Human Nature In David: A Young Champion Of Israel

To understand the way we, as cerebral humans, think and behave, one must also understand human nature; the instinctual tendencies of the human race. The concept of human nature encompasses everyone in human history, affecting everyone who has ever lived, influencing their thoughts, ideas, and actions. We can recognize this notion of human nature by simply observing the people around us, news, or maybe even looking at the Bible. The Bible can give us insight on some of the first accounts of human nature taking place, with characters such as Cain or David illustrating our natural and instinctual behaviors, in the most read book by humans. “The First Murder” and “Young Champion of Israel”, as well as the poem, “A Time for Everything”, all from

the Bible, not only exemplify the natural tendencies that are specific to us humans, they demonstrate both the beneficial and detrimental aspects of our instinctual behaviors.
Numerous stories can capture the notion of human nature and our instinctual behavior, yet the story of the “First Murder: Cain and Abel” targets human nature at its very root, not only affirming its existence, but exemplifying its more destructive elements. The story of Cain and Abel takes place after Adam and Eve and the Forbidden fruit. Cain and Abel are the children of Adam and Eve. Cain and his brother Abel offer their best work to God in due season, however God refuses Cain’s offering yet accepts Abel’s offering. This act enrages Cain, to the point where he kills his brother. After hearing upon the murder of Abel, God curses Cain to be a fugitive for the rest of his life. “Why are you angry? Why are you scowling? … sin is a demon crouching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must learn to master it.” (Genesis 4). Our human nature is clearly demonstrated in both in the story and the quote. Jealousy is one of our natural behaviors, whether we like it or not. At some point of our life, we are jealous, we may not show, but we all feel jealousy. And not only does this story and quote affirm that notion, yet they display the first act of jealousy ever. Cain’s rage to kill Abel was catalyzed by the jealousy he had from Abel being favored instead of him, the first act of jealousy ever. And this quote furthermore explains the natural instinct of jealousy, speaking of it as a demon crouching at the door, and we must learn to master it; God wants Cain to tame his natural instincts of jealousy and not act out on them.
However, not all human nature is disadvantageous to us, as seen in the story of, “David: A Young Champion of Israel”, where once again the actuality of our tendencies and behaviors are proven, and the courageous and challenge-seeking aspects of our nature are exhibited.

The story of young David takes place when Saul was king and Israel was at war with the Philistines in the Valley of Elah. The Philistines send out their best warrior, Goliath, to fight one champion from Israel, whichever champion won the battle, their country would conquer the other. No one would face Goliath, until courageous David came forth and briskly slew Goliath. “And David said to the men who stood by him, ‘What shall be done about the man who kills this Philistine… For who is this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?’” (1 Samuel 17). Before David came, every Israelite shook in their boots at the sight of Goliath, not wanting to take on the onus of facing the monster of a man. However David embraced the challenge-seeking and courageous side of his human nature and fought Goliath. This is the same side of human nature that motivates people around the world to face difficult tasks, accept challenges that others will nott, and go up against seemingly impossible odds. In the story of David and Goliath, this is one of the first examples of someone demonstrating the beneficial aspects of human

nature.”
The stories of the, “The First Murder”, as well as, “Young Champion of Israel”, illustrate both sides of our human nature--both our exemplary and deplorable characteristics--which is similar to the poem, “A Time for Everything”, which displays both sides of human nature and the appropriate time for each of our actions.

“A Time for Everything”, written in the book of Ecclesiastes, starts off with stating there is a time for everything under heaven, and then continues to mention numerous different instincts and feelings we as humans go through throughout our journey of life. Whether that be death, birth, or marriage, the poem represents that there is a proper time for all of human nature’s actions. “A time keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3). Throughout the poem, the author continually looks at two sides of us as humans. There is the more amiable side of us, the peaceful, loving, benevolent, and laughing side of humans, yet the author also describes the more woeful side of us, the warring, reprehensible, reproachful side of humans with the capacity to kill. Here, the message is clear through the poem that there during some point in their life, everyone is going to go through these emotions or actions. There are both the deplorable and admirable parts of us, but we all must experience them to become aware of our roundness as human beings. That is due to how all these emotions and actions

are part of our human nature. It is in our human nature-- our natural tendencies and behaviors-- to go through all of these emotions. Whether we like it or not, both sides are vital to our human nature and how we and others act.
As seen in different stories from Genesis and the poem, “A Time for Everything”, human nature is present in the modern world as well as Biblical times. Human nature has its beneficial and detrimental sides, and we cannot help our natural behavior or our tendencies, for they’re part of how we all act. These tendencies affect our day-to-day life, the way our country is run, and even how people around the world act. By understanding our human nature, we can comprehend how and why we, as humans, live the way we do.