By Felix Ngunjiri Gichuri

Jesse Saw in David a Shepherd, But God Saw a King of Israel

David was anointed by God through prophet Samuel. “Samuel did what the LORD directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace? ” “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the LORD’s anointed one is here before Him. ”But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart.” Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “The LORD hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD hasn’t chosen this one either.” After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The LORD hasn’t chosen any of these.” Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have? ” “There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance. Then the LORD said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD took control of David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.” (1Sam 16:4-13) [HCSB]

God Picked David, a Teenage Shepherd, From the Bush to be King of Israel

David was shepherding the sheep while he knew very well that he had been anointed to be King of Israel while Saul the king was still in office. His anointing was being misused in the bush as he looked after his few father’s sheep. He realized that he was not anointed as king of Israel to be rearing sheep. He realized that the anointing on him was being wasted in the bush, looking after sheep. Some people have the anointing to sing gospel songs that will glorify God but the anointing is wasted as people choose unrelated careers that look prestigious to the society. Others are wasting their anointing to preach, witness, and serve God in various capacities outside of priestly ordination etc, by being in the careers that are appealing to the society.  It is time to go down to the brook and look for those round stones, the tools of your trade, that will make you a giant killer and elevate you to be king, prince or an anointed servant of God.

A Teenage Boy Faces a Huge Ten Feet Tall Giant Called Goliath for a Life and Death Fight

After hearing of the battle being waged by Philistines against the army of Israel, he decided that since he had the anointing of God upon him, he will use that anointing to face that champion of the Philistines and liberate his people from the Philistines. He decided that he had to go to the war front to see that giant who was being talked about by everyone. He suggested his idea of visiting his brothers at the warfront to his father Jesse and his father sent him to the warfront to see how his brothers were faring.

“Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons and during Saul’s reign was already an old man. Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third, and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul, but David kept going back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock in Bethlehem.

“Every morning and evening for 40 days the Philistine came forward and took his stand.One day Jesse had told his son David: “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these 10 loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.Also take these 10 portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them.They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.” (1 Sam 12:16-19)

David Got Employed by the Palace to be Playing the Flute to King Saul

“Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and an evil spirit sent from the LORD began to torment him, so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God troubles you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.” Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.” One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is also a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the LORD is with him.” (1Sam 16:14-17) [HCSB]

When Armies of the Living God Ran Away on Seeing A Champion Called Goliath

“So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry. Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other. David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were. While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard. When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified. Previously, an Israelite man had declared: “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the household of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.” David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? ” The people told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

Eliab Despised David for Coming to the Battlefront

“David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him. “Why did you come down here? ” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart — you came down to see the battle! ” “What have I done now? ” protested David. “It was just a question.” Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before. What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him. David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!” (1Sam 17:20-31) [HCSB]

David was Determined to Kill This Philistine Who Defied the Armies of the Living God

David’s desire was to change his status of an anointed man of God who keeps his father’s sheep to an anointed servant of God who would kill the giant who had defied the armies of the living God. He was very determined to get the promise from the king he was to succeed for the one who will kill Goliath. He impressed King Saul by telling him of his fighting abilities in some kind of curriculum vitae or testimonials that “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” Then David said, “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you.” (1Sam 17:34-37) [HCSB]

“And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved [it]. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved [them]. And David put them off him.

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling [was] in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.“  (1Sam 17:38-40) [HCSB]

David Saw in Goliath a Target Too Big To Miss

David was an expert in throwing stones using a sling. And because he knew that the anointing of the Lord was upon him, the stone that he was to throw towards Goliath would have divine power and would not miss the target. Instead of seeing such a too big giant to fight with, David saw a giant too big to miss.

David Kills Goliath

It was propelled by the power of God towards Goliath and found its way into the forehead of Goliath through the joint of the metal helmet that the giant was wearing and the stone sunk into his forehead and knocked him down. “And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield [went] before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was [but] a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that thou come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD deliver you into mine hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from you; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and swang [it], and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but [there was] no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.”  (1Sam 17:41-54) [HCSB]

David Carried the Trophy of Goliath’s Head Along Streets of Jerusalem Triumphantly

David got hold of the head of Goliath, lifted it high as a trophy of victory and walked it with a spring around Jerusalem, as women sang praises  to  him  for  killing  Goliath.  Even when he was taken to see the king, he was still excitedly carrying the head trophy under his armpit with pride, the smell notwithstanding. The same LORD who had delivered him out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear had delivered him out of the hand of the Philistine. And all the assembly of the whole army of Israel knew that “the LORD saves not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S” (1 Samuel 17:4). The anointing of the Lord was upon David from the time he was anointed by prophet Samuel in his youth. Anointing means God’s power upon man’s flesh enabling the anointed man to do things he would not normally do. Anointing means ‘the power of God rubbed into, smeared all over man’s flesh.’ Another name of anointing is Messiah. Messiah means the ‘Anointing’ or the ‘Anointed one’ or ‘His Anointing.’ Messiah means Christ. This means that David had the power of God, Christ upon him. It was the anointing that killed Goliath. The same anointing that was available to David that helped him kill Goliath is available to whoever believes today. Jesus told His disciples that “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very miracles/works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:11-17 [KJV])

Amen.