WHO AM I?
1 Samuel 18:18” But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my life or my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?"
David was of an ancient and honourable family of Judah, a handsome person, a great statesman, warrior, musician, song writer, soldier and what not; his achievements were great. He had killed a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:36) he had won Goliath’s head, the victory and the circumstances in which David entered the arena was challenging, read:
1 Samuel 17:8”He (Goliath) stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, "Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.
9 "If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us."
10 Again the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together."
11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Listen, the king and the army were terrified at the sight of the giant but it is now that David entered the battlefield, spoke powerful words and killed Goliath with a stone. Wow and wow! Today we live in a SHOWBLITZZ world – everything is about flaunting the body, money and so on. Just ask people what they do after a powerful victory either in sports, business or at their work spot – PARTY! Photos of the victory are all over facebook, and all over social media.
I would also like to point some more from chapter 18:
FAVOR WITH THE PRINCE
1 the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
DAVID WENT TO STAY IN THE PALACE:
2 Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house.
3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
HONOR: Despite Abner being the Commander and also prince Jonathan being there, David got multiple promotions and jumped over their heads:
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
Popularity:
6 It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.
7 The women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."
All the above would have made someone pigheaded and puffed up but not David though! David was in his peak FAVOR SEASON in this chapter, having captured the love of the king’s daughter Michal too. (v 20 Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David)
David also knew that there was something ‘greater destined’ for him; but he kept focusing on the present assignments and fulfilled them wholeheartedly. When you go about doing the business of God, you would surely have success, before you rule, you need to learn to obey first, read:
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
God will exalt those who humble themselves.
ENDURED INSULT:
Even though the king Saul’s daughter was promised for those who kill Goliath (1 Samuel 17:25), yet, no where do we see David demanding for it, also when his eldest daughter Merab was also not given to him, he did not make a ruckus, read: 19” So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.”
Saul expected David to retaliate but David did not do so, also then he offered his second daughter Michal ( who already developed love towards David), this also was designed to harm David; however, David handled everything meekly and politely, despite all the FAME AND NAME.
This is a great subject to talk about in today’s era of people who belong to extreme ‘SHOW OFF’ category, throwing weight around and people believe that they need to show ATTITUDE in order to impress, draw attention, feel important, feel superior, macho and feel courageous. These are cheap gimmicks and it is not a godly character at all, people will surely smell the arrogance behind the attitude! We see this not only in the parliament or Hollywood but it is all over the church, choir, youth meetings, teen fellowship, everywhere ……Holy Spirit is grieved!
Wishing elders, pastors, teachers seems to be passe’ and no more practiced or taught by parents or elders, anybody listening? Every day I had to inculcate this habit of wishing teachers in our Abide School ( click HERE to know more about our free school for the poor) because parents have failed to do so. Mocking and ridiculing elderly people is a fashion so ‘humility’ is very important aspect to be taught to the younger generation. David looked at Saul and said: "Who am I, and what is my life or my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?" Hey, don’t forget when king Saul stood trembling in front of Goliath, it was young brave David who brought victory not only for Saul but for all the people of God, YET he said, ‘WHO AM i?’
GRAND FINALE:
God spoke and made an awesome covenant with David, read:
2 Samuel 7:
God's Covenant with David
8 "Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.
9 "I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.
10 "I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly,
11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you.
12 "When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14 "I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,
15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16 "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever."'"
17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
In response to the above GLORIOUS WORDS, David went inside the House of God, sat before God and said:
18 "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?”
David gave all the glory, honor and praise to God!
God bless you!
