Whereas the NT does not dwell at great length upon David, it nevertheless paints him in such a way that he is truly a significant character. With the exceptions of Abraham and Moses, David becomes the most pivotal OT figure in the NT. For this reason we are going to pay significant attention to David and his relationship to Jesus.

First, the NT emphasizes that Jesus descended from David, both legally on Joseph's side and physically on Mary's side of the family. Second, when Matthew introduces the list of Jesus' ancestors, Matthew singles out 2 of Jesus' 46 ancestors: Jesus was "the son of DAVID, the son of Abraham" (Matt. 1:1). Moreover, to appreciate the relationship between David and Jesus, think about the city of Jesus' birth, Bethlehem. It was so significant that Jesus was born there because, as the angel says, Bethlehem was the City of David (Luke 2:11).

Next, we see a blind man calling out to Jesus who at first does not respond. Jesus responds positively to the blind man after the blind man repeatedly calls Him "Son of David" (Mark 10:47, 48). During Jesus' debates with the Jewish religious leaders, He concludes the debates with a discussion on David's Son. The Jews believed that David's son, the future Messiah, though great was still lesser than David. Jesus argues that David's Son is actually greater than David because David himself wrote: "The Lord [God] said to my lord [the Messiah, David's son]." In other words, David is calling his son "lord," thereby implying that David's son was greater than David (Matt. 22:41-46).

This emphasis was not restricted to the ministry of Jesus. The early church also applied to David the title: "who by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our FATHER David Thy Servant (Acts 4:25).

The OT understands David's significance; it devotes 40 chapters to the story of David alone (1 Samuel 16-31 and 2 Samuel 1-24, not counting the duplicate chapters in the Chronicles of the OT).

THE 1 SAMUEL ACCOUNT

Samuel Anoints David To Be King (1 Sam. 16:1-23)

Disaster has struck Israel with the reign of Saul. The Israelites had wanted to be like the other nations (pagan), and so God gave them the kind of king who would be like the kings of others nations. Just like the kings of other nations didn't care one whit about God, so God gave Israel a king who didn't care about Him. Because of Saul's disobedience Israel will suffer mercilessly at the hands of the Philistines during the reign of Saul.

God chooses to dispense not only with Saul but also with his entire household. Saul's descendants will NOT reign upon the throne of Israel. God is going to look now for another kind of leader. What characteristic was God most interested in for His new king (13:14)? He wanted a king after His own heart, a man who would be completely His. With the ascension of David to the throne of Israel, Israel will experience a golden age for the next 80 years still unmatched in her history. The primary credit goes to David, a man after God's own heart.

Samuel the judge is grief-stricken because God is going to reject Saul and his household. God though instructs Samuel to quit grieving for Saul and go to the house of Jesse from Bethlehem in order to anoint one of his sons to be the next king of Israel. When Samuel enters the house of Jesse, he asks Jesse to parade his sons before him. When Samuel sees Eliab, he starts to make the same mistake he made earlier with Saul; he is impressed with Eliab's physical characteristics (16:6-7).

Samuel goes through seven of Jesse's son, and yet in each case God rejects them. Samuel asks if these are all of Jesse's sons. When Jesse tells Samuel that he has one son left who is tending the flocks, Samuel has Jesse send for David. David now arrives from tending the flocks. When David arrives, Samuel sees that he is a ruddy man with beautiful eyes, handsome in appearance (1 Samuel 16:12).

This description seems to contradict the earlier verse in which God says He does not look at man's appearance but at his heart. Yet whereas beauty does not qualify a person to be God's servant, it doesn't DISQUALIFY him either. You don't have to be rich to be used by God; however, poverty doesn't qualify you either. The same applies to education, community status, family heritage, etc. The heart is what matters irregardless of any physical qualifications.

Upon the Lord's instructions Samuel anoints David to be the next king over Israel. From this time on the significant characteristic about David is that the Spirit of the Lord is going to be upon him (16:13). The evidence that the Spirit of the Lord is upon David is seen in the next section (16:14-23). What happens in these verses which shows that David is truly anointed with God's Spirit.

David and Goliath (1 Sam. 17:1-58)

The next story conjures up memories of first grade Sunday School. From the earliest times we have heard this story. For many Christians it is so associated with childhood that they almost treat it as a fairy tale. Yet its significance and impact is seen in that it occupies no less that FIFTY EIGHT VERSES. It is one of the longest continuous stories in the entire Bible. It is that significant. It proves that the Spirit of the Lord was upon David, that David is the One Anointed with God's Spirit (a messiah).

Now the Philistines who lived to the southwest of Israel have continued to harass Israel. The Philistine and Israelite armies converge at Socoh. The 2 armies are situated on 2 hills with the valley of Elah separating them. A battle does not ensue. Instead Goliath the giant champion of the Philistines issues a challenge to the army of Israel. Instead of the 2 armies fighting against each other, Goliath challenges the Israelites to send out their champion so that they can fight one on one. Whichever nation's champion wins, that nation wins the battle (17:4-10).

No one dares to face Goliath. First Samuel describes him as being 9'6" tall. He is so big and powerful that his spear is basically the size of a weaver's beam. The Israelite army responds to Goliath's challenge in fear and dismay (17:11). This situation continues for at least 40 days with no resolution. (This is another instance of a period of 40 days being significant in Scripture.)

At this point David shows up. Because David's 3 older brothers are serving in the war, Jesse sends David to the front to supply them with provisions. When David arrives, he hears Goliath's taunts and asks about the situation. When his brothers hear David ask these questions, they are indignant and rebuke David (17:28). Undaunted, David just replies that he was just asking a question (17:29-30).

Goliath is making a fatal mistake whenever he taunts Israel's army. According to David Goliath is not simply taunting the army of Israel; he is taunting the army of the living God (1 Sam. 17:36).

We really need to keep this in mind whenever we start criticizing the church. Some people really love to adopt a superior attitude towards the church, always calling it "dead" or "just a bunch of hypocrites." Whereas it is true that the church is full of hypocrites, it is also true that the church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:22-33; 2 Cor. 11:2).

When it is all said and done, the bride walking down the aisle may not be the prettiest thing ever to have graced the earth; just don't tell the groom you feel that way. When it is all said and done, the only person's opinion about that bride that matters is the groom's. Well, your view of the church doesn't matter and my view doesn't matter. The groom's, Jesus', matters. As much as a young man may love his bride, Jesus loves His bride even more. If you want to mess with a hostile Groom, mess with the church.

Look at some other ways the Bible views people. What is true about the people you criticize (James 3:9)? They are created in the image of God. When you criticize these people, you are actually criticizing God. What does God call Christians in 1 John 3:1-2? He calls us His sons [and daughters].

It would be well that you remember these things whenever you encounter another person. If you want to live in God's favor, treat His children with love and respect. As a father I can attest to you that this works. There are certain couples in our church who are very dear to me because of the way they have treated my son and daughter: the Prices, the Trimbles, Marianne Anderson, the Simms, etc. They even treated Molly good whenever her wardrobe was flashy and gaudy. I will always appreciate Karen Fishero the day Molly walked up the sidewalk to the church dressed in black leotards and black top, with bright pink and red accessories (she was only 2 1/2 at the time). Karen said: "Molly, you look so pretty." Molly was floating on cloud nine after that remark. Well, as much as I like other adults to treat our children with kindness, much more does our heavenly Father love it when we treat His children with love and kindness.

When David asserts that he is willing to take on Goliath, he is escorted to Saul. When Saul expresses uncertainty about David's ability to take down Goliath, David responds that God was with him whenever he had to fight the bear and the lion. David is confident that just as God has protected him in the past from danger, so He will now protect him from this uncircumcised Philistine (17:34-37),

Always remember that God's faithfulness in the past guarantees His faithfulness in the present and in the future. God has not helped us in the past only to abandon us at the present time. He is consistent. He may not come through at the time you want Him to come through. He may come through in a different way than you wanted; however, He will come through, and when He does, He will do it in a way that is perfect for you.

Saul accepts David's request to take on Goliath. Next Saul prepares David for battle by arming him with his weapons and armor. When David tries on the armor, he finds it was too cumbersome. David responds that since he has not tested out this equipment, he will go without it. He will use his slingshot against Goliath's weapons (17:38-40).

God does not want David to become something he is not in order to defeat Goliath. Remember that when it is all said and done David is not the one who will be fighting Goliath. God is the One who will be fighting and is the One who will be gaining the victory.

We read that Goliath was from Gath, one of the 5 major cities of the Philistines. According to some David chose 5 stones because each of these 5 cities had a giant within them who needed to be killed. These claim that after David killed Goliath, he was going to take on the other 4 giants. I don't know if it is true, but it sure sounds good.

Note that God can use anything if he can use a slingshot to kill the giant. If God can use 5 loaves of barley bread and 2 fish to feed 5000, He can use anything we have in order to do great things. God does NOT need you to have great weapons in order to defeat the enemy. All He needs is you. God doesn't need the prayers of a great prayer warrior to protect your family; He needs YOUR prayers. God does not need the teachings of the greatest biblical scholar to draw your family to Jesus; He needs YOUR teachings. All God needs is you because when it is all said and done, He will be working THROUGH YOU.

I know that some of you are thinking, "But He is God and therefore doesn't NEED anybody." That is true. The only thing is that God has set up this world in such a way that He works THROUGH people. As a result, when He wants to work upon your family, He will work THROUGH the dad or mom. If God wants to move upon your community, He will work THROUGH you who are Christians.

Goliath cannot believe his eyes when he sees David approaching: "Am I a dog that you would come to me with sticks" (17:43). David replies: "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom You have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands" (17:45-47).

David places a stone in his sling and hits Goliath on the forehead. It either kills Goliath or stuns him so badly he faints. Whatever happened, David rushes up, takes Goliath's sword, and cuts off Goliath's head (17:51). The Philistines are so stunned, that they rush away in a panic with the Israelites pursuing them. A great slaughter ensues that day because of David's victory over Goliath.