Day 1129: Discouragement - 1 Samuel 17 vs 18 – 31

18-21 Take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp as the army was marching out to its position and shouting the battle cry. And Israel and the Philistines arrayed in formation against each other.

22-24 Then David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the ranks of the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard. When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they fled from him in great fear.

25-27 Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.” The people told him about the offer, saying, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

28 Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart - you have come down to see the battle!” 29-31 “What have I done now?” said David. “Was it not just a question?” Then he turned from him toward another and asked about the offer, and those people answered him just as the first ones had answered. Now David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, who sent for him. 1 Samuel 17:18-31 Berean Standard Bible

A couple of months ago, in the Book of Acts, I drew attention to the great ministry of encouragement which we saw in the man named Barnabas. That story was also about someone called Saul. After his conversion, many saints were dubious as to whether Saul been truly saved. But Barnabas brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. In today's section we see an example of the opposite coming from David's oldest brother, Eliab, in vs 28. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart - you have come down to see the battle!”

His words were in response to David's question when he asked the men standing nearby: “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

David's heart was set on the glory of God, and on defending His name from disgrace. But his brother said his heart was full of pride and wickedness, and that a morbid curiosity had brought him to watch the battle unfold. How sad it is to be someone who seeks to discourage others in their service of God.

Perhaps Eliab was sidetracked by David's asking what would be done for the man who dealt with the Philistine who was bringing such disgrace to God's name. But he ought not to have leapt to the hasty conclusion in passing judgment on what was in David's heart. May God keep us from such hasty judgments upon the service of others. May we seek to be someone who encourages, rather than discourages, those wanting to stand up for Jesus.

And so we read that David's words were reported to Saul, who sent for him. And God's purposes were continuing to unfold for the life of David.