Battle Hymns: David’s Psalms as words of hope and courage

by Tom Brennan,

Israel is often referred to as David versus Goliath in many writings. So many times has the nation of 8.2 million held larger enemies at bay and overcome them that this seems to be the only proper comparison. Looking at the facts of David’s single combat against the King’s Champion, Goliath of Gad, the comparisons go beyond the physical stature of the combatants. David was a teenager, not considered soldier material by his family. His brothers were with Saul’s army that was confronted by the Philistines. Saul had offered multiple incentives to his troops to take up the challenge by Goliath. Life without taxes, even a daughter’s hand in marriage and a seat at his table: nothing drew a man from the ranks. But a teenager, sent to bring food to his brothers, took offense at Goliath’s mocking of God. David challenged the soldiers to answer these affronts and they criticized him instead. After all that’s tall talk from a boy not old enough to put on armor and shoulder a spear. Yet David persisted and volunteered to answer the challenge.

Saul for some reason, certainly not his own, accepted. A loss to Goliath meant the surrender of the army under the terms of the challenge. Something moved Saul to accept this apparent risk. Saul offered David his armor and sword but David declined. David was a shepherd and used a sling. The sling is a serious weapon used for high velocity and impact defense. A shepherd needed to kill a predator far enough away from the flock and a sling stone was the preferred weapon. It also could be quickly reloaded with available rounds. In ancient armies slingers formed the backbone of the army with barrages of high velocity rocks aimed at individuals, like sharpshooter or snipers. David knew his enemy and his vulnerabilities and used them against him.

David challenged Goliath. The giant was amazed that the only one who came out to offer battle was a boy. Then David put one of the stones he had selected into then sling and swung it around until the right velocity was reached. The smooth stone went right at the warrior’s temple, a skull fracture and shock dropped him and David took his sword and decapitated him. The issue was decided and the Philistines retreated.

David entered the ranks of Saul’s warriors and rose quickly. Eventually Samuel’s secret anointing with oil confirmed God’s choice as king. David knew trial, defeat and betrayal. He was a musician and played a lyre, an instrument whose tones kept the sheep calm and also kept an increasingly psychotic Saul sane. David wrote his prayers and entreaties to his God in poems we call Psalms. David cried alone, keeping his emotions to himself and God. He asked for strength, victory over his many emeries and forgiveness and comfort for his transgressions. If only Solomon had been a warrior king ant not the man he turned out to be.

The Psalms of David are battle hymns, prayers for victory and forgiveness and are as true today as when written. Israel is in battle as are its defenders. The Psalms are our hymns of battle and remind us the inevitable and prophesied victory.

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