Basic HTML Version
PART
3
This article was written in Israel, where I visited many of the sites associated with David's life.
Bethlehem, David's birthpface, and the surrounding hilfs where he tended his father Jesse's sheep. The
wilderness where he fied from Sauf. The cities ofthe
Philistin~s
where David sought refuge from Saul,
yet learned Philistine strategy so he could remove their stranglehold on Israel when he became king.
Hebron, where David's forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were buried with their wives, Sarah,
Rebeccah and Leah-also the city from which David reigned over the tribe ofJudah during his first
seven years as king. And, ofcourse, Jerusalem, which Davidmade the capital city ofIsrael 3000 years
ago. Jerusalem, where David dreamed of and designed the Temple of God 'which his son Solomon
built. Jerusalem, site ofDavid's sins against God in the tragic episode with Bathsheba and Uriah. The
Mount of Olives, where David fied, barefoot and bareheaded, from the rebellion of his own son
Absalom. The Temple Mount, where David stayed the plague from God and sacrificed on the site he
purchased from Araunah (where the Temple was later to stand). And David's tomb at Jerusalem,
where he yet remains, waiting to become king ofIsrael, forever, in the resurrection.
his gets us ahead of our story, but
since one doesn' t get a chance to
go to Israel every year, I took the
...___• __.. opportunity.
I
hope the experi-
ence will enhance the rest of this
series.
David had gane through the bewildering- at the
time-experience of being anointed by Samuel the
prophet. Drawn from the ignoble position of being
Jesse's eighth son, tending his father's sheep, David was
catapulted into the heart of Saul's court as armor bearer
for the king of Israel. This was a most highly trusted
position, since, with the king's weapons in hand and the
king unarmed, the armar bearer could assassinate him in
the privacy of his chambers. Loved, respected, relied
upon despite his youth, David soothed Saul with his
music and conversation. Saul, fearful of the re–
sponsibility he held and more fearful of ldsing it,
sutfered fits of temper, migraine headaches, schizo-
18
phrenic tantrums- and David was his only solace.
Since Israel had entered the promised land, the Philis–
tines had been their relentless enemy. Occupying the
coastal cities and plains, rich in commerce, powerful in
war, holding a virtual monopoly on every implement of
iron from hoe to chariot, they had succeeded in keeping
the struggling tribes of Israel at bay. The oppressed
lsraelites were forced to humbly harvest their meager
hill farms. Now the Philistines meant to annex their land
and make all Israel their slaves!
Slaves they had been before in Egypt. Were they now
to become slaves in their own promised land of free–
doro?
Not wanting to expend more men and arms than
necessary, and according to a common custom of those
early ages, the Philistines otfered to settle the whole
affair in single combat with their chosen champion:
Goliath!
"Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath,
The
PLAIN TRUTH August 1978