Gigantic Exaggerations – Part 3
David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.” [1 Samuel 17:32-33]
Let’s continue right where we left off yesterday. We were talking about the word “youth”, as it was used to portray David when he fought Goliath. We need to understand it in the context of Old Testament Israel in the Promised Land under the Law of Moses, not in terms of today.
Back in Old Testament Israel the Law of Moses set the age of military service at “twenty years old and upward”. It was the age of accountability for Israelite males. Those younger were “youth” or “young men” (i.e., na‘ar). David was a na‘ar. Goliath began his military training when he was still a na‘ar. David was less than twenty years old when he killed Goliath. He was NOT a “little boy”. That is not the definition of na‘ar, dear friends.
David had seven brothers, and he was the youngest male sibling in the family. The words and depictions of David in the chapters preceding and following 1 Samuel 17, as well as in chapter 17 itself, do not lead us to envision a “boy”. We see a person who was old enough and strong enough to do manly things. Imagine a teenager, say 18 or 19 years old, who played offensive left tackle on the football team today.
David was no “giant” like Goliath, but he was a seasoned young man who fought lions and bears when those critters attacked his sheep. This was because David knew the Lord and daily spent time with Him. When he killed Goliath he was already playing the harp for King Saul. It was while playing the harp that David wrote his Psalms, many of which we have in the Bible. This demonstrates that David knew the Lord already at this time—knew the Lord not just as being saved but as demonstrating spiritual maturity to an extent. This takes a little age, a little seasoning from life’s experiences and learning, in order to learn how to depend on the Lord.
David said as much to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight Goliath. He said as much to Goliath when he charged at him with his sling and stones. “You, Goliath, have insulted the God of Israel, so He has given your life into my hands!” That’s basically what David said. Little boys don’t do that!
In terms of pure military abilities, and adding size and training to the equation, David was no match for Goliath. He knew that! He wasn’t depending on himself. He depended on the Lord to defeat the giant. David merely made himself available to the Lord and was happy to do so. That is what we need to learn from the David vs. Goliath saga, not that this kindergartner stomped on the head of the giant. For that story you should read Jack and the Beanstalk!
Let’s not be content to be spiritually obtuse with the Bible, dear friends. Let’s take it seriously and spend time daily with the Word of God and the Lord Jesus, so that He can teach us His Word and spiritually mature us. It’s much more delightful to be spiritual adults than spiritual delinquents. Baby twaddle is indecorous in adults. Let’s make Jesus proud of us, shall we?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Let’s continue right where we left off yesterday. We were talking about the word “youth”, as it was used to portray David when he fought Goliath. We need to understand it in the context of Old Testament Israel in the Promised Land under the Law of Moses, not in terms of today.
Back in Old Testament Israel the Law of Moses set the age of military service at “twenty years old and upward”. It was the age of accountability for Israelite males. Those younger were “youth” or “young men” (i.e., na‘ar). David was a na‘ar. Goliath began his military training when he was still a na‘ar. David was less than twenty years old when he killed Goliath. He was NOT a “little boy”. That is not the definition of na‘ar, dear friends.
David had seven brothers, and he was the youngest male sibling in the family. The words and depictions of David in the chapters preceding and following 1 Samuel 17, as well as in chapter 17 itself, do not lead us to envision a “boy”. We see a person who was old enough and strong enough to do manly things. Imagine a teenager, say 18 or 19 years old, who played offensive left tackle on the football team today.
David was no “giant” like Goliath, but he was a seasoned young man who fought lions and bears when those critters attacked his sheep. This was because David knew the Lord and daily spent time with Him. When he killed Goliath he was already playing the harp for King Saul. It was while playing the harp that David wrote his Psalms, many of which we have in the Bible. This demonstrates that David knew the Lord already at this time—knew the Lord not just as being saved but as demonstrating spiritual maturity to an extent. This takes a little age, a little seasoning from life’s experiences and learning, in order to learn how to depend on the Lord.
David said as much to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight Goliath. He said as much to Goliath when he charged at him with his sling and stones. “You, Goliath, have insulted the God of Israel, so He has given your life into my hands!” That’s basically what David said. Little boys don’t do that!
In terms of pure military abilities, and adding size and training to the equation, David was no match for Goliath. He knew that! He wasn’t depending on himself. He depended on the Lord to defeat the giant. David merely made himself available to the Lord and was happy to do so. That is what we need to learn from the David vs. Goliath saga, not that this kindergartner stomped on the head of the giant. For that story you should read Jack and the Beanstalk!
Let’s not be content to be spiritually obtuse with the Bible, dear friends. Let’s take it seriously and spend time daily with the Word of God and the Lord Jesus, so that He can teach us His Word and spiritually mature us. It’s much more delightful to be spiritual adults than spiritual delinquents. Baby twaddle is indecorous in adults. Let’s make Jesus proud of us, shall we?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
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