A CHARACTER STUDY OF A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART (PART 3) - A MAN WHO HONOURS GOD’S NAME (1 SAM 17:15-23)

Dear Members in Christ,

A character study of a man after God’s own heart (Part 3) - A man who honours God’s Name (1 Sam 17:15-23)

In the continuing series of articles, we studied the character of David in his youth, he was truly a “man after God’s own heart.” He was careful in his smallest duties such as watching over the flock whilst his brothers were drafted into the army to battle the Philistines. In this article, we shall examine another character of David which is worth our emulation. That is the character of honouring the Name of God in our lives. This is the character of one who is careful to guard the holiness and purity of God’s Name. It is shown in David’s courage in his personal life and conduct, and we would do well to learn from it. The account in 1 Samuel 17 describes how a Philistine giant appeared in the battlefield. This is a man of great imposing stature, for the Bible describes him as being over nine feet in height.   

“And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.” 1 Samuel 17:3,4

This was a terrifying sight for the Israelite warriors. Not only was Goliath great in stature, but his armament was equally imposing and frightening. His armour weighs five thousand shekels of brass, estimated to be about 50 kilograms. The thickness of his spear staff was that of “a weaver’s beam” which is roughly 6 or 7 centimeters in diameter. The metallic spear tip alone was a chunk of metal about seven kilograms. He was really a fearsome Philistine fighting machine. But what Goliath had in physique, he certainly lacked in spiritual understanding. He very foolishly defied the True and Living God!

When the Name of God was blasphemed, David stood up while others feared

Goliath issued a challenge which was a common battlefield practice in ancient times. He called out the army of Saul in 1 Samuel 17:9 to send forth a champion, a representative to fight on behalf of Israel. Goliath said, “If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.” This was a humiliating challenge of one who was sure of his own prowess and ultimate victory. It is like an ancient way of saying, “If your champion fails, you must all kowtow to us.”

This challenge was not just an insult to Saul and his warriors. Goliath also blasphemed for the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” The word “defy” here is used in a derogatory sense, i.e. to reproach, to defame, to blaspheme against a person. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, Goliath defied the armies of Israel – the covenant people of the Lord God Almighty. Saul and his army’s response was weak and faithless. We read in 1 Samuel 17:11,  

“When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.”

Dearly beloved, the accounts given in the Bible are as much a lesson for our emulation and sometimes an admonition for us to shun ungodly behaviour. In this instance, the situation forced Saul to show his cowardice. In comparison, David the “man after God’s own heart” will rise to the occasion as we shall see.

David saw Goliath’s threats as a reproach against God’s Name

David saw and heard Goliath’s reproach. He was incensed, and he saw the need to stand up against this uncircumcised Philistine who was defying and blaspheming God’s army.

“And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26

Quite rightly, David saw Goliath’s challenge as a reproach against the Living God, for Goliath was defaming the “armies of the Living God.” As far as David was concerned, honouring and defending God’s Name is the responsibility of God’s people, and it is a worthy cause – he asks “is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:29). He pleaded with each of them, is it not right that we stand for and defend the holiness and purity of God’s Name?

David was a true example of a “man after God’s own heart.” We would do well to learn from this account of his courage. We must be alert when God’s Name or God’s Word is blasphemed. Just as David demonstrated, the test of our love for God is about how important we view the honour of God’s Name. Brothers and sisters, we should be forewarned. In the end times, the Lord Jesus warns in Matthew 24 about falsehood and false prophets. In the past decades we have seen churches falling away, succumbing to worldliness, unequal yoke, liberal theology and the erosion of honour for the Word of God.

Let us stand firmly upon God’s Word. The Bible-Presbyterian church stands for the inerrancy and the preservation of God’s Word, and we stand against the blasphemy of mixing the light and darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14). We urge all believers to strengthen their knowledge of God’s Word and to be diligent and devoted in our obedience to the Word of God. May God help us. Amen.

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor