The Passion Of David

Read 1 Sam 17:26-29

The army of Israel was at war against the Philistines, but they were intimated by a giant Goliath, standing over 9 feet tall (17:4, 3 metres)

• For 40 days this Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand (4:16), mocking not just Israel but Israel’s God.

• David came to the battle front and got to know what was happening.

He came to see his 3 oldest brothers and to bring them food, instructed by his father Jesse to do so.

• He heard everything. And he was angry. 17:26 “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

• There was this great unease in his heart. How can we let him, come out day after day, and mocks God’s army?

He told King Saul when he was brought before him: “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” (17:32)

• 17:36 “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear (when they came to harass my father’s sheep); this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.”

• Finally when he faced the giant, this was what he said (17:45): “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

The word “defy” was used many times. It means bringing disgrace. This man was shaming the name of God and His army.

• Something was driving David. Something in him was motivating him that we did not see in the soldiers, who were “dismayed and terrified” (17:11).

• David was (1) PASSIONATE FOR GOD’S GLORY. That motivates him and gives him courage.

No wonder the Lord described him as “a man after my own heart; he will do everything I wanted him to do.” (cf. Acts 13:22)

• David was driven by a desire to see that God’s Name be exalted and God be glorified.

• And God will surely glorify Himself through the person who is passionate for His glory.

Not everyone shares the same passion. In fact, his oldest brother Eliab came to him, burning with anger and asked: “Why have you come down here? … I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” (17:28)

• God saw a heart after his own heart. Man sees something else, coloured by his own prejudice, jealousy, and pride.

• Eliab was more concerned about David’s words, than Goliath’s mockery of Jehovah’s God. David words exposed their cowardice and weakness; their fears.

• Are you more concerned about your own name? Or the Name of the Lord? Are you more concerned about defending your reputation, or the glory of God?

What make David really great will not be his possessions (the wealth and riches), his position (anointed as King), his privilege, his power (as ruler of a great empire) but his PASSION - his passion for God.

• He lives for God’s glory. He was quick to repent when he sinned; he was willing to confess when he failed.

• The psalms reveal the heart of a man who is passionate for God’s glory.

When he has to convince Saul to let him fight Goliath, this is what he said (17:34-37):

34But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

David was (2) FAMILIAR WITH GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

• If God delivered him in the past, He will deliver him now.

• David was tending his father’s sheep as a young boy. Nothing glamorous or great, but he experienced God’s presence, protection and power.

God groomed him, through simple task like tending sheep, to become the King of a great nation.

• David has to learn lessons about God’s power and His faithfulness, in little things before God can entrust him with greater things.

• David learns lessons about God’s power and faithfulness, in the private arena (at his home backyard) before God thrusts him into the public arena (and appoints him leader over Israel).