INTRODUCTION
Names both reflect and are windows into character. Sarai (Sarah), Abram (Abraham), Simon (Peter), and Saul (Paul) all had new names that reflected their unique spiritual experience. God has many names, each of which is a window of understanding into His character: El Roi (“The God Who Sees,” Gen 16:13), Qedosh Yisrael (“The Holy One of Israel,” Lev 19:1–2), Yahweh Shalom (“The Lord Is Peace,” Judg 6:24). Reflecting on God’s names, David writes, “And those who know your name put their trust in you” (Ps 9:10, ESV), and expresses his faith in God as Yahweh Tsebaoth (“Lord of Hosts”) in the battle with Goliath.
I. DAVID’S BACKGROUND
David’s job as a shepherd was dangerous, for Israel teemed with wild animals—lions and bears, which he would fight off with his sling and rod (1 Sam 17:34–36). After an attack, rather than hustling the flock to safety, David went after the lion to rescue the bloodied, stolen lamb, showing that no cause was a lost cause for David (as nobody is a lost cause for the Son of David!) Whilst in the fields, he had time to reflect on the character of God, and in the beauty of nature and the solitude of his work, he gained profound insights into God’s character. He learned of Yahweh Roi—“The Lord Is My Shepherd”—a name for God, and expressed his understanding in song (Ps 23). As with David, so God reveals Himself today to those engaged in difficult, dangerous, or menial work, yet who are open to Him, no matter their age. Young people, listen for God, look for God, learn of God, and He will reveal Himself to you.
David came from a difficult family. His mother barely appeared, and his seven older brothers were either hostile or indifferent to him (Ps 69:8). When the family threw a feast in honor of Samuel, David was not invited (1 Sam 16:6–10). When David came to the battle, he had to face Eliab’s baseless accusations (1 Sam 17:28). As the youngest, he was forced to do the most menial task in the family—looking after the sheep. He also had a difficult boss, Saul. Just as the Spirit of God came upon David, so the Spirit of God departed from Saul, and an evil spirit tormented him (1 Sam 16:13–14). Imagine how David must have felt! He knew he was the anointed of God, yet he faithfully served the brooding and paranoid king whom God had abandoned, allowing God to take care of the bigger issues. Likewise, we are to faithfully serve difficult bosses, even those we consider far from God.
This, then, was David’s background: a difficult job, a difficult family, a difficult boss. Yet, at no time did David complain, criticize, or confront. He was faithful in his job, peaceful in his family, an agent of healing for his boss. And most importantly, being open to God, He gained insights into God’s character that prepared him for the battle ahead.
II. DAVID’S BATTLE
Today, as then, our world is teeming with enemies, and God’s timid armies long for a glimpse of His power. Oh to see God acting to defend His name! In 1 Samuel 17:32, 37, David offered to fight, because he knew God was with him. David had been faithful with his earthly father’s flock; now he was called to champion the cause of his heavenly Father’s flock. Small victories bring with them promise of greater victories, so bring on the giants! David refused Saul’s armor and, after choosing five smooth stones from the riverbed, drew near to Goliath. David would not trust in another man’s armor, but in his trusted equipment. We may see others doing wonders for God, but we are not to copy them, hoping to find similar success. Thank God for those who dare to minister using the gifts He has given them! The Philistine approached the Israelite champion, and saw it was only a shepherd boy, armed with a shepherd’s rod and a slingshot (1 Sam 17:42–44). Goliath cursed David and promised to feed his flesh to the birds of the air and the animals of the field. Goliath represents the fragile certainty of physical strength, the pride of self-exaltation, the vanity of popular acclaim, yet David stood before him calmly, manifesting a quiet trust in divine strength and the determination to glorify God by carrying out His will. Goliath advanced with sword, spear, and shield. Clad in bronze armor, his spear tip was iron, the latest weaponry of the late Bronze Age (17:7), but David fought in the name of Yahweh Tsebaoth, a name that emphasizes God’s rule and sovereignty over every power in the universe. It is not the weapons in our hands that count, but the banner under which we march! A whole world is waiting, including Israel then and today, to know that our God is alive. David triumphed, and instead of Goliath feeding David to the beasts of the field, Goliath’s body was fed to the beasts of the field. How is this possible? God acted so that “all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s” (17:47, ESV). Why, though, was David so confident of victory?
III. DAVID’S BELIEF
According to Psalm 46:1–7, Yahweh Tsebaoth is a refuge for His people, present with them in their darkest hour. We can be still. Why? Because Yahweh Tsebaoth is with us, no matter what is happening in our world. God promised David that one day he would be king (2 Sam 7:8). David trusted Yahweh Tsebaoth as a covenantkeeping God, so whatever else happened in the battle with Goliath, David would not die that day because God’s promise had not yet been fulfilled. And David looked forward to Yahweh Tsebaoth as the coming King of glory, strong and mighty, mighty in battle, the all-conquering Messiah for God’s covenant people (Ps 24:7–10). Yes, David could overcome the giants of his day because he knew Yahweh Tsebaoth by name and could put his trust in Him. Yahweh Tsebaoth fights for His people. Yahweh Tsebaoth is a “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1, ESV). Yahweh Tsebaoth is a covenantkeeping God; those who worship Him can build their lives on His covenant promises. He is the coming King of kings and Lord of lords.
APPLICATION
Today, whatever giants stalk our hearts or homes, we can likewise put our trust in the Lord of Hosts, and ask Him to fight and overcome those giants so that we, like David, may sing hymns of praise to the One who delivered us. Jesus promises that when we get to heaven, “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it” (Rev 2:17, ESV). Our new names will reflect our unique spiritual experience and Spiritshaped character. What a promise!
Conrad Vine, DMin, is the president of Adventist Frontier Missions, Berrien Springs, MI, USA.
