1 Samuel 17:12-19 – God is at work even in our negative experiences

While Goliath kept hollering from one side of the Valley of Elah daring someone from Israel to fight him, Saul and his men were trembling on the other side of the valley. Meanwhile, in 1 Samuel 17:12-16, we are given a brief preview of David and his family.  Interestingly, we are told that David was a son of Jesse, an Ephrathite of Bethlehem. This reminds us of another Ephrathite by the name of Elkanah. David was the number eight in the family and was the youngest of Jesse’s sons. Three of the older brothers, namely Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah had joined Saul’s fighting force. Being the youngest, David was toggling between shepherding his father’s sheep and being an errand boy between his father and his three brothers at the battlefront.  The reference to David at this point is to connect us to what would soon take place.   

Verse 16 tells us that for forty days, the Philistine, meaning Goliath, would come challenging Israel to send someone to fight him. Once in the morning and once in the evening, he would stand shouting across the valley of Elah saying, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.” From what Jess was about to send David to do, we know that he must have been a doting father. His concern for his sons at the battlefront was shown in how he would send provision through David for them periodically. Alongside sending ration for his sons, he would also send some cheese for their commander in charge of the three sons. David, as his errand boy would also bring news back to the father.  

We presume that neither Jesse nor David was aware of what was happening at the battlefront. David’s assignment was merely to bring provision for the brothers and bring back to his father news of how his brothers were keeping up with their tasks. What David was sent to do seemed very ordinary and inconsequential. But we know that the boy whom God had anointed as king for Himself, was being prepared to be thrust into the limelight. God has a timing and a right moment for everything. He is never late. For people experiencing their Valley of Elah’s moment, to endure a second longer is a second too long. To endure a threat the size of Goliath can be unbearable and intimidating.  One would wish for instance deliverance. God’s way, however, is not always our way. He uses events and circumstances not only to train His people to trust Him but also to prepare the instrument He would ultimately use for the deliverance.

From an account like this, we must understand that God has a timeline for everything. Unaware to us, God’s unseen hand is moving and putting all the needful parts together into complete alignment with His plan. We must learn to trust Him even when what is happening to us doesn’t seem to make sense. Learn to tuck it somewhere in our heart, that God will always be on time. In those long lonely struggling hours, God is at work to bring about the best possible result. He is working all things out for good. We can rely on His faithfulness. Yes, we can trust Him!