God for the people we know like that. As we spend time in God’s company more people will realise that the Lord is with us too.

1 Samuel 16 v 21-23
When David came to Saul, he began to serve him. Saul liked David and made him the officer who carried his armor. Saul sent a message to Jesse, saying, “Let David stay and serve me because I like him.”
When the evil spirit from God troubled Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then the evil spirit would leave him, and Saul would feel better.

Notes
I don’t know about you, but I find it much easier to see God at work in my life as I look back. I can see how one experience prepared me for something else. It’s as if God has building blocks for me…but I can only see his construction with a backwards glance. It’s been said that hindsight is in 20/20 vision.

Earlier in his life, when he was chosen by Samuel (a prophet from God), David had been shown he would become king in Israel. He was only a shepherd boy used to the hills. But now here’s King Saul ordering him to spend time at the palace. He’s being introduced to affairs of state and learning how to meet foreign dignitaries. As he sits strumming his harp in effect he is serving a royal apprenticeship. He will look back with gratitude for such experiences.

Today is God’s preparation for tomorrow. It’s the same for us. God is unfolding his plan for our lives. We may not recognise it at the time, but by sticking close we’re travelling his learning curve.

1 Samuel 17 v 1-5
The Philistines gathered their armies for war. They met at Socoh in Judah and camped at Ephes Dammim between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites gathered in the Valley of Elah and camped there and took their positions to fight the Philistines. The Philistines controlled one hill while the Israelites controlled another. The valley was between them.
The Philistines had a champion fighter from Gath named Goliath. He was about nine feet, four inches tall. He came out of the Philistine camp with a bronze helmet on his head and a coat of bronze armor that weighed about one hundred twenty-five pounds. 

Notes
Today’s reading is the beginning of one of the best-known stories in the Bible. If Goliath is mentioned in verse 4, David can’t be far behind! From an early age we’ve learnt how little David triumphed over the bravado and bombast of the giant. We know how David brought the arrogant Goliath literally down to earth with a well-placed pebble.

God still speaks through the Bible. It’s harder for him to communicate with us if we think we know it all. We’ve heard the story so many times we’re sure God has said all he can say to us through this passage. It means we’re not open to his message. We’ve read it before, been there and got the pebbles. In fact we’re almost as arrogant as Goliath.

Sadly that’s also the case with the Jesus story. Some of us have heard so often of his life, death and resurrection that we don’t realise the enormity of the sacrifice and victory. Be warned. Somehow God has to bring the arrogant down to earth.

1 Samuel 17 v 6-7
He wore bronze protectors on his legs, and he had a bronze spear on his back. The wooden part of his larger spear was like a weaver’s rod, and its blade weighed about fifteen pounds. The officer who carried his shield walked in front of him.

Notes
In 1999 the singer Sinead O’Connor attempted suicide. The Times quoted her just a little before as saying, ‘People assumed I was a lot stronger that I was because I had a big mouth and shaved head. I acted tough to cover the vulnerability.’ With her talent and her huge record sales she seemed so all together, a woman with power.

At nine feet tall Goliath must have looked every part the leader. He felt so strong…and big…As he grew up all his mother’s friends had said, ‘Mrs G, your boy’s very BIG for his age.’ So when he put on the incredibly impressive armour, in his own eyes he became totally invincible. Too big to challenge.

Deep down, of course, he knew he was vulnerable. Aren’t we often the same? We talk up ourselves and at the same time know we’re projecting a false image. After a while there’s a danger that we may even begin to believe our own words. The Bible is clear. God knows us through and through. Read Psalm 139 if you need convincing. It means we can be honest with him, which is a great starting point. It will lead us on to being honest with ourselves. 

1 Samuel 17 v 8-10
Goliath stood and shouted to the Israelite soldiers, “Why have you taken positions for battle? I am a Philistine, and you are Saul’s servants! Choose a man and send him to fight me. If he can fight and kill me, we will be your servants. But if I can kill him, you will be our servants.” Then he said, “Today I stand and dare the army of Israel! Send one of your men to fight me!”

Notes
All the soldiers of the Philistine army are filling the south stand of the ground. They’re chanting the Old Testament equivalent of ‘We are the Champions’. They’re watching Goliath run out from their changing room and wait on the pitch for the opposition to arrive.

It looks like the league title is in the bag. Today they’re facing the minnows from Judah. Over in the north stand, the opposition’s supporters are very quiet. It’s no secret that they haven’t got any player with the world class of Goliath.

I find it scary when others put their faith and confidence in me – because I know that ultimately I have the potential to let them down. However good the players are, there will be ‘off-days’. The result may just be announced by the TV pundit as an ‘upset’. Psalm 146 verse 3 is very practical when it advises us not to put our trust in princes or mortal men.

The only person we can have total confidence in is Jesus Christ, who has always delivered what he promised.

1 Samuel 17 v 11-13
When Saul and the Israelites heard the Philistine’s words, they were very scared.
Now David was the son of Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons. In Saul’s time Jesse was an old man. His three oldest sons followed Saul to the war. The first son was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah. 

Notes
I’m about to show my age. Perhaps you are too. Do you remember the phrase, ‘I’ve started so I’ll finish’? Every two minutes the hooter would sound and Magnus Magnusson would finish another round of the TV quiz, Mastermind. At the same time he’d remind me of our great God.

Time and time again, throughout their history, God had told the people of Israel that he was with them. More than that, he’d made a solemn promise (the Bible calls it a covenant) that the Israelites would be in a special relationship with him. They would be his people. He’s started so he’ll finish.

A nine foot giant may seem big to King Saul. Yet compared to God, Goliath is not even a grasshopper. How could he threaten God’s plan for his people? But at that moment of testing the Israelites had forgotten the covenant. The result was dismay and terror (v11).

We have some phenomenal assurances from God. He has covenanted with Christians to always be with us, to empower us by his Holy Spirit. He offers comfort and healing. He’s started, so he’ll finish.

Don’t let the grasshoppers of this world cause dismay and terror.

1 Samuel 17 v 14-16
David was the youngest. Jesse’s three oldest sons followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to Bethlehem, where he took care of his father’s sheep.
For forty days the Philistine came out every morning and evening and stood before the Israelite army. 

Notes
Some problems seem never ending. The hunt for a solution appears futile. For forty days Goliath taunted the army of Israel. King Saul knew there must be a way out, but every avenue he explored turned out to be a dead end. The giant continually called for an opponent to fight a duel with him.

There’s no one in the world that has never experienced long-term problems. Right now a solution may seem elusive.

And all the time that Saul was worrying, young David kept travelling between his home and the Israelite army; one day taking food to his brothers and another day caring for his father’s sheep. Saul did not realise that the person God had chosen to solve his problem was very close at hand. 

Jesus Christ promised every follower that, ‘I am with you always’. That in itself is a great comfort when troubles drag on. Even more – he has the solution if only we can realise it.


word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes