Sunday’s Blessing – 10/19/2025 – Familiarity
In our study of King David, we looked at the aftermath of killing a giant. However, there were still a couple of things to look at from last week when we read about the encounter between David and Goliath. First of all, when David went to see Saul before facing Goliath, King Saul tried to convince David to wear the king’s armor. Before rejecting it, David actually tried it on. There is something to be learned from this. Before going out to meet the giant based on his own experience, David at least took time to consider some new information.
Once the armor was on his body, David knew he could not fight effectively because the armor did not fit him. It was made exclusively for King Saul, who was much larger in stature than David. But that was not the reason David rejected the additional protection. He said, “I cannot wear these things because they haven’t been proven by him in battle.” David had been in battles but never while wearing armor; much less someone else’s armor.
He went with what he knew had worked for him in the past. He then headed out to meet Goliath and on the way he stopped at the stream nearby and picked up some rocks. Samuel comments, “He (David) placed them in his bag, even in his pouch.” For some reason, this caught my attention. It reminded me of something Ray Hughes shared about the “bag” which Judas carried.
Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. John 13:29
Moneybag in this verse comes from the Greek word “glóssokomon”, which means “a case to keep reeds for wind instruments.” Judas was likely a musician and used his reed bag to carry money for Jesus’ ministry.
I then remembered David was also a musician. So, I looked up the meaning of “bag” David carried it found it has many interpretations, one of which was “psaltry”. In I Chronicles 23:5 the same word is used to describe the 4000 instruments which David made for the gatekeepers to use for worship in the Tabernacle of David.
This is what I think David was carrying with him into battle with the giant: his bag which he carried everywhere which contained his harp (which he played for Saul) and the rest of his “stuff”, like his slingshot and a pouch for the stones. These things were familiar to David because he had “proven” them out in the pasture tending sheep. These were the same “weapons” which he used to battle wild animals attempting to take the sheep under his care, and also tamed the evil spirits which tormented Saul, his king. David was not unarmed when he left Saul’s tent with armor or weapons. He was simply going with what was familiar to him so he could focus his attention on his Lord, whose strength he confessed would help him defeat the enemy, and the tools which fit his hand well.
Now, for today’s blessing:
May you come to know the Lord’s presence as Mary, the sister of Martha, did
So when trouble comes (death of Lazarus) you find comfort at the feet of Jesus
Because you have already spent time there before trouble came
And welcome the Lord’s presence in good times and bad
May you practice the Presence of the Lord (as Brother Lawrence wrote)
By acknowledging God’s presence even when you don’t “feel” Him there
And also when you know the Lord is near
So others will realize the source of your strength is from above
May you be conscious of the indwelling Spirit promised by Jesus
So you may hear His still small voice when He speaks
So you will follow the path He illuminates for you to follow
And act from the place of knowing you are fully within the purpose of God
