Two His Glory Publishing
Presents
How God Taught David Trust
By Sandy Zabel
© 2012 by Sandy Zabel of Two His Glory Publishing
This story is written for your use and enjoyment. I want my writing of God's Word to be available so as many people as possible may hear it and come to know my Lord Jesus Christ. You have my permission to copy this story but please keep my name on it as the author.
Thank you.
Sandy Zabel
Zabelink2@gmail.co
ISBN #978 1 4658 2471 4
Smashwords Edition
Dedicated to all the people who truly love the Lord and want His love to be known.
How God Taught David Trust
Young David looked at the sturdy sling in his hand. He had been practicing for hours. What else did he have to do? His Father sent him out to watch the sheep every day so he always brought his sling along. He really didn't mind most days because he enjoyed being out doors. It also kept him away from his seven rowdy older brothers. He liked to wrestle with them for awhile but seven brothers who constantly wrestled and fought was hard on his young body. He knew he was tough because of all the wrestling he did and he also knew his brothers cared for him and wouldn't hurt him on purpose but sometimes they just forgot how strong they were.
David stooped to pick up another handful of stones. Those same brothers had taught him how to use his sling and challenged him to become accurate in his aim. It felt good to compete with them and be able to beat them at something.
David fitted a stone into the sling's pocket and looked around for another target. That small twig on the tree beyond the pond would do just fine. It was away from the sheep so it wouldn't scare them.
The sheep were easy to watch. At first they were nervous when he was around them and tried to keep a distance from him. He started singing to them and sometimes brought his lyre along and played music. Music seemed to soothe the sheep and when they learned the sound of his voice they followed him when he called them. The long days gave him plenty of time to make up the music which he enjoyed.
Lately he had been thinking about Yahweh, the God of the Israelites. His Dad had times of devotions every morning before the days work started and again in the evening before bed time. David had heard about God for as long as he could remember. It seemed like now that he was twelve and starting to take on more responsibility, he thought more about God. His songs praised God for what He was doing in David's life. He thanked God for his skills and for his Dad trusting him with the responsibility of the sheep. He thanked God for the beauty of nature and the time to enjoy it.
He found he could write his emotions into long prayer like poems to God and it helped him get rid of his sad or angry feelings quicker. That was good because it wasn't wise being the youngest of eight brothers and having a bad temper. David smiled to himself. It was downright dangerous.
A loud noise among the sheep drew his attention. A bear had come out of the forest and was chasing the sheep closest to the trees. David fitted another stone in his sling as he ran toward the bear.
"Yahweh God, You have given me the care of these sheep and now I need Your help. That bear is bigger and stronger than I am but with Your strength, I can defeat him. WE can defeat him."
David hesitated a moment as he got closer and saw the huge size of the bear. As David hesitated the thought came to him; David, you asked for My help. Do you believe I am going to help you or not?
David started twirling his sling. Between clenched teeth he growled, "I believe You will help me!" as he ran forward. The bear had caught a young sheep and held it beneath its big paw. David loosed the stone just as the bear noticed his approach. She looked up at him as the stone struck her on the nose. She let out a roar of pain but continued to hold the sheep to the ground. David put another stone in his sling and twirling it, let it fly. It hit the bear on the ear with a loud thud. She reared up on her back legs looking at David. The sheep scrambled to her feet and ran a safe distance away.
David knew he was the target the bear would be coming after now that she had lost her lunch. He darted behind a sturdy tree and fitted another stone in his sling. He wanted to hit her with another stone before she had a chance to charge him. Quickly he twirled the sling and aimed for her tender belly. When the stone hit home she let out a roar of anger and pain and swatted at the stone like a gnat.
David took the time to grab up another handful of rocks and started pelting her as fast as he could load his sling. She roared each time a stone hit her but was becoming less angry and more bewildered with each attack. Blood was seeping from the many wounds caused by the stones. David fitted a larger stone in his sling and aimed for the bear's eye. He knew he had to send the stone into her head to finally kill her. The stone went true and the huge bear fell to the ground with a final growl then lay still.
David leaned against a large rock for a few minutes while he thanked God for delivering him from the huge paws and teeth of the bear. He thought about why he had hesitated and asked God to forgive him for doubting His help when David had asked for it.
As he thought about his doubts he went to find the sheep to see if it was injured and found it didn't have more than a few scratches and teeth marks. As he doctored the injured sheep David realized he had learned to trust God to help when he asked. He prayed that if he found himself in another dangerous situation, he would know God was there helping him.
It wasn't many days later when David had a chance to test his newfound trust in God. As he sat under a large tree playing his lyre he heard a great roar from the nearby forest. Immediately the sheep started running and a large lion leaped from an overhanging branch and caught a ewe. David prayed for God's help to save the sheep and protection for himself as he ran toward the lion. He grabbed a knife he carried with him and a large tree limb laying near by.
As the lion saw David it crouched over the fallen sheep. David started swinging the large limb to hold the animal's attention while he tried to get close enough to plunge his knife into its heart. Suddenly the lion gave a great leap. David only had time to jamb the tree limb into its mouth before he was knocked to the ground. The lion gave a roar of pain as the end of the branch struck his tender throat and went on past David knocking him to the ground.
David rolled to the side and scrambled to his feet holding his knife in front of him and trying to find another large limb. Instead his hand located a good sized rock which he grasped and raised above his head. As the lion turned to attack again, David threw the stone as hard as he could. The stone struck the animal in the face just as he was about to leap on David a second time. Turning slightly to the side, the lion leaped past David. Quickly David plunged his knife into the lion's side behind the front leg as it went by. It landed beyond David and crumpled to the ground where it lay panting as blood poured from its wound. Slowly the lion's breathing became slower until it finally stopped altogether.
David sank to the ground exhausted. He stared at the lion and was amazed that he had been able to killed it. As he rested and looked at the lion he realized he could never have killed it by himself. God had certainly been with him, giving him the strength when he needed it. He raised his hands in praise to God and shouted his thanks when he realized he hadn't hesitated this time. He had asked for God's help and he believed it would be there when he needed it. As his strength returned David stood and looked at the magnificent animal for another moment then went in search of the fallen sheep.
The sheep was still lying where the lion had attacked it. It was breathing but David could see it was stunned. He sat on the ground beside the ewe's head and pulled her into his lap. Quietly he sang to her and stroked her neck and side. He could see several deep cuts and she had lost a lot of blood but none of her injuries were fatal. As he sang and held her, the ewe's eyes became less fearful and she started to realize she was safe in David's arms.
When the ewe finally lifted her head David knew she was over the worst of her fright and started to treat her wounds. He cleaned them out with water from his water bag then tied the wool to draw the skin tight over the cuts. When he had done all he could do for her, he helped her to her feet. She stayed close to him and finally started grazing on the grass nearby..
Every time David looked at the lion he was amazed at the power he had witnessed which could have only been from God. He praised and thanked God for his safety and the safety of the sheep. Not wanting the magnificent lion to be torn apart by wild animals or wild animals to come to the sheep's grazing area, David piled dirt over the lion then covered it with stones. He realized the mound of stones looked like an alter so he decided to dedicate it to God. It would be a reminder for him of God's protection from the danger.
It was several months later when David's three oldest brothers went to the Valley of Elah to join the army of King Saul to fight against the Philistines. The Philistines had been threatening to invade the Israelite's homeland for many months and King Saul had scouts watching the borders. Now the Philistines army was camped on one side of the Valley of Elah. King Saul had raised an army to fight if necessary and most of the young men of Israel had come to join him.
One morning after devotions David's Father motioned him to stay behind when the others got up to leave.
"David, your Mama baked some loaves of bread yesterday for your brothers. Instead of watching the sheep today I would like you to take the loaves to your brothers in the Valley of Elah. If you go quickly you can get there and back in one day," Jesse said. David followed him into the kitchen where David's Mother was packing a shoulder bag with all kinds of food, not just bread.
"That is enough Mama," Jesse said to his wife, "David has to carry that heavy bag the whole way, not a mule."
"Ok, Ok. I just want them to have enough to eat," she said as she handed David the bag and gave him a kiss. "Be safe."
David made sure he had his sling and a few stones in his pouch and started out. Ever since fighting the lion he always kept his sling with him.
By walking fast he arrived at his brother's camp before midmorning. David couldn't see anyone around the camp but he could hear shouting from over the hill. As he walked that way he saw all of King Saul's army standing on the hillside looking at an enormous man on the opposite side of the valley. The giant was shouting challenges at the Israelites while the Philistine army behind him laughed and jeered at King Saul's army.
"Why have you come out? I am Champion of the Philistine army. You are only King Saul's servants. The Philistine gods are powerful and give great power to the Philistine army. The God of Israel is weak and his soldiers are cowards. Send a man to fight me – one on one. If he kills me we will be your slaves. If I kill him you will be our slaves. Come out and fight, you cowards!" Goliath bellowed from the hillside and shook his sword in the air.
"Why is the army of the Lord letting this man say these things?" David asked the men standing around him. "What will King Saul give the man who rids Israel of this pest?"
A man nearby looked at David with fear in his eyes. "King Saul will give great wealth to who ever kills Goliath and I've also heard he will give his daughter in marriage, but look at him. It would be certain death to go against him!" David couldn't believe there was so much fear in all of Israel's army. He heard someone say Goliath had shouted these same insults for forty days, twice every day.
David's oldest brother, Eliab grabbed David's arm and pulled him off to one side. "What are you doing here?" he said angrily. "Who's taking care of the sheep? I know your insolence and how wicked your heart is. You just came to see the battle!"
"What have I done now?" David asked. "It was just a question." Turning to another man he asked what King Saul had promised the man who killed Goliath. Again he heard great wealth and a daughter to marry. It perplexed David why no one had stood up to Goliath's challenge. David asked the men around him why no one in the army of the God of Israel was willing to fight Goliath. The men looked at him with disgust seeing just a youth.
When King Saul heard what David was saying, he sent for him and asked him what he had been saying and why. David looked at the King and said, "I have been asking why no one in the army of the God of Israel is willing to go out and fight this bully. Don't let anyone fear what Goliath has been saying, I, your servant will go fight with this Philistine."
King Saul looked at David in amazement. "You can't go fight that giant, you are only a youth while he has been a warrior since his youth."
Thoughtly David returned King Saul's look. "While I was tending my Father's flock of sheep they were attacked by a lion. He took a lamb from my flock so I went after him and took the lamb from his mouth. He attacked me so I killed him. A bear also tried to take a lamb and I killed it too. This Philistine will be like one of them. The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
King Saul studied the confident youth standing before him. "Go, and may the Lord be with you."
Before dismissing David King Saul insisted David had to wear his own suit of armor for protection. After David was dressed in the armor he moved around the room trying it out. It was too big and made David clumsy.
"I can't wear this. I have not tested it and I feel slow. I will just have to trust the Lord to protect me from the giant" He took the armor off and thanked King Saul for his concern.
On his way to where Goliath stood David stooped and picked up five smooth stones from the creek and put them in his waist pouch. He tested the strength of his sling then approached the giant Goliath.
When Goliath saw a youth coming across the valley he snorted in disgust. "Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks? Come to me and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field," he yelled.
David stopped and looked calmly at Goliath. "You come to me with a sword, a spear and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands."
"We will see if your God can protect you from me. You don't stand a chance," Goliath said angrily as he raised his sword and charged toward David.
David put his largest stone into his sling. "Lord God you protected me from the attack of the bear and the lion. Each time you strengthened my trust in You. Now I go against this giant enemy of Israel knowing You are my Protector and will give me the victory. Thank You Father," David prayed aloud as he ran toward Goliath. Twirling his sling he loosed the stone. With great speed it hurtled toward Goliath and hit him in the center of his forehead. With a surprised expression on his faced he stopped. Slowly his eyes rolled up, his knees lost strength, and he crashed to the ground. Both armies stood in silence to stunned to move. Had the giant really fallen? David ran forward and quickly grabbed Goliath"s sword. Lifting it high above his head he severed Goliath's head from his body. Grabbing Goliath's head by the hair he lifted it high.
David shouted so both armies could hear, "The God of Israel has given us victory this day over the giant of the Philistines and over the Philistine army. Praise the name of Yahweh."
The End
Study Questions
1. Can you name the ways God used to teach David to trust Him?
2. Why do you think God made the lessons so hard?
3. Has God put circumstances in your life to teach you to trust Him?
Can you name them?
4. If you can't think of any situations God has used to teach you trust, would you be willing to ask God to show them to you?
5. Do you want to learn to trust God more?