Today’s Blog is another entry to a book I am writing called A Boy Named David. I hope to capture David’s life leading up to his entrance with the battle of Goliath. This is the third chapter. I have included the audio for the first two chapters at the end of the blog
“Abba, I am tired. How much longer do we have to walk?” David was thankful to be able to go on the trip, but he was the youngest and smallest of the sons. They had traveled for two days with lots of cattle and empty carts. They were going to Kirjath-jearim (the Land of Forests) to purchase wood for the many projects needed for the home.
The road was not much more than a dirt path but well-traveled. One thing that made the trip bearable was his brother Eliab acting as a tour guide, pointing out the significant sites along the way. David was unsure if “all” the stories that Eliab shared were true, but he was a great storyteller.
On their journey, they passed near Jebus, mindful to stay on the mountain road to the north and east. They were careful to keep a safe distance from Jebus, as the Jebusite enemies occupied it. The mountain path gave a great view of the Jebusite city below, including the spring of water flowing from the center.
As they passed Jebus, Eliab said, “David, do you see that ridge in the center of Jebus? Our father Abraham went up to that mountain to sacrifice his son Isaac. It was probably over near that tree next to that big rock. You remember that Abraham raised the knife in his hand to kill Issac when God told him to “Stop!” Then Abram heard a ram caught in a bush. He knew that God had provided another sacrifice instead of his son Isaac. That land is an extraordinary place for our people.” Eliab had spoken with passion and authority.
“Why do other people live there and not one of our tribes?” asked David.
“When Joshua led our people to possess this land, we could not conquer that city. Other than its historical importance, it has little value. It gets its water from that spring over on that side and exits through the wall.”
“When I grow up, I would like to live on that small ridge right at the top,” David exclaimed rather boldly. “I will make the people leave.”
Eliab laughed. “Yea, you and what army?”
David felt slightly embarrassed by his declaration, so he tried to recover his statement. “I’ll sing my way into the city.” David started humming a tune that he had been practicing recently. Then he added some words. “Lift up your heads, O you gates, Lift up your heads and let me come in, yes let me, your king, come through your gates..”
Eliab laughed at David even more. “you ARE the biggest dreamer in the world.”
When they finally arrived at Kirjath-jearim, the wood they needed was not yet fully prepared for delivery. They would have to wait nearly two weeks before enough trees would be cut and prepared. David understood that they would not be home in time for the feast of the Passover Lamb. They had no close relatives in this part of the country, and he was unsure how they would celebrate the Passover, not having a home in which to celebrate the night.
Jesse, David’s father, had five of his sons and ten servants with him on the trip. He had brought lambs and cattle to use to purchase the wood. Jesse was an outstanding businessman but even better at making friends. He readily found one of the more important spiritual leaders, Zadok, in the city and enjoyed sharing stories together.
David also heard them discuss a more serious matter in quiet and sober tones. They expressed their concerns about appointing a King over the tribes. King Saul was a handsome man, and the prophet Samuel had anointed him, King. Now sons of Israel were coming to Saul as warriors to fight off the Philistines. Jesse knew that his sons would also be called to war soon. Sadness gripped his heart when he thought about the dads who would lose their sons in battle.
Zadok changed the subject. “Passover is tomorrow, and I want you to come to my house. You, your sons, and your servants will join me tomorrow, on the 14th of Nissan, to celebrate the feast with me. I will not take “No” for an answer.”
“Please allow me to provide the lamb,” Jesse demanded.
“Okay, my new friend, I will see you tomorrow. Meet me at the house of Abinadab.” Zadok was pleased.
David felt an unusual peace when he saw Zadok’s house next to Abinadab. He really liked Zadok. He was a priest but seemed to be more than a priest. He possessed a sincerity and purity that was different. His words were pure and full of authority. David liked him a lot and felt he could trust every word he spoke.
To the left of the house was the slaughter rock. This was where the animals were killed and dressed for sacrifice and eating. Nearby was a fire pit. Well-positioned rocks created a good foundation for the wood to burn and cook the meat. David’s older brothers took Jesse’s chosen lamb and prepared it for the evening sacrifice. It was a 1-year-old lamb without any defect. It was also big enough to feed all participating in the feast.
David got blood on his hands and outer coat when the lamb was being killed. He knew he could wash his hands but was unsure how to remove the blood from his coat.
“Zadok, how do I get clean?” “Why does Ya require us to pour out the blood of another animal?” David had a tendency to keep talking and asking questions without stopping. After about ten more questions about sacrificing animals, David finally paused, breathed, and listened.
Zadok began to explain. “Ya has precise rules for us to show Him honor. When we knowingly break those rules, our relationship with Ya is broken. We are no longer clean before Him. Our misconduct has left marks on our lives that we cannot eliminate through our efforts. Like the blood on your clothing, you will need help to make it clean again.
Blood does not make our wrong actions disappear from our lives. Instead, It totally covers our wrong acts. When Ya sees the blood, He remembers that the animal’s death is a substitute for our wrongdoing. The blood is a constant reminder for Ya to forgive, just like the blood on your coat reminds you of this moment.”
“How do you know so much about what Ya wants from us?” David asked Zadok.
“Come, I want to show you something,” Zadok said.
Zadok and David walked away from others and down a little path toward the small structure. The door had a barrier over it that Zadok had to remove. As he opened the creaky door, the light slowly began to fill the dusty room. David gasped! He had heard about gold, but this was the first time he had seen so much of it. David wiped his eyes twice. He felt his heart almost beating out of his chest. Only a few feet before him rested the Ark of the Covenant, the same one Moses carried through the desert.
On the top, two creatures like birds faced each other overlooking a small table-like item. David just stared for a long time without talking. It looked smaller than he had imagined. Was Ya inside the box, he thought to himself. Was he allowed to be so close to the Ark?
“Is this what I think it is?” David asked Zadok.
“Yes, it has been in this home for ten years. When the Philistines sent it back, the oxen came to this home, and we have kept it here. We also found a copy of Moses’s laws and formed a group to learn and observe its laws. David, by knowing and keeping the laws of God, you can live a pure life. Sometimes I like reading these laws more than eating the finest food, even more than honey.” Zadok’s face seemed to glow with joy as he talked about the Ark and the laws of Moses. “Come, it’s time to go inside the house for the festival; night is coming.”
During the Passover feast, Zadok told the story of Moses and how Ya delivered the people of Israel from the mean Pharoah, the King of Egypt. David loved to hear the fantastic power of Ya to perform such great signs. The final plague against the Egyptian people was a death angel sent to take the life of the firstborn of each family whose house was not covered by the blood of a lamb. David was glad they were inside when he heard about the death angel. He loved the light and not the darkness.
They ate flatbread because there was no leaven in it. This was a reminder that the children of Israel had to leave in a hurry and did not have time for the bread to rise. They ate all of the meat from the lamb. They also ate bitter herbs. This whole feast was a reminder that Ya loved His people and would go to great lengths to ensure they were free to worship Him.
David would never forget this day. One day he wanted to show Ya how much he respected Him. One day he would make a special place for the Ark instead of an old barn. One day, he hoped to help everyone remember and know how to worship Ya. He would have a big celebration to focus on Ya, who makes people free and clean. David was thankful for his new friend Zadok. He hoped to come back again on another trip for the wood so that he could have more time with Zadok. David knew that he wanted to be a worshipper for Ya, but he also knew that he must learn to be a warrior for Him to defeat His enemies. He was small but felt brave.
Audio of Chapters 1 and 2 of A Boy Named David
A Boy Named David – Obed talks about his mother, Ruth