THE DAVID LEGACY: THE PRIESTLY & KINGLY NATURE OF FAITH

David was born in Bethlehem to Jesse, a descendant of the Tribe of Judah (1 Samuel 16:1-13). He was the youngest of eight sons and grew up as a shepherd, caring for his family’s flock (1 Samuel 16:11, Psalm 23). The Bible records how David goes back and forth to feed his father’s sheep.

On a fateful day, Jesse, David’s father, sent him on an errand that would alter the trajectory of his life. It was simple, to take some bread to his brothers. However, as God would have it, David witnessed a drama that had caused the Jewish soldiers sleepless nights. Goliath, the giant Philistine, was on the loose, looking for someone to devour. David curiously inquired about Goliath and the reward for putting him down. 

Well… I am sure David saw something that the other soldiers did not see. Consider what he said, “Who is this pagan Philistine, anyway, that he should defy the armies of God?” The Jewish soldiers, however, did not see themselves as the army of God; otherwise, they would have known that the God of Israel is infinitely bigger than Goliath. 

The only person who considered Goliath himself small was David. He said to Saul boldly, “Don’t worry about a thing; I will fight this Philistine.” Of course! Nobody would take the word of a boy seriously; he might be delusional or simply could not understand the extent of the assignment. Instead of rethinking the situation, David confidently went ahead to recount his experience of killing the bear and the lion with his bare hands to save the sheep in his care. He had experienced a strong backing of the Almighty God who helped him win previous battles as a shepherd. 

Typical of David, he had an answer of faith to counter every one of Goliath’s demeaning words. He had also seen ahead of time what would happen to Goliath (your victories are a product of what you see) and understands the capacity of his God.

David had won private victories bigger than Goliath – battles that would have made him dead but had only made him strong, strengthening his faith in God. And as one of the most epic stories in the Bible, David revealed the power of God in battles by conquering Goliath.

David went on to become the King of Israel, anointed and called by God Himself, disregarding his position in his family and physical posture. God was more interested in the man who knew how to depend on and give his heart to Him. A man concerned about the heart of the Father, knowing what He would require Israel to do. A man who understood honor and obedience. 

David’s character arc through the lens of scriptures is such a great story, however, believers must understand that the stories of the bible, including the story of David, are not just meant to entertain or provide a historical account, but to teach, instruct, correct, and train us in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:15). The various roles David’s life portrays offer a wealth of invaluable lessons and spiritual insights that can help us shape our Christian journey.

Also Read: THE JOHN THE BAPTIST LEGACY: A FRONTRUNNER’S REVELATION OF FAITH

DAVID, THE SHEPHERD

David recounts the story of how he fought and triumphed in the wilderness to save his sheep from the paws of the bear and the jaws of the lion. This is in line with the story Jesus told of the prodigal son and the shepherd who went in search of one lost sheep, showing us the intentionality and demonstration of love from the Father over the sheep. We are certainly loved by our Father. 

Psalm 23 shows that David understands and has learned from the Great Shepherd. The popular psalm helps us see the many aspects of God as a shepherd, our provider, protector, teacher, guide, and preserver. If we see God as our shepherd, He can be all these things to us.

David’s capacity to lead miserable men, outcasts of families, into mighty warriors showcases his shepherding heart (1 Samuel 22:1-2). He treated men from all walks of life with compassion. His story helps us understand that God gives us abilities because He knows we can handle them. As a child of the Great Shepherd, David shows us that we can lead others through rigorous training, teaching, and loving those who need it.

DAVID, THE PSALMIST

David is credited with writing at least 73 Psalms out of the 150 Psalms in the Bible. His Psalms are known for their emotional depth, poetic beauty, and spiritual insight. As one of the most expressive men in the Bible, David has written more psalms than any other character in the Bible.

David expressed himself through songs, teaching us to do the same. There is a song for every season. Psalms show us that we can talk to God about everything. God is ready to listen, and prayers surely get answered (Psalm 62:8, 142:2).

No wonder David is a psalmist; he surely knows his God, knows how to ensure God moves on his behalf, and knows how to give God all the glory. The Book of Psalms stems from a man whose heart is filled with intense desire, love, and gratitude for God. 

DAVID, THE GIANT SLAYER

Interestingly, the giant, Goliath, whom David slew, who may seem big in our eyes, proved to be a relatively easy hurdle for David, considering how easily he slew Goliath.

However, what appears easy is the result of a prepared and trained heart. We can learn the following from David:

1. Faith conquers fear: only a trained man can volunteer to slay a giant in his various walks of life (1 Samuel 17:32-37).
2.  Experience and training prepare us for greatness: an experienced man knows what he needs. Years of training and skill development sharpened David’s wit to pick five stones plus a sling, and not a sword and armor, to slay Goliath with rare precision (1 Samuel 17:40, 49-50).
3. God’s presence is our greatest armor: a man who understands that God is on his side will not fear Goliath, knowing that true strength lies not in external sources but in our relationship with God.

These lessons are essential for overcoming our giants. David’s life as a shepherd, psalmist, and giant slayer shows us the valuable lessons the Bible teaches us. As we follow David’s life, we can see that there is much to apply to our daily lives.