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May 18, 2025 14 mins

Born in Bethlehem, raised as a shepherd, and slew a giant. David’s story foreshadows the story of Jesus, born of Bethlehem, shepherd of our souls, who slew the greatest giant of all - sin. 

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As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel.

They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history.

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray now. Thanks be to God who always
leads us in triumph in Christ and reveals through us
the sweet aroma of His knowledge in every place. Tewod
Corinthians two fourteen. Dear Lord, we come to you with
grateful hearts, acknowledging our victory in You. Thank you that

(00:24):
you always lead us in triumphal procession and through us
spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. As
we journey through this life. We ask that you guide
us in your ways, using us as vessels to spread
the beautiful fragrance of your love, grace and truth. May

(00:44):
our lives be a living testament to our victory in Jesus,
and may our words and actions point others to Him.
Help us, O, Lord, to remain faithful and diligent in
our walk with You, even when faced with child challenges
or adversities. In every situation, remind us of the triumph

(01:05):
we possess through Christ and the power of Your love
that overcomes the world. In the mighty name of Jesus,
we pray, Amen, Thank you for praying with me today.
Stay tuned now for another episode of Stories of the
Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Situated on opposing hills with a valley in between, the
Israelites and the Philistines prepared for an impending clash. Blackened
clouds obscured the sun, casting a somber shroud over the battlefield.
Israel stood ready to defend their homeland from the Philistines
encamped at their doorstep. This was a critical juncture, Israel's

(01:56):
last line of defense before an invasion. The fatigue of
had already crept in. Both sides were battle worn and weary.
The Philistines were bent on enslaving the Israelites. King Saul
stood with his men arrayed behind him. His gaze was
fixated across the divide, where the Philistine army stirred, making
room for an emerging figure. With each step, the earth

(02:19):
seemed to shudder, provoking gasps of astonishment from salt'smen. A
beastlike man emerged from the Philistines. He dwarfed the others.
His chest was a mountain of muscle, his arms like stones,
and his legs as thick as oak trees. Goliath, the
champion of the Philistines and Titan of Gath, cast a

(02:41):
long shadow over the valley. A defiant smile glinted beneath
his helmet as he looked at the Israelites. He was
like a ravenous war king, Saul, he shouted, with a
voice that seemed capable of splitting the earth.

Speaker 3 (02:57):
I stand for the Philistines as their champion. Select a
man brave enough to fight me. If he best me,
the Philistines will be your servants. Yet should I crush him,
you Israelites will grovel before us like the dogs you are.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
The Philistines rallied behind Goliath, their rhythmical pounding on shields
intensifying saul, perspiration dotting his brow, felt the dread settling
over Israel. Goliath's challenge echoed daily for forty days, invading
the Israelite camp, his voice at tormenting specter, haunting Saul's dreams.

(03:37):
The Israelite soldiers were immobilized by fear. Nobody, not even
the king, dared challenge him.

Speaker 4 (03:49):
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Stories of
the Messiah podcast. I'm Rabbi Kirk Schneider. Here a guy
you through some of those iconic stories ever told. If
this podcast has bless you thus far, please take a
moment to leave a comment and review. Doing so will
make sure others discover these life changing stories and be
sure to download the Prey dot Com app to hear

(04:10):
the Bible come to life and make prayer priority in
your walk with God. This season of stories of the
Messiah is called Jesus the Greater. We have been traversing
through the peaks and valves of the Bible's most famous characters.
These people's lives remark with tragedy, tryum, faith, and failure.
These heroes ultimately point us toward the greatest hero of all, Jesus.

(04:33):
Thus far, we've explored the stories of Adam and Cain, Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua,
and Boaz. Out of all these heroes, it's hard to
think of a more famous one than David. David's story
of courage in the face of terror has inspired people
throughout the generations to have faith and face their fears. Yet,

(04:55):
for all David's victories, his life was but a shadow
of something greater. Pack that together here, let's immerse ourselves
now in the most iconic battle the Bible, David versus Goliath.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
Weeks into the standoff between Goliath and the armies of Saul,
David prepared food for his brothers, who were soldiers under Saul.
At daybreak, he loaded his donkey and set off to
the base. As he approached, he heard a strange sound
echoing from the battlefield. He climbed a rock for a
vantage point and saw the giant cursing God in marking

(05:31):
Saul's armies. David looked at the Israelite army. They were
all cowering in fear. David's jaw tightened as he molded
over Goliath's blasphemous words. A divine rage ignited within him.
Who is this philistine to dare and sold the armies
of Israel and the living God? David murmured Saul and
his men retreated to camp, once again refusing to challenge Goliath.

(05:54):
David darted towards Saul's tenth without formal invitation, burst in
and knelt before the king, boldly declaring.

Speaker 1 (06:03):
It don't let anyone lose heart because of this giant.
I will confront him.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
Saul and his men suppressed their laughter at the shepherd boy.
Saul helped David to his feet.

Speaker 1 (06:13):
Saying, you can't go against him. I'm just a boy,
and he has been a warrior since his use.

Speaker 2 (06:18):
David grinned, his eyes shimmering with determination and hope. As
you know, I shepherd my father's flock. Whenever a lion
or a bear took a lamp, I would chase.

Speaker 1 (06:27):
It down and kill it.

Speaker 2 (06:28):
I've rescued sheep from the lion's jars. I have slain them.
This milstine will be just like them, as he has
defied the flock of God. The room fell silent. Face
is tense, David said. The Lord has saved me from
the lion and the bear.

Speaker 1 (06:42):
He'll save me from this giant too.

Speaker 2 (06:44):
Saul looked at David thoughtfully, but perhaps this youth bore
God's favor. David held his breath, awaiting Saul's verdict. Saul
finally spoke, go, may the Lord be with you. David
collected his shepherd's staff and left. David picked five smooth
stones at a nearby street, tucking them into his pouch

(07:05):
as he prayed for God's blessing. His staff and sling
were his weapons, and faith was his only armor. Yet
David advanced confidently onto the battlefield where Goliath waited. Goliath
looked down at David and scoffed am.

Speaker 1 (07:19):
I a dog that you come to me with a stink?

Speaker 3 (07:23):
Gone? And I will feed your flesh to the birds
and beasts.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
David returned Goliath's scornful gaze. You rely on sword and spear,
but I face you in the name of the Lord
of Heaven and Earth. David's heartbeat intensified, and he raised
his staff towards Goliath with defiant strength.

Speaker 1 (07:41):
It is my God you've challeused, Goliath, not I. Today
the Lord will deliver you into my hands.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
Your head will roll off your shoulders, and the world
will know God fights for us. Enraged, Goliath charged at David.
As the giant thundered towards him, David calmly readied his sling,
a single stone nestled within. He had but one opportunity
to land the stone. David readied the sting and began
to swing it behind him. He took a deep breath

(08:09):
and peered at the galloping Goliath. David swiveled his hips
and released the stone. It whistled through the air, striking
Goliath's forehead. The impact interrupted the giant's momentum, and he
crumpled to the ground. Without delay, David swiftly approached the
fallen Philistine grabbed his sword and swung downward at his neck,

(08:31):
instantly decapitating the giant. Holding up Goliath's head, he showed
it to the stunned Philistines. Goliath was defeated by a shepherd,
empowered by God. The victorious roar of the Israelite soldiers
filled the air as they charged the Philistines. David joined
his brethren, fighting bravely. David's triumph brought liberation to all

(08:53):
of Israel. His courage and faith symbolized a deeper narrative
in Israel, the story of a shepherd willing to is
his life to protect his sheep, to confront lions, giants,
and armies, to guide his flock to safety and abundance.
David's bravery reflected God's shepherding heart towards Israel. In the
coming years, God would use David to guide his flock

(09:16):
towards prosperity and security in the future. From Bethlehem, God
would send another shepherd, one who would conquer the ultimate foe,
death itself.

Speaker 4 (09:30):
This clash between the giant and the shepherd is famous
for a reason. It speaks to the underdog and all
of us who want to stand up to life's challenges
at discovering the Jewish Jesus. We are determined to get
to the heart of the matter, and I fear that
the story of David and Goliath has lost its meaning
over time. The story has been misunderstood by pop culture

(09:51):
and Sunday School theology. As much as we'd like to
think we are like David, we aren't. This story is
an image of something greater going on. Goliath represents sin,
death and destruction. He is an archetype for the evil
that wants to oppress our souls. Much like Saul in
the armies of Israel. We feel hopeless and paralyzed to

(10:12):
do anything. We are not like David. We are not
the heroes of this story. We are ineffective in the
face of Goliath. The giants in our life loom over
us with menacing power. Like Saul and Israel, we require
a brave champion, a good shepherd, someone who will run
toward evil instead of run from it. David was the

(10:33):
champion to face Goliath, but who is the champion to
face our sin? Let's dive into the story of Jesus
right before he has taken to be tried, beaten and
crucified death pursues Jesus. Will he flee or will he fight?
Let's find out now.

Speaker 2 (10:51):
The brook Kidron flowed downward from the Temple mount The
water was stained crimson from the blood of animal sacrifices.
Jesus looked down at the brook, seeing his reflection in
the red ripples. It was time for him to be
the sacrifice. Now an enemy awaited him on the mountain
of Cavalry. On the other side of the brook. A
band of soldiers and officers from the Chief Priests marched

(11:13):
with torches and swords. They had come for him. They
intended to drag him away to be tried, flogged, and crucified.
But the Son of God didn't flinch. He set his
will like a flint and stepped over the crimson brook
towards his enemies. Their swords glimmered in the torchlight, but

(11:33):
Jesus was unfazed. They thought they had come to capture him,
but they were at the mercy of Jesus. Judas appeared
from them like a wolf sauntering out of its den.
The wolf and the lamb stood yards away from each other,
hiding the cowardice beneath an insincere smile. Judas approached his
master and greeted.

Speaker 1 (11:53):
Him Hellorabi, he said.

Speaker 2 (11:55):
Then he gave Jesus a single kiss. It was the
signal for the soldiers to attack, but they refrained. Jesus
looked over Judas's shoulder.

Speaker 1 (12:05):
Whom do you seek?

Speaker 2 (12:06):
He asked the soldiers, Jesus of Nazareth. They answered, with
their hands gripping their swords. I am he, he answered,
And as he did, something stirred among the heavens, and
the earth. Thunder rumbled, Lightning streaked across the sky, and
the mighty winds of God bellowed against the soldiers with veracity,
pushing the men off their feet and onto their backs.

(12:28):
Jesus knew he was being sent to slaughter.

Speaker 1 (12:31):
But he would not be taken as a victim.

Speaker 2 (12:33):
No, he was the victor. He allowed himself to be
bound and taken to the cross. He was determined to
face the giant of sin, death, and shame.

Speaker 4 (12:47):
Jesus and David are connected on many different levels. First,
Jesus is a direct descendant of from the tribe of Judah.
God made a covenor with David that the ultimate king
would come through his lineage. Jesus is the fulfillment of
that promise. Secondly, the brook keep drown that Jesus cross
to go toward his enemies was the same brook that

(13:09):
David cross to run away from his enemies. David, as
heroic as he was, failed in many ways. He was
a great hero, but his life was also marked by
scandal and moments of cowardice. But where David failed, Jesus succeeded.
Jesus ran toward his betrayers and fearlessly pursued the enemy. Lastly,

(13:32):
David's story points to Jesus's altimate victory over sin, death
and destruction. Second Corinthians, Chapter two tells us that God
leads us to triumph in Christ Jesus Romans eight declares
that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. David
may have defeated Goliath, but he could not conquer a sin.
But Jesus was victorious over sin. In this way, we

(13:55):
have an assurance that Jesus is the greater David. Join
us next time as we explore the story of the
tortured philosopher and king. Solomon, the son of David, was
heralded as the wisest man ever to live. He was
responsible for building the Temple of God. But for all
Solomon's wisdom, Gartn has constantly crept at the doorpost of

(14:18):
his heart. Stay tuned for the next episode to learn
how Jesus is the greater Solomon. Explore more about Jesus
and the Old Testament at Discovering the Jewish Jesus dot com.
Also consider checking out my recent book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed
Seeing Messiah in the pages of the Hebrew Bible. You

(14:39):
can get your hands on it via my website. If
this podcast impacted you, please take a moment to leave
a comment and review. Doing so, make sure others discover
these life changing stories and be sure to download the
Prey dot com at to make prayer a priority in
your life and experience the Bible in new ways.
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Rabbi K. A. Schneider

Rabbi K. A. Schneider

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