Insights from the Literary Features - Research Paper Example

Old Testament Literary Analysis Samuel 17 Insights from the Literary Features used in this narrative 7unshakable faith in God managed to kill Goliath, the feared mighty Philistine champion. One of the main literary features used in this narrative is symbolism. Symbolism is actually the main literary feature used in this narrative. To begin with, Goliath is used in the narrative as a symbol of the enemies of God’s people. This fact is evidenced by the fact that in the whole narrative, the name Goliath is mentioned only twice. In all the other instances, Goliath is described simply as “the Philistine”, this was meant to show that in the narrative, Goliath is the representative of the Israelite’s nemesis. As the symbol of the Israelite’s enemies, Goliath is represented as being the taunt of the Israelites; Goliath also is against the God of the Israelites and he actually cursed David by his gods. Goliath believed that physical strength is all what matters and he was sure of killing David and giving his flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the world. On the other hand, David is presented in this narrative as a symbol of faith, trust, and loyalty to the living God of the Israelites. And through this faithfulness, David managed to defeat Goliath, the enemy of the Israelites. The main insight that I gain from this narrative is that, David’s God, Yahweh, is indeed the true God and that Yahweh protects and saves His people. This is because, through his faith in Yahweh, David managed to kill Goliath, who was far stronger to David physically in every respect. The defeat of Goliath, the symbol of the Philistines, is a proof that yeah is the true God. The second major literary feature used in this narrative is metaphor. In this narrative, Goliath asks David while taunting him, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks”1. In this question, dog is used as a metaphor of a weak and helpless person who can easily be beaten to submission by his enemy. This metaphor helps to bring out clearly how David’s weapons were so inferior to the weapons of Goliath. Through this metaphor I learn that it is possible to overcome any manner of challenge in life, as long as we rely on Yahweh, the God of David. David overcame the great challenge ahead of him through very simple weapons because he had faith in Yahweh. Interpretive Problem in this narrative and my Solution to the Problem One of the main interpretative problem in this narrative is in reconciling 1Samuel 17: 55-58, with 1 Samuel 16:21-22. In 1Samuel 17: 55-58, King Saul did not know the identity of David, and he actually asked Abner, the commander of the Israelites army, whom the father of David was. The main interpretive problem therefore is, if Saul knew and liked David in 1 Samuel 16, how come that in 1 Samuel 17 king Saul did not know the identity of David? Scholars have offered varied views and solutions to this interpretive problem. One of the main solution to this view is that 1Samuel 16 and 1Samuel 17 are from different sources or traditions, hence the differences2. While differences in traditions could actually have led to the contradiction in the two chapters of the book of Samuel, this solution does not offer a definitive solution to this interpretive problem. This is because even with the differences in the sources of the two chapters of the first book of Samuel, the final redactor could have ironed out the differences. Another solution offered to this interpretive problem is that King Saul might have lost memory due to old age or mental sickness3. However, given the fact that when King Saul liked David and made him one of his armour bearers David was a young boy and that, when David killed Goliath he was still a young boy, it is quite unlikely that King Saul had lost memory within such a short period of time . In my view, both 1Samuel 16 and I Samuel 17 belong to the same source/tradition. The differences in the two chapters were due to the fact that the messages that the author of these two chapters wanted to pass across was different. For this reason, the author gave two stories with obvious discrepancies because the main message that he wanted to pass across in these two chapters is different. Alter agrees with this view by stating that the differences in these two chapters of the book of Samuel was due to the fact that the author wanted to provide different perspectives of David as a model of the King of the Israelites4. One of the timeless theological principles in this narrative is that God use the lowly and the unexpected in accomplishing his work on earth. In this narrative, we learn that David was just a young boy and nobody could have expected him to kill Goliath, the mighty Philistine champion. It actually seemed ridiculous both to the Philistine army and to the Israelites army when David declared his intentions to fight the threatening Philistine giant; nobody could have imagined in their wildest dreams that David could have kill Goliath. King Saul himself warned David against facing the mighty Philistine giant, Goliath. King Saul did not believe that a young boy like David could ever defeat the strong Goliath, who had immense experience in war. David however persisted and king Soul finally gave David his blessings to go and face Goliath. David’s eldest brother, Eliab, also reproached David for his intention to face Goliath. Eliab dismissed David’s intentions as pride and insolence. However, we finally find that God used this lowly, young, and naïve boy to kill Goliath, the arch-enemy of the Israelites. This fact therefore shows that God uses the lowly, the humble, and the unexpected people in accomplishing his work. This is a timeless theological principle that we learn from this narrative. This theological principle is applicable to any Christian at any time. Every Christian should know that God is able to use them as the instruments of his work, irrespective of their weaknesses in life. Every Christian has some weaknesses that makes them to fell unsuitable to be God’s instruments, however, as we have learnt from the David and Goliath narrative, God does not capitalize on human strengths, but instead He uses the humble and the lowly to make his power manifest among His people. Christians therefore should respect the people that God uses, irrespective of their weaknesses, because God works perfectly through the lowly and the humble people and makes His power manifest among His people. The second timeless message that we learn from this narrative is that God saves and fights for those who believe in him. In this narrative, the main weapon of David was the unshakable, and almost the tangible faith in God that he had. In this narrative, we learn that David when king Saul clothed David with his armor and his head helment, David was unable to walk with the armor and the helmet because he had not tested them before. For this reason, David went to meet Goliath without any armour, the only weapon that he had was a sling and five smooth stones which were in his pouch. Goliath on the other hand was menacingly armoured and armed. However, we find that through the strong faith in God that David had, David finally managed to kill Goliath with the sling that he had. David’s main weapon therefore was his God, for whom he was fighting. David believed that the God who had saved him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear would not fail to save him from Goliath, who was blaspheming the living God of Israel. David therefore was not intimidated by the seemingly mighty Goliath, but instead he believed that his God, the living God of Israel was more powerful than Goliath, and that the God of Israel was able to save the Israelites from Goliath. And finally God saved David from Goliath. This is a timeless theological message that we learn from this narrative, and that is applicable to the Christians lives in various ways. One of the ways in which this theological message is applicable in the lives of Christians is in facing the daily challenges of life. Christian life is normally not a challenge-free lifestyle. On the contrary, Christian life is filled with all manner of challenges, especially from the people who do not believe in the Christian teachings. Some of the challenges that Christians face in life are so strong, that sometimes seem threatening. For instance, the history of Christianity is faced with persecutions, and facing these king of challenges in never easy. However, an attitude like that of David in facing Goliath can help the Christians to overcome all manner of challenges that they face in life. All what the Christians need to have is strong faith in God. Christians should believe that, however, strong and threatening the challenges of life are, with the help of God they will be able to overcome them. With this kind of confidence in divine providence, God will give the Christians the strength to overcome all the challenges that will come their way. David’s attitude in facing the challenges of life requires that one should count their blessings in life and remember the great things that God has done for them, David remembered that the God, who had saved him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, would not hesitate to save him from Goliath, who had faced great threat to the Israelites’ survival in the land that they had been given by God. David believed that the God who had been previously so faithful and helpful to him in times of challenges will not turn a deaf hear against his plea to redeem the Israelites from the blasphemous Goliath. Amidst life challenges, Christians also should count their blessings and see the great things that God has done for them previously, this will give the Christians confidence in God’s providence in facing life’s challenges. Confidence in God’s providence and strong faith in God will enable the Christians to face all the challenges of life courageously, and to overcome all the challenges just like David overcame the great challenge that was ahead of him. This theological message is universal and timeless; it can be applied in the life of any Christian at any time. References Alter, R. (1981). The Art of Biblical Narrative. USA: Basic Books. Print Brueggemann, W. (1990). First and Second Samuel. Louisville: John Knox Press. Print. Read More