Long before David faced Goliath, he fought a battle no one saw—against a lion that had taken one of his father’s sheep. With no audience and no glory at stake, he risked his life to save a single lamb. That story, told to King Saul in 1 Samuel, reveals something deeper about David: his fierce courage was born from love, not ambition.

I chose to paint that lesser-known moment—not the triumph over Goliath, but the aftermath of the lion’s defeat. David stands watchful, muscles still tense from the fight, scanning the shadows for danger. Not victorious in a public sense, but ready to defend again if needed. It’s a glimpse of the shepherd heart that came before the warrior king.

This painting honors the kind of protector David was when no one was looking. The scene points forward to another Shepherd—one who would leave the ninety-nine to rescue the one. David’s courage, rooted in compassion, offers us a glimpse of the heart of God.