King David and hobbits: appearances can be deceiving

King David is a biblical figure, a man who was king of Israel for a long time and is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of the Hebrew people. In turn, hobbits are fictional creatures created by J.R.R. Tolkien, author of works such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. But, what do these little creatures, who don’t even exist, have to do with David?

Hobbits

Hobbits are small creatures, about 1 meter and 20 centimeters tall, and usually live in burrows. They are peaceful and do not like to take chances on adventures, prefer to have tasty meals and warm beds to sleep.

In his den, he never lacks good food, smoke grass, and good beer, things a hobbit needs to feel good. They are collected and do not communicate much with strangers and, in many cases, avoid contact with tall people, which is what humans call them.

They are creatures so fragile that no one could ever imagine that one of them was able to go out and fight for their home and their world. However, in Tolkien’s mythology, they were renouncing all their comforts to save not only their home but the entire Middle Earth from the threat of Sauron.

David

Everyone knows the story of the little boy who defeated a giant with some stones. Really small, the smallest and youngest of eight brothers. Shepherd, which at the time made him even smaller before society.

A slight boy, but full of courage and determination. However, even then, no one could have imagined that he would one day be a great warrior and then a powerful king in a promising kingdom.

The interventor

Tolkien was a traditional Catholic, and his work is full of direct or indirect references to Christian elements and personalities. There are several archetypes of characters, as in the case of Gandalf, the gray. A long-bearded wizard wearing a gray cape, who plays a role similar to the prophets in the biblical Old Testament.

Walking through the middle earth, he investigated the plans of evil, bringing news of what was to come. Thus he was loved by some and hated by others. However, it was the consolation of the humble and even the joy of children with their magic and fireworks.

Gandalf saw in hobbits more than other people did, and he knew that the purity of their hearts could be decisive for the future of their world. Because of it, he called Frodo on a dangerous mission, just as he had done with his uncle Bilbo a few years earlier.

We can compare his figure to that of the prophet Samuel, who, from an early age, serves the Lord by proclaiming His will to the people of Israel. All the people respected him, and many saw in him the hope that came from God.

God called Samuel to anoint the new king of Israel, for the Lord was displeased with Saul’s reign. Therefore, God sent the prophet to a small town called Bethlehem, to the home of a man named Jesse to anoint one of his sons.

The call

At the home of Jesse, Samuel asked his children to be introduced to him, that they should pass one by one, for the Lord would tell him which one should be the new king. And as soon as they entered, Samuel saw Eliab and thought he was the chosen because he saw him beautiful, tall, and strong. But the Lord said to him:

“Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature: because I have rejected him, nor do I judge according to the look of man: for man seeth those things that appear, but the Lord beholdeth the heart.” (1 Samuel 16, 7)

All the sons of Jesse passed by, but there was a younger one who was in the fields pastoring. Samuel sent for him. As soon as David entered, the Lord said to Samuel, “Arise, and anoint him, for this is he.” (1 Samuel 16:12). And the prophet anointed him to be king of Israel, a people chosen by God.

No one could have imagined that that young man who would take his sheep to the fields to graze and lead them to drink fresh water would one day lead the people of Israel. Just like no one imagined that Frodo Baggins, the young hobbit who lived with his uncle in the village of the hobbits could take the step that saved Middle Earth from the evil of Sauron. And in Frodo’s case, it all started with Gandalf, the messenger, the advisor, the enigmatic.

When Frodo received that Ring from his uncle Bilbo he had no idea what he would put it on. Not even Gandalf was sure what that object was capable of. But when Bilbo discovered what could happen if Sauron got his hands on his precious Ring, the first to offer to take it to the mountain of doom to be destroyed was the young hobbit. And with the confidence and advice of Elrond, Gandalf, and others, he set out, in an entourage, in the direction of what could be his doom.

The outcome

Both were afraid, both Frodo and David, both had their falls, but lay in their tombs with the feeling of duty done, and so they confused the strong, defeated the great and the proud. Thus, the salvation of a generation came from a small, simple, and humble person, even when everything seemed lost.

It is what Tolkien calls eucatastrophe, just the opposite of catastrophe because everything seemed lost, and suddenly, for some mysterious reason, everything ended well. As in David’s life, when the army of Israel feared the great Goliath, behold, David defeated him with some stones and a slingshot. Appearances are deceiving.

God uses the little ones, and through them, works wonders. The most significant example is the story of a child who was born in a cave and had poor parents, but who was king par excellence. But this is a story for another moment.

Brazilian Portuguese version: Rei Davi e hobbits: as aparências enganam