Children love the story of David and Goliath, where right overcomes wrong (1 Samuel 17). David, the young shepherd is pitted against this giant of the Philistines with a fearful reputation. Clearly the Philistines except him to beat and kill any opposition. Such was their ignorance and lack of knowledge of Israel’s God.
I love the personal touch we have in this story – verse 28-29. David’s oldest brother Eliab seems to resent the appearance of David onto the battlefield. ‘Why have you come down here and with whom did you leave those sheep in the wilderness?’ David’s answer is that of a bullied younger brother ‘Now what have I done, can’t I even speak.’ verse 29. I think there were times when my younger brother might have said the same thing about me. Ouch. If Eliab was so resentful of David even turning up on the battlefield, how would he have felt when David actually killed Goliath!
Rivalry and sparring in young children is fairly harmless. How often does one child hit or punch their brother or sister when they think no-one is looking? Sibling rivalry in adults is more serious. Brother fighting brother or sister against sister is great fodder for the story teller, but its not only in fiction, it happens in real life too,.
Jesus came to bring peace. May we love and appreciate our blood brothers and sisters and our brothers and sisters in Christ.