Tending Sheep & Killing Giants
God's Goodness and MercyYour financial support makes resources like this available! Give now!
King David was one of the greatest kings of Israel, but he wasn’t always a royal figure. His experience as a shepherd boy, tending his father’s sheep, inspired in him a brave trust in God.
David’s faith in God was so unshakable that when he learned of the Philistine army fighting against Israel, he wanted to join the fight even though he was a young boy!
Let’s read what happened:
The Philistine army gathered to fight against the army of Israel. The Philistines were led by a fierce warrior named Goliath. He was over nine feet tall, and wore a bronze helmet and metal armor. He carried a javelin on his back and a long, pointed spear in his hand. Goliath shouted at the soldiers of Israel, "Choose a man to fight me! If he is able to kill me, we will become your servants; but if I kill him, you will serve us." When King Saul and all the Israelites heard this, they were terrified.
Meanwhile, David, who was too young to fight, was home tending his father’s sheep. His father, Jesse, was concerned for his older sons who had gone to fight the Philistines, so he sent David out to check on them and to bring them food.
When David arrived at the camp he overheard Goliath making fun of the God of Israel. He also saw how fearful King Saul and his men were. David shouted, “Who is this unclean soldier that defies the armies of the living God? Don’t be afraid of this dirty Philistine; I will fight him!”
"You’re only a boy,” Saul objected, you can’t fight him; he’s a trained warrior!
David declared to Saul, "I take care of my father's sheep. When a lion or a bear carried off a sheep from his flock, I 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. I have killed both the lion and the bear; this impure Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
"Then go fight,” Saul said, “May the LORD be with you."
David then chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and with his slingshot in hand, he advanced toward the Philistine. When Goliath saw David coming at him, and that he was only a boy, he hated him.
Goliath cursed David and growled, "Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks? Come to me, and I'll feed you to the birds and beasts!"
Then David shouted at Goliath, "You come against me with 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. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down. Today, I will feed you and the Philistine army to the birds and beasts, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”
As Goliath moved closer to attack him, David ran toward him, and reaching into his bag he took out a stone and slung it. The stone sank deep into Goliath’s forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground…dead. That day God used David to triumph over the Philistine army with just a sling and a stone!
(Adapted from 1 Samuel 17.)
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In lesson three of our Psalm 23-Good Shepherd lessons we learned about God’s reputation,
his qualities or characteristics. In today’s lesson* we’re looking at two of God’s qualities: goodness and mercy. Goodness is God-like character—his good and loving actions, and mercy is God's love towards us, even though we deserve to be punished for our sins.
King David didn’t always do what was right. He sinned against God and failed many times. When King David wrote Psalm 23, he
recalled how God’s goodness and mercy had
followed him throughout his life, a term that is best described as like a hound dog running after him—pursuing him—and not letting up!
How is God's goodness and mercy shown in Psalm 23? (receive answers.)
We will probably never tend sheep or kill giants, but isn't it wonderful to know that God can use our experiences and what we learned as children, and even our failures, for His purposes when we become adults? David's life stands as a powerful example of this truth. As we navigate through our own life's journey, may we, like David, find comfort in the knowledge that our Shepherd-King, Jesus, is always with us by guiding, protecting, and providing for us—his goodness and mercy never fails!
Consider This
What talents, skills, or interests do you have today that God might use for His kingdom?
Copyright 2024 S.A. Keith
*Tending Sheep & Killing Giants coordinates well with our Psalm
23 Good Shepherd lessons.
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