Making the Connection About David: Blessings and Miracles from God all Around Us When we Put our Trust and Faith in Him!

 

We all know about the famous statute of David by Michelangelo that is in Florence Italy. It is one of the one piece marble wonders that exists and is greatly visited each year by many around the world. David by Michelangelo represents youth and strength. I recently made the connection when watching Rick Steve's Europe PBS show when he visited Florence and showed the David statue and briefly mentioned this relationship. This is the same David from the Bible story David and Goliath! David is the son of Jesse, also spelled Isai, from the Old Testament, the father of King David. Jesse was the son of Ohed, and the grandson to Boaz and Ruth. Jesse was a farmer and sheep breeder in Bethlehem. David was the youngest of Jesse's eight sons, the runt some would say. Yet, he was chosen to fight the Philistine, Goliath. In the Bible in 1 Samuel clearly describes King Saul’s fall from favor of God alongside David’s rise. King Saul is shown to be a man who was unqualified to lead God’s people, while David is shown as a faithful subject to Saul, unwilling to do anything to overthrow Saul. Instead, David’s rise to the kingship is clearly revealed to be the work of God. In 1 Samuel, we find King Saul of Israel fighting with the Philistines.  King Saul partially obeys God by attacking and destroying the Amalekites. But he saves some of the best for himself and his men. When Samuel confronts him over it, he excuses his actions, claiming he saved the best to offer as a sacrifice. Samuel responds with one of the most significant passages in the Old Testament: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” God does not care all that much about our outward acts of worship. He is much more interested in our obedience to Him.  People look at the outward appearances of a person and their achievements, but God looks at what is on the inside. David was the runt of the litter in his family, but played beautiful music and was so admired. God saw something very special in David and made him into the second, and greatest, King of Israel. David’s battle with Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 demonstrates that human might and power is no match for God’s strength. Humanly speaking, David stood no chance of beating Goliath. It was the ultimate mismatch. And the battle between them was as short as expected. But the outcome was totally unexpected to everyone but David. He trusted in God to help him overcome, and he was victorious in this battle. This story of David's trust and faith in God is so beautiful. God is on our side at all times, when we trust and have faith in Him. The story of the young David and the statute of the young David both are so beautiful and really are blessings and miracles from our God! How beautiful!