David & Goliath: Lost

[Morrog]

No idea where to post this...this seems like the place though, looks like it's about Bible Study.

Anyway, I've found that throughout many tellings of David and Goliath there is something missing. From my understanding of the story it isn't about a little kid against a giant, it's about God's people against their enemies. The Philistines (bad spelling, sorry) are the enemies of God's people at the time. They're taunting God's people. "You think you're so good? So powerful? So holy? Then come FIGHT us." And guess what? Everyone is backing down! God's people refuse to fight. Well, by the end of the story we learn that God is more powerful than anything and all we have to do is trust.
I haven't often seen this portrayed when people tell the story of David and Goliath. They portary it as a fight between David and a giant. It shows either A) David is superhuman and/or B) You can overcome big things.
A is completely wrong. David was far from superhuman, he was the same as you and me and to think that puts you far from the meaning of the story. B is true, but it misses the point in my opinion. You can overcome big things WITH GOD. Which is of course not the entire meaning of the story, but one of the ever-lengthing depths of God's word.

I dunno, maybe it's just me. It's just a simple story, right? No...it isn't a simple story. Nothing in the Bible is simple. It's all important because all God speaks is important.

Ok, back to rocking out to Sanctus Real and Switchfoot.
Remember to keep in God's presence.

 

[MadeInOz]

I completely agree, I think that a lot of what people believe/are taught stems from the days of sunday school sadly. There has to be more to christianity than just reciting bible verses.

 

[jbarcher]

Hm, interesting.

And can you leave God's presence?

 

[RVincent]

Morrog makes a good point.

(Mat 21:16) And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"​

This is a quote from Psa. 8:2.

(Psa 8:2) Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.​

Psa 8 is a song "To the Chief Musician upon Muthlabben". Muthlabben = relating to the death of the champion. (I know that some Bibles have this as a superscript to Psa.9. That is incorrect.)

But if we stop here, we still have not discovered what came out of the mouth of the babe.

(1 Sam 17:45) Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

(1 Sam 17:46) This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

(1 Sam 17:47) And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.​

THAT was the perfected praise, and the appointed strength!

And it supports Morrog's point. David wasn't superhuman. It wasn't about David at all, but God. "You can overcome big things WITH GOD."

But nowadays, religion is found on video cassette with talking vegetables. Could you imagine what Veggie-Tales' version of the Apocalypse would be like? An old woman coming after them with a salad-shooter.

 

[TwinCrier]

Yup, David made it clear repeatedly that the power was all from God.
1 Samuel 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

Now that photo is scary. Poor Larry!!! LOL

 

[Morrog]

And can you leave God's presence?

As you can invite the presence of God with praise, so can it be shoved away. If you leave his presence through the all too many means in this world you are never alone but you can't hear God nor do his work.

RVincent: Thanks for the research there, heh. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the meaning of the story was lost.
Now...where in the world did you get a photo like that? O_O

 

[jbarcher]

How is it that you invite God's presence with praise? I mean, where did you get that idea from?

 

[Morrog]

Don't you feel God's wonderful presence fill the room as you sing praises to him or even worship him in your own special way?

Bible Link
Even the Bible shows that God becomes more present when you worship.

 

[RVincent]

Now...where in the world did you get a photo like that? O_O

I did a Google image search for "salad shooter".

 

[StAnselm]

From my understanding of the story it isn't about a little kid against a giant, it's about God's people against their enemies...

I dunno, maybe it's just me. It's just a simple story, right? No...it isn't a simple story. Nothing in the Bible is simple. It's all important because all God speaks is important.

Excellent point Morrog. I'd actually go further, myself. Graeme Goldsworthy in his wonderful book Gospel and Kingdom makes the point what we should see Jesus in this sory, as in all OT stories.

Instead of putting ourselves in David's shoes, and drawing the conclusion that we should be defeating all the Goliaths in our lives, we should look at the situation from the perspective of the rest of the Israelites. They didn't have to do anything. They merely watched while someone else won the battle for them.

In the same way, Jesus has won a mighty victory on our behalf. We didn't have to do a thing - there wasn't anything we could do.

Yes, Jesus truly is the Son of David...

 

[Morrog]

Another good point, StAnselm.