Ep 591 – 1 Samuel 17:19-30

David has showed up at the front lines of battle, where the army of Israel is facing the Philistines and their larger-than-life champion, Goliath. And David is appalled at what he finds. Not a single man is willing to stand up to the taunts of the Philistine warrior, and take his challenge to hand-to-hand combat. Everyone is in fear and afraid to risk a confrontation with what appears to be an unbeatable foe. But in 1 Samuel 17:19-30, David will express his dismay at the lack of action on the part of Saul and his troops, including his older brother, Eliab. He will accuse David of showing up unannounced and without the permission of their father. In essence, he accuses David of shirking his shepherding duties at home. But, in reality, David had been sent by his father and, as the rest of the story unfolds, he was on a mission for God. This young, seemingly insignificant shepherd was going to do what no one else was willing to do: Stand up to the enemies of God in the power of God. And he would do so not for promise of reward, but to protect the name of his God.