Not long after Samuel's visit to Bethlehem another messenger arrived for David, this time from the King. Saul was in distress and needed help. An evil spirit from the Lord was troubling him.
At his anointing the Spirit of God had come upon Saul, changing him into another man. Under its influence his way had been divinely directed, and so long as he yielded to it, his steps were ordered by the Lord. But he chose his own way, refusing counsel, and so the Spirit of the Lord was driven from him. Without it he was like a ship without a rudder, for "it is not in man that walks to direct his steps," (Jeremiah 10:23) and would certainly make shipwreck of himself and the nation committed to his care.
To prevent this it was necessary that he should be deprived of his influence to some extent. The Lord did not leave him entirely alone, for that would involved him in immediate ruin, but sent a spirit of evil, or sadness, upon him. Remorse and terror filled his mind, unfitting him for duty, and his state of mind soon became known among his servants.
They counseled him to send for a skillful player on the harp, who should dispel with cheering music his fits of melancholy. David's name was recommended before him as of one "cunning in playing, ... and a comely person," (1 Samuel 16:18) and Saul, hoping for relief, "sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep." (1 Samuel 16:19)
So David passed from the cottage at Bethlehem to the court of the king at Gibeah. The lessons learned in communion with the God of nature, the views of His power manifested in the works of His hands, and the experience of His love in the daily round of shepherd life, had given David the needed preparation for his new duties.
His simple faith and love and trust in God would form just the influence that Saul needed to be brought in contact with. The stricken heart of the afflicted king found comfort in David's ministrations, "and he loved him greatly. ... So Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." (1 Samuel 16:21,23)
Unhappily for him, the indecision which appeared in all his life kept him from retaining the blessing now granted.
Although armor-bearer to Saul, David still went to and fro between Bethlehem and the king's house, keeping the sheep in the intervals of his attendance on Saul. During one of his visits home, Israel was again invaded by the Philistines, and the forces of Israel met them a few miles from the border which separated the two countries. At his father's request, David set out for the camp, some fifteen miles distant, bearing provisions for his three oldest brothers, who were among the soldiers of Saul.
While David conversed with his brethren on the field of battle, a strange, imposing figure stalked into the open space between the two armies, and defied Israel to produce a man who could stand before him in single combat. His appearance struck terror to the hearts of Israel, and as he thundered out his challenge they fled before him.
Truly it needed a brave man to face this giant. Standing nearly twelve feet high, with a coat of mail that weighed a hundred weight and a half, and armed with an enormous spear, the iron head of which alone weighed twenty pounds, there seem but little hope of finding a champion bold enough to meet him.
Yet greater things than this had been done in the history of Israel, many a time. It was only one generation ago that the ark of God, captive and undefended by human strength, had gone through the cities of the Philistines like a destroying army, compelling reverence at every stage, and finally returning in acknowledged triumphed to its own country; its sole defense being that it bore the name of the Lord.
The Israelites seemed to have forgotten, so it was no wonder that the Philistines failed to remember, that the name of the Lord was a strong tower, (Proverbs 18:10) for all who put their trust in Him. (1 Chronicles 5:20) That was why one army gloried in the confidence which Goliath inspired in them, while the other, looking at his bulk, groaned in despair.
One person alone, probably the youngest and weakest in all the camp, remembered that the battle is the Lord's, and that His arm is not grown feeble. (Isaiah 59:1) David came before Saul and announced his intention of going out against the Philistine. It was Saul's place to go, as leader of the people, but his trust was in his own strength, and now, in that hour of need, it failed him.
He attempted to set before David the perils of his undertaking, but David was not going in his own strength, and felt no doubt as to the issue of the conflict. Refusing Saul's armor, he took his sling and five smooth stones out of the brook and drew near to meet the Philistine. Goliath seemed disgusted at the insolence of a mere youth in coming out to fight with himself, and boasted loudly of what he would do to his adversary, but David declared that: "All this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with the sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:47)
Said he: "You 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." (1 Samuel 17:45)
It was a fearfully unequal contest. On one side was a man, bigger and stronger than all others; on the other the great and powerful Creator of heaven and earth, before whom all the nations are as a drop of a bucket. He might have gone forth against Goliath in terrible majesty, shaking the earth with thunder and smiting His antagonist with the lightning, but, being all-powerful, He was able to accomplish just as much with a smooth stone in the hand of a youth.
There was no reason why Saul, or anyone else in the army, should not have been used by the Lord to lay low the pride of the Philistines, except that they all had too much of it in their own hearts. They thought so much of themselves that the Lord was overlooked, and seemed too far off for any practical purpose. Yet God had called them that they should bear His name, and be His representatives, and in His name, they might have done what David did.
This experience is written for our learning that we may know in what our strength consists, and that we should learn not to fear difficulties or temptations on account of their great size and seeming strength. Our victory or defeat will depend entirely on whether we meet the enemy in the name of the Lord. Christ says: "Whatsoever you shall ask in my name that will I do." (John 14:13)
It was now apparent to all Israel that David was most suited to be their leader. In allowing another, young and inexperienced, to take the place of danger as the champion of Israel, Saul had confessed himself unfit for the post. David was no better in himself than anyone else, as he sadly proved in after years, but while he allowed God to work His will through him, great good would come to others thereby.
God alone could help the people, and only as David revealed God, would his life and reign be a blessing. He realized this when he wrote the 44th Psalm: "You are my King, O God: command deliverance for Jacob. Through You will we push down our adversaries; through your name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our adversaries, and have put them to shame that hate us. In God have we made our boast all the day long, and we will give thanks unto your name for ever." (Psalm 44:4-8)--Present Truth, May 26, 1898--1 Samuel 16 & 17
E.J. Waggoner