Is There Not a Cause
“And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:28-29)
The armies of Israel and the Philistines were at a standoff. Goliath, the Philistine giant, has challenged Israel to a duel to the death between him and Israel’s best soldier. No one in Israel’s army is taking him up on it. The standoff drags on.
David arrived on the scene and was angry to hear these words against God’s people, and against God Himself. Saul had said, “…the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:25) Yet David cared far more about God’s name being reproached: He said, “…who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)
David’s three oldest brothers were in the army and already on scene. His oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking with the men. Eliab apparently could tell David was entertaining the idea of answering Goliath’s challenge. Eliab spoke angrily at David, as our passage says.
The Bible doesn’t say exactly how old David was at the time, but the context tells us he wasn’t a little kid with a Dennis-the-Menace slingshot in his back pocket. He was apparently in his late teens or early twenties, about young adult age. He understood the danger and he knew how to fight.
David could have said, “I’m here because Dad sent me to bring you guys food, I left the sheep with a keeper, I don’t see any battle, and doesn’t it bother you to hear God’s name reproached?” Instead, he asked, “What have I now done?” or to rephrase, “Why are you criticizing me?” and “Is there not a cause?” or to rephrase, “Is there a problem that needs to be addressed, or not?”
David was not the problem. Goliath was. If something wasn’t done about Goliath, Israel would be enslaved by the Philistines. Someone had to take on Goliath. David was about to do what no one else would do. His brother Eliab criticized when he should have been supportive.
If you’re a cop, a political leader, or any other occupation, you may find yourself in a position similar to David’s. You may see a big problem and face the prospect of doing something risky to address it that no one else will do, but it must be done. Don’t worry about the critics. Ask God for grace and strength to do what’s right, and trust Him for the results.
Most of all, if you want to be sure of an eternal home in heaven when you die, please go do www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links”, then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 12/22/2021
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822