THOSE FEW SHEEP June 2023
1 Samuel 17: 12 – 29 (NKJV)
12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.17 Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.” 19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.”26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”29 And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”
Numbers count. At the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), there were representatives of various nations. Gideon primarily enlisted 32,000 volunteers (Judges 7). King Saul killed 1,000 in comparison to David’s 10,000 (1 Samuel 18). Jesus had twelve disciples (John 21), of which He often selected 3. Numbers count in society’s evaluation of importance on social media. Therefore, even in executing God’s mission, the tendency is to look at numbers. Value judgments are made by the number of monetary gifts and the number of attendees at an event.
This is a great time for us to divert our attention from what we lack and pause to count our blessings. We find David, a shepherd, maintaining sheep that did not directly belong to him. As he worked for his father, one day he was given a different assignment. He was to be the delivery boy for three of his older brothers.
There was a conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines. Tensions were high and the enemy, (Philistines) constantly taunted Judah’s army. Three of David’s older brothers, Eliab, Abinadab, and Shamma, enlisted in the army, and so were able to stay in the loop with the daily news about the impending war with the Philistines.
David had an opportunity to decide which task was of greater importance. The sheep had to be cared for, and what if there were some sick or injured sheep among them? Obedience to his parent was of utmost importance to him, so he headed out to carry out his father’s wishes. David was asked to take food to the five-star general of the army, see how his brothers were faring and find out if they had any request for their father.
David chose to go on the errand. His obedience resulted in his being judged wrongfully by his elder brother. Speculation, without a rational basis, always causes us to miss the true motive of someone’s action. Without asking David what his reason was for being there, Eliab assumed that David was just being inquisitive. Where, along life’s journey, do we sometimes encounter an elder brother?
Samuel had already anointed David, to succeed Saul, as king over Israel. He functioned in obedience by doing, seemingly, an insignificant task. Although his job of traveling with sustenance was unappreciated, he was on his father’s mission. If David had become offended by Eliab, who knows what the outcome of the battle would have been?
The timing of his travel was perfect. The early morning trip caused David to be just in time to meet the soldiers on their way to the battle. He saw, he heard, he enquired and took the necessary steps to act on his faith in God. Curiosity got the better of him and his investigation led him to the news about Goliath’s intent.
As a shepherd, David was no stranger to danger. He wrestled and killed both a lion and a bear, to protect his charge. This gave him confidence in his prowess. Again, the timing was perfect. David did not broadcast that feat before it was necessary to do so. Through God’s help he conquered those predators. These triumphs became handy when David needed to present his resume to King Saul and throw his hat in the ring, since he had first-hand information about the battle.
When he left home, his only possible concern might have been the sheep he had to leave behind. Two armies of soldiers in conflict were not on his agenda. How many times has our plan been changed? We encounter situations that require us to change our actions, strategies and wishes. Many times, detours are seen as unnecessary interruptions. Let us reflect on Psalm 16:11 whenever our plans are disturbed.
David’s steps were truly ordered because unknowingly, he was being groomed to become king of Israel. The path involved David’s being Saul’s therapist (1 Samuel 16); his escaping Saul’s sword (1 Samuel 18); having to leave his childhood friend, Jonathan (1 Samuel 20); and now being an errand boy for Father Jesse. That sounds like a far cry from the preparation for a prince, and ultimately, a king. Did David understand the meaning of an anointing?
If by chance, he had an inkling of insight as to the role he would be required to play, he probably would have refused Samuel’s oil. The choice was out of his control. David had been set apart by God, (1 Samuel 16: 10-13). Before we were born, God ordained our path, (Jeremiah 1:5). Sometimes when life seems difficult, we ask, “Why?”.
On the way to reaching the Gentiles, Paul suffered death-threats, accusations of being insane, and imprisonment, (Acts 26). The road to the Promised Land led the Israelites through the wilderness, (Exodus 15). Joseph’s journey to becoming governor began in a pit, (Genesis 37). On the way to the resurrection, Jesus was nailed to a cross. (John 19). I wonder if any of them asked, “Why?”
David’s trip to his brothers gave him the opportunity to hear Eliab’s view of his being a shepherd. Maybe it was the first time that David would be discouraged about those few sheep. Eliab knew that David had been anointed. If he could crush David’s spirit, it could cause a detour from what God had planned for David. He was to excel to rule Israel.
The anointing destroyed the yoke of despair and doubt that David could have worn. He was satisfied with being a mere shepherd, but had he remained in the field, Saul would not have been told about the power that God allowed in him. David assured Saul that he, through God’s power was equipped to join the army of the Living God.
David ran amidst the soldiers, oblivious to the danger in which he plunged, to greet his brothers. I guess he expected them to be happy to see him, but Eliab had no time for pleasantries. His focus was on winning a war. Sometimes, tunnel vision may work in our favor, and at other times it may prove to be against us. He belittled David without waiting for David to tell him why he was there in the first place.
However, when David heard the details of the war, he realized that the soldiers who were expected to be ready for the offensive, became overcome with fear. They retreated as Goliath continued to flaunt his potential in their faces. This enemy seemed more confident and able to slaughter them, but David had already experienced God’s power.
Should we withdraw, the enemy, who is an opportunist senses our wavering and uses it as a weapon against us. No wonder, in the Scriptures, we find angels always prefacing their greetings with the words, “Fear not!” The God of angel armies will never forsake us. We must constantly be dressed in His armor that is outlaid in Ephesians 6.
To Saul’s army, Goliath’s stature spoke more volumes than Saul’s promise that the man who defeated Goliath could marry his daughter, gain riches and freedom for his relatives. That was an offer that David found irresistible. Even greater than that, David was adamant about removing the reproach from Israel. Goliath’s exalting himself over Yahweh was the ultimate insult to David.
The lunches had been delivered to the captain, but David was on a new mission now. No one would be allowed to discredit the God of Israel. David’s anointing earmarked him to defend Israel’s cause. Have we inquired of God regarding what may be our cause? The situation led David into the depths of preparation for his kingship. Little did Jesse know that he had spearheaded David’s destiny.
In the middle of the battle, the soldiers took the time, to outline to David the reward for killing Goliath. David’s physique was no match for this 9 1/2 -foot giant that towered over everyone. Even his voice echoed across the valley. Both his appearance and his threats, caused grown, trained men, to tremble in their boots. Do you ever wonder, “What was David thinking?” Why did he ask about the reward for the winner of the battle?
If we reflect on our God-given benefits and rewards, our blessings will propel us to trust God on life’s pathway. So, David put Goliath in perspective. He saw him as fighting against God’s army. David was so annoyed that he referred to the fact that Goliath had no covenant with God: that of circumcision. He set his face like a flint (Isaiah 50:7) and discounted Goliath’s size and taunts. With that, he knew that Goliath’s boasting was no comparison to God’s might.
The undermining element, Eliab’s anger, reared its ugly head against David. He should have been fighting, but he forgot his real focus and instead, eavesdropped on David’s conversation concerning the war. This caused him to become jealous of David’s growing ambition to challenge Goliath.
David was then being seen as the adversary, although Goliath was the real culprit. Eliab’s irritation was displaced against his brother, who had come to help him in the first place. Finally, he decided to ask David what his reason was for coming. No doubt he became embarrassed when he heard the real reason.
Eliab belittled David and insinuated that David was prideful, inquisitive, and unimportant. All David did, in comparison to Eliab’s being a soldier, was tend a few sheep. We will miss the right perception if we compare one mission with another. As unimportant as tending sheep seemed, it was a means of pruning David to fulfill God’s plan for his life.
David did not retaliate. He could have defended his character and traded insults. Possibly, he could have criticized Eliab’s way of soldiering. Instead, he humbly and subtly redirected Eliab’s attention. David reminded him that Israel had a cause. The big question to ask ourselves is, “Is there not a cause?” When we tend to measure ourselves against others, we need to be aware that different causes require different focus, strengths, personalities, and characteristics therefore, God in His wisdom has given many members in one body. (1 Corinthians, 12: 12.)
God is mindful of the few. (Matthew 25:21; Nehemiah 2:12 [the chosen and the faithful]). Goliath could have been the victor, if David had lost focus and veered off into conflict with Eliab. The victory came for God’s people because of David’s defiance and success when he tended those few sheep.
Dr. O. A. James
REFLECTION
How do you see your journey in relation to what God has gifted you to do?