I have no idea how many times I’ve read the story of David and Goliath, but long before I had read it for myself I had heard the tale. Even most unchurched people can give you a generalization of the story having never read one Word from the Bible. The greatest story of underdog to victor known to man, beyond a shadow of a doubt in my mind. And as I was drawn into the story this morning I found myself self standing on the hill above the valley of Elah with my pom-poms cheering David on as he fearlessly went to battle Goliath alone. I knew the story… I knew how it would end… but it didn’t stop the excitement that bubbled up in my soul as I read it again. Because going into the battle David wasn’t the warrior, he was a disrespected, part-time pizza delivery boy who kept a few sheep. But inside him beat the heart of warrior.
For background I recommend you read 1 Samuel 17, don’t take my word for any of it.
Only a chapter before teenager David had been anointed the new King of Israel and returned to the fields to tend sheep. But this day his father Jesse had sent out the would be king to deliver bread and cheese (Israeli Pizza) and a few other supplies to his brothers on the battlefield with King Saul. I have to wonder if there wasn’t a little bit of animosity among his brothers over David’s prognosticated career from the way that his older brother Eliab belittled him on the battlefield.
And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
Even this doesn’t discourage David when he responds, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
Lessons I learned from the Pizza guy…
#1 – they have good taste in food, but that’s not really a very spiritual lesson, so here’s my life application today.
There’s no glamour in the prep work
Long before I was given the opportunity to be coordinator of the teen department I was a ruddy shepherd. I felt a calling to work with youth, but having teens of my own, I warned the Pastor that there were days I didn’t even like kids. So he put me in the nursery. Ha! That’ll teach me for being honest. But that’s where I was and so I prepared my lessons as if I was teaching a future Charles Spurgeon, and in truth I may have been. But I took my job serious, and I fell in love with it! Year after year of serving Christ I was graduated up through the youth department, K-2nd grade, 3rd -5th Grade, Junior high and then finally to my current position with the teens, Sunday School Superintendent and speaking to women. I needed that time of preparation for what the future had in store.
David’s defense of the sheep prepared him for the defense of Israel. My simplistic bible studies for babies eased me into teaching and gave me a primary understanding necessary to explain the gospel to a “baby Christian” who may be 57 years old. If you’re in the toddler ministry it may be your calling, or it may be the Lord doing prep work. Work it well!
There’s no glory in grunt work
I doubt David was too excited to hear he was carrying “pizza” to his brothers, but it got him near the battle, and for that he was likely glad. His brother’s words were filled with indignation but rather than allowing his temper to get the best of him David used those words to fuel his passion for the purpose. “Is there not a cause?” I’m using creative license here, but I can hear David’s passion that’s been squelched on more than one occasion by a naysaying adult rising up in him. If you’re a passionate person, you get it when the naysayers don’t. You see the vision when everyone else is seeing defeat. Don’t let their doubt discourage you! Is there not a cause? Did God not put that purpose down in your heart for a reason? Carry the pizza, mop the floors, change the diapers, do whatever it is that needs done but watch for the open door.
There’s a Glitch in their team work
Saul and his army of men were facing Goliath alone, they had left God out of the equation. But not David… in verse 36 he tells Saul “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.”
Can you hear Davd, “God’s prepared me for this, and God’s still on the throne… He’ll take care of me.”
So… what does Satan have in front of you that’s too big to hit… remember it’s also too big to miss. All those years of delivering Pizza may just be ready to pay off!
