Chapter 11 - From Shepherd to King

Make sure you listen to our middle school students read chapter 11.
Go to www.thestory4texoma.com for a link to the audio.

In chapter 11 we are introduced to David -- the great king of Israel, great poet, and man after God's own heart. It is indeed a wonderful story. The youngest of his family he is hand-chosen by God through Samuel to succeed the less-than-impressive Saul. Even as a young man he demonstrates his courage and strength in his battle with Goliath. Have you ever read a more moving challenge against evil than his words on p. 120, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." It makes you want to get up and shout! And that's what his actions do. After he slays Goliath the armies of Israel surge ahead to defeat their enemies. All it took was one man to stand up for the rest to follow along!

And then you have to be impressed with his loyalty to Saul. Given an occasion to kill the obstacle to the throne, David refuses to out of respect for the Lord's anointed. He knows his time will come when God is good and ready!

And above all David displays a passion for worship as he sends for the Ark of the Covenant to be retrieved and brought to a more permanent resting place in Jerusalem. In spite of the little accident along the way (poor Uzzah), David shows proper respect for the Ark. Jerusalem will soon become the long-standing capital of Israel.

Then David has a dream, a dream for a temple worthy of the glory of God, and although he is not the one to build it (Solomon will get that honor) it is David's concept. Even in spite of God prohibiting him from building the temple David still stands amazed that God has chosen him to be such a critical player in The Story -- "Who am I Lord God that you have brought me this far? You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted on men."

This guy is the total package.

This is certainly one of the high points in The Story. When David is on the screen there is a crescendo of music! This is Rocky at the top of the art museum steps. This is Roy Hobbs hitting the homerun. This is Julie Andrews singing on the hills of Austria.

It doesn’t get much better than this. God and the angels are high-fiving each other. The plan is in full swing. This is the way it was meant to be. King David - a man after God's own heart!