26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine [Pelishtim], and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine [Pelishtim], that he should defy the armies of the living Elohim?

David had no command on the subject ; but he listened with amazement to the unrepelled defiance of the God of Israel by an uncircumcised creature of pride.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine [Pelishtim] shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living Elohim.

David's answer reveals the secret of David's apparently rash courage, and exhibits the class of feelings that prompted him to a course so opposed to natural considerations of prudence, and calculated at the same time to effect the very purpose which God was beginning to work out by him.

The answer shows it was not mere courage that impelled him, but an intelligent recognition of God's relation to the house of Israel; in a word, faith.

Ways of Providence Ch 15

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine [Pelishtim] shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

David's answer reveals the secret of David's apparently rash courage, and exhibits the class of feelings that prompted him to a course so opposed to natural considerations of prudence, and calculated at the same time to effect the very purpose which God was beginning to work out by him.

The answer shows it was not mere courage that impelled him, but an intelligent recognition of God's relation to the house of Israel; in a word, faith.

Ways of Providence Ch 15

37 David said moreover, Yahweh that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine [Pelishtim]. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Yahweh be with thee.

David was a herd boy in one of the vales of Judea. He was in as complete an obscurity as any agricultural lad on a Devonshire farm at the present moment. God had purposed making him the head of His people Israel, and as this was to be accomplished by the consent of the people (II. Samuel v. 1,3), it was impossible the purpose could be carried out without " bringing out " David in some notable way before the people.

Ways of Providence Ch 15

47 And all this assembly shall know that Yahweh saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is Yahweh's, and he will give you into our hands.

Doubtless much of the zest of this prophetic speech was due to the Spirit of the Lord which came upon David on the day of his anointing, and abode with him from that day forward.—(I. Sam. xvi. 13.) Still David did not act mechanically in the case. He came forward with a faithful individual courage and acted with heroic initiative in the circumstances to which he was providentially introduced by his father's orders to visit his brothers in the army.

He came and found God defied, and his zeal for God flamed up, and led him to dare great things. The Lord worked with David, but a working David was up and doing to be worked with. David's faith generated impulse was supplemented by the guidance of the Spirit and the co-operation of the divine hand, but if there had been no zealous enterprising God believing David, there would have been no faith-generated impulse to supplement.

The result introduced David to the notice of Israel and established him in their confidence and admiration at a single blow.

Ways of Providence Ch 15.