Septem(ber)

I opened my bible randomly to a page and started reading the story of David..We all know about how he was able to kill the Giant with just a stone....But at least I don't remember reading the story and paying attention to the other underlying messages.......

1) The Chosen one - he didn't look like he fit the part, he was small and young yet he was the one that God had anointed as the chose one. Even his father didn't think it was possible he was the "chosen one".

2) Obedience - His father obeyed the order to have him go to the king to play the harp whenever the king (Saul) had demons disturbing him. He went to the King and did his job well.

3) Courage and Curiosity - He went out and asked questions to understand what was going on when people were gathered around in Saul's land. That was where he learnt about the taunt of Goliath - asking if anyone could kill him they would rule over his people. He also learnt about what the King was offering which was freedom from taxes for the family of the person who could slay Goliath. With Courage he asked to be allowed to go after the giant - he boldly mentioned how his "simple" job of taking care of the sheep in the wilderness prepared him for this fight as he had in the past protected his herd and himself from bears and lions.

4) Being True to Himself - The kind offered David his amour to wear to protect him against the giant. However he didn't feel comfortable wearing the borrowed outfit and felt it was weighing him down. So David took it off and only went to face the giant with his stones and he successfully killed Goliath with one stone.

5) Life can be Unfair - After successfully killing the giant and saving the land, Saul ended up being jealous of him because some belly dancers dared hail David more than the King (he obviously forgot that this small boy was the one who killed the giant and saved them all). Being human and of short memory he had it in for David and was now determined to kill him. David as a result had to be on the run.

6) Forgiveness and Humility - David was able to flee because the King's son who had a soft spot for David told him about the King's plan to kill him. David as a result and of course with God's protection was saved from the Kings men who kept trying to kill him. This must surely have inconvenienced Davids life. He found an opportunity where Saul was delivered into his hands and he could have killed him without a second thought! What did he do instead? He cut off a piece of Saul's robe, bowed down in front of him still regarding him as his King and master and boldly told him how he could have killed him but he didn't, he showed him the piece of cloth he cut off his robe as evidence that he could indeed have harmed him but he chose not to, asked him how he could have decided to harm him David after all he had done. The King at the end of the day was remorseful and Thanked him and vowed not to kill him any longer.

This is purely my own interpretation......but real powerful learnings for everyday living