Have You Heard the Story of My Life?

My name is David. I was a shepherd, and I tended the sheep of my father every day. Early in the morning, when the sun came up, I would go to where the sheep had stayed for the night, open the gate, and take them out to graze in green pastures.

I would stay with the flock all day. I would lead them to the waters to drink, so they were never thirsty. I also took care that no wild animals would come close and endanger any of them.

Most of the time, I spent the whole day alone with my sheep in the pastures near Bethlehem where I lived together with my brothers and my father, Jesse.

Although I was by myself in the wilderness, I was not afraid or unhappy. I often played joyful tunes on my harp and sang songs. I was happy and satisfied with my life. I knew that I was not alone, because God is alive. He was with me wherever I went.

I often thought about how God took care of me the same way I took care of my sheep, for He is the Faithful Shepherd. This knowledge gave me an overwhelming joy and led me to sing a song I call,The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall lack nothing.

One day, a frightening thing happened. While I was tending my sheep out in the open field, a lion crept out from the bushes and attacked them. He jumped on one of them, took hold of it with his teeth, and tried to pull it away, so he could devour it.

Knowing that the Lord would help me, I ran after the lion, jumped on him, and started hitting him as hard as I could with my shepherd’s staff. The lion roared, but I kept on hitting him until he let go of the sheep and fell dead to the ground.

Some time later, my father sent one of the servants to the field to tell me to return home quickly, because an important visitor had come to see us. I wondered who it could be.

My seven brothers had also gone home to meet the visitor. I was the youngest of all my brothers.

When I reached home, my father took me to where Samuel, the aged prophet, and my brothers were waiting for me. I walked up to the prophet and he looked at me carefully.

Then a strange thing happened. The prophet took out a horn from his cloak. The horn was full of a fine-smelling ointment. He poured this ointment on my head, saying, I anoint you to be king over our people!

I was very amazed at all this, and the Lord’s joy filled my heart. I could not understand why God had chosen me, a simple, young shepherd, to become king over His people. But I believed God’s Word and that He would fulfil His promise.

In those days, King Saul was still on the throne. He wore expensive clothing, and on his head was a golden crown. He had many attendants and slaves around him, who were eager and quick to carry out his orders.

In spite of all his glory, King Saul was angry and full of hatred, because Samuel, God’s prophet, told him that the Lord would soon put an end to his reign, owing to his disobedience. The prophet finished his talk with King Saul, saying, God has chosen another man to become king in your place, for this man loves God with all his heart.

Saul tried to discover who it was that would become king, because he wanted to kill him. An evil spirit came upon Saul, and he burned with anger, shouting loudly.

The king’s servants were afraid. They wondered how they could calm him. One day, they approached him and said: We know of a young boy who plays the harp very well. Perhaps his music can comfort and soothe you.

That is how I entered the king’s huge palace. My music calmed the king and made him forget his sadness and evil thoughts. I always stayed near him, and my music made him happy. What would the king have done, had he know my true identity?

One day, everything changed. The king sent me back to my father’s house, for he had no more time to listen to my music. A war had broken out, and the enemy entered our country. The king gathered all his soldiers, among who were three of my brothers. But the enemy was very powerful.

One enemy soldier was big and strong, a giant; his name was Goliath. He wore heavy armour and held a long spear in his hand. A large dagger hung at his side.

King Saul, his son Jonathan, and all the soldiers feared Goliath.

The giant would come up every day to mock my people and threaten them, saying: Does no one dare to come up and fight against me? The winner and his people can make slaves of the loser’s people.

But no one dared to fight the giant.

I still was too young to join the soldiers in the war. So I returned from the king’s palace to Bethlehem and looked after my father’s sheep again. One day, my father called me and said: David, I want you to go to your brothers tomorrow morning and see how they are doing. Bring them bread and roasted grain.

I was excited to do this, because I wanted to see the war and its heroes. When I got to the battlefield, the giant Goliath was standing on the other side, shouting and threatening. I heard him curse the king and our Holy God without shame.

The king asked his soldiers, Is there no one who would dare to fight the giant? I shouted loudly, I will fight him!” The soldiers scolded me, saying: Be quiet! Do you want to be killed? But I did not change my mind. So they brought me to the king.

When the king saw me, he said: My son, you cannot fight this giant. You are still a boy. Everyone agreed with him. But I answered: God is my strength. He has helped me fight against a lion, and He will help me fight this giant.

The king was amazed and said: then! May the Lord be with you.”He then commanded that his armour and helmet should be put on me. They also handed me his sword.

I took off the heavy armour and gave it back to the king, because I could not fight with it on. I did not need it, because the Lord would fight for me. I took my staff and sling and went out to look for five smooth stones. I picked them up and then walked towards the giant. When he saw me coming up to him, he made fun of me, saying: Look, they have sent a child to fight me. Am I like a dog?

The giant laughed aloud, and all who heard him trembled with fear. Then he challenged me, saying, Come to me and I will tear you up and make you food for the birds and beasts!

I was not afraid of him, because I believed that God was with me. So I said to him, You come to me with sword and shield, but I come to you in the name of my God whom you are mocking.Then I put one of the stones in my sling, and before he could throw his spear at me, I swung it. The stone cut through the air and hit him in the forehead. He swayed and fell to the ground.

At this moment, King Saul’s soldiers sighed with relief, for all fear had left them. Then they pursued the enemy, because they saw that the living God was with me. Their faith was renewed, and they believed that God wanted to help us. So they won a glorious battle.

Dear reader, have you understood that he who lives in fellowship with God also encourages others to do so? God is true to all those who trust Him!

I passed through many hardships until God made me king. But in all those years, I learned a vital lesson: God will do what He promises for those who trust Him.