Part III
Victorious hiving is for You
I t w a s a father’s desire to send his love to his sons and to obtain word of their welfare and safety that started David on his journey toward Epher-Dammim. It was a ready obedience on David’s part to fulfill the will of his father that motivated his journey. David’s baggage con sisted of an ephah of parched com, ten loaves of bread, ten cheeses and a heart full of love. There is much about this story that reminds us of David’s “ greater Son,” and that we do not want to miss. He, too, was sent by His Father. He was sent into a world of strife and hate. He was sent to seek out the welfare of His brethren. He was sent not with bread, but as Bread to hungry men. He was sent to reveal the love of the Father. David did not know what lay ahead of him. He did not know that he would be called upon to face a giant. Nor could he possibly have dreamed of the experiences that awaited him. How well the Son of God knew that He would come to His own and that His own would not accept Him. He knew that which He would face in the camp of Israel and also in the camp of the Gentiles. He knew that He would be denied, betrayed, and crucified. He knew that He would come to grips with the “ Goliath of all Goliaths” in mortal combat. And yet He willingly obeyed His Father in order that we might be saved. To the casual reader David’s decision to do battle with Goliath appears hasty. But to the man who knows that “ circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him,” David’s ready response is both natural and inevitable — he could do nothing else. No doubt David was greatly tempted to turn aside from this “ struggle unto death.” In fact, there were some very strong reasons why he should stay out of such a dangerous and foolhardy affair. Nor did these reasons fail to make an impression on David’s mind. Let us consider a few of them. HIS M ISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED “ . . . See how thy brethren fare.” / Samuel 17:18 David’s father did not ask him to join Saul’s army or to fight against the Philistine giant single handed. His assignment was simply to deliver some food to his brothers and to see how they were getting along. Having satisfactorily completed his task, he was at liberty to return to his father and to his sheep. But not David — not while the God of Israel was being defied. David’s footsteps had been guided into the path of unforeseen opportunity by the One who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Opportunity, as always, in volves responsibility, and responsibility is often accom panied by the apparent and sometimes dangerous impos sibility. If this opportunity were rejected by David, no one would be the wiser. If accepted, it would lead to glorious conquest. 18
A RELATIVE PROBLEM Again, let us think back for a moment. I am very sure that David was a normal boy — imagine, if you can the excitement of it all. At best, sheep-herding was a dull job, but now, he was going to get a break. It would be so much fun to see his brothers again. They looked so big and important in their military regalia. Then too, maybe he would get a chance to see King Saul. All of this was enough to cause any healthy, red- blooded boy to sleep in fits and starts and then get up early so he could be on his way. Shortly after dawn David left home with eager anticipation. Word had reached Bethlehem that Saul had stopped the invading Philistine army at a point in the Valley of Elah -— approximately fifteen miles from David’s home. We can be certain that David covered this distance in record time. In all probability he reached the rear guard units of the army before the sun was straight overhead. A hurried search brought him to the position occupied by Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah, his three older brothers. The air was charged with excitement — but David soon sensed that the vast and proud looking army of the invincible Saul was confused and frustrated — something was wrong. Almost as if by a given signal, the noise and clamor stopped — a deathly silence hung oppressively over the valley and the slopes of the facing mountains. To a man the entire army looked down toward the valley. There stood the biggest and tallest man David had ever seen. His polished armor reflected the rays of the afternoon sun with dazzling intensity — it was an awesome sight. Goliath insolently shouted his vitriolic defiances and dared Saul to send one of Israel’s champions out to duel with him. To David’s amazement not a single man stepped out to defend Israel’s honor. In consternation he looked at his brothers . . . even nine and one-half foot Goliath was no match for Jehovah! His questions only provoked his brothers and their companions to furious anger. They mocked him and accused him of “ naughti ness of heart.” These were words and attitudes bom of a combination of fear, frustration, and jealousy. A moment of reflection assures us that it is not David’s pride or naughtiness of heart that prompted this outburst, but that was indeed the cause of Eliab’s bitterness. It is that which cometh out of the mouth that defiles a man. For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blas phemies. A lesser soul than David’s would have withered beneath the blast of bitter scorn that came from the lips of one so close to him. I t was th e s ame a t t i t u d e that motivated Joseph’s scheming brothers in their attempt to destroy his life and ministry. In cold, cruel jealousy they sold him for twenty THE K IN G 'S BU SINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker