Thursday, April 18, 2013

Being David

When we chose our children's names, we didn't consult "name your baby books," or check the meaning of their names. I guess if we were worried about what their names meant, we probably would have given them different names. They aren't very creative. They mean things like "wood worker, a person that lives by the stream, industrious, and barrel maker."

Instead we named them after people. Our oldest has the middle name of both of his grandfathers. Our second is named after a latter-day apostle, and my husband's late brother. Our third is named after a mission companion and several great-grandfathers. And our last is named after an ancestor and both of our mother's middle names put together. 

My husband's brother was named David. We were talking about our names one day and I asked Max if he knew where the name David had originally come from. He told me he didn't know. I tried to prompt him by telling him that he was the guy that slayed the huge giant. He still didn't know. So I asked him, "have you ever heard the story of David and Goliath?" He just stared at me blankly, wondering who in the world I was talking about. 

So today I decided that I needed to fix the error of my ways and introduce my kids to one of the greatest Bible stories of all time! I read to them out of The Good Book, and I realized that I don't think I had ever read that story in it's entirety straight from the bible itself. I guess I probably did when I was in High School since I read the whole Old Testament. Yet, it had been a long time!

I remember learning this story as a child. I loved it! And there is a veggie tales movie about it, that is probably the closest I have come listening to the story in the last couple of years. Anyway, I was reminded today of why it is such a cool story.

I could rehash the whole thing, but that would be boring--and you know the condensed version anyway!! Yet, what stuck out to me this time was David's courage. He was a young kid. He was so confused as to why everyone was so scared of this 9-10 foot tall guy. He didn't care that this amazingly large man was also skilled and trained in battle. He knew he had come against the people of God, therefore David knew that the guy had no chance. 

David tired to dress for battle but there wasn't any armor that fit or weapons that he was skilled with. So he picked up 5 stones from the creek and went out to meet Goliath. (P.S. David was pretty cool to begin with, he had killed a lion and a bear before.) There was some awesome trash talk that went on between the two. I love how David always brings in back to God. "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."

And this is the part that I absolutely LOVE: (1 Samuel 17:48) "And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David HASTED, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine."

David didn't doubt for even a second that he, a mere boy, could defeat this GIANT. He ran straight for him! He knew that God was more powerful that this man. 

Do we know that? Do we know that whatever problem we are wrestling with in our lives right now that God is bigger than it? Do we shrink or cower from our trials? Or do we charge them like David? I know I cower more than I should. Today I need to pray for the faith and courage of David. 

1 comment:

  1. What a fantastic insight. Thank you for sharing. I think many times, I say that I am meeting my trials with faith, but this has given me an entirely new perspective. Thanks!

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