1 Samuel 17:32-37 Authorized (King James) Version
32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.
The Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Our world is smeared with hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness.
But God wants us to know our worth and have fulfillment in life.
He wants us to know we can be world changers.
He wants us to be world changers.
He wants us to move beyond the status quo to help people enter his kingdom.
David was young and inexperienced.
According to his brother Eliab, he did not have the right attitude.
He was not properly equipped.
Yet God used David, an unlikely warrior, to move the young nation of Israel from a place of fear before their enemy and likely defeat to a place of victory.
When David arrived on the battlefield, he saw that King Saul and the Israelites were immobilized, paralyzed with fear because of the Philistine giant Goliath.
But David knew this was the Lord’s battle, so he spoke with words of hope:
“Who is this . . . Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? . . . Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine.”
From a human point of view, Goliath had the most advanced equipment and the battle tested, battle hardened experience of an undefeated champion warrior, while David was just a teenage shepherd with no armor, no battle experience.
But by time and trial, lions and bears, David knew this was the Lord’s battle.
So he moved straight past all the “obstacles” stepped forward with tunic alone for his armor and a few rocks for his armament and took this opponent down.
David and Israel, as God’s people on this earth in those ancient of days, with God’s help, we too can use our skills and limited resources we have to change what is directly in front of us – our world, and help God increase his kingdom.
Whatever our Odds, Our Help Comes From the Lord
When David arrived at the scene of the great standoff between Goliath and God’s people, he boldly stepped into the presence of the King of Israel, told the quaking King Saul that there was no need for fear—which was quite remarkable when the entire Israelite army had been completely paralyzed by the giant!
When they saw Goliath, they ran away.
For days on end, Goliath kept challenging them, kept taunting them, waving his mighty weaponry around as he walked across the front but they had no answer.
Then up came the nondescript left behind shepherd boy David, a mere teenaged boy, who simply said, “By my God, No one else needs to be afraid. I will fight him.“
Would the nation of Israel display “David’s Courage” before her enemies now!
Would that we ourselves display “David’s Courage” before our enemy – sin!
When King Saul understandably questioned David’s ability to face Goliath, David neither gave up nor suggested that he was tougher than he looked.
Instead, he testified to the Lord’s enabling.
In caring for his father’s sheep, David had dealt with bears and lions, and he knew that such successes had come from God and God alone.
Now David was confident that that same God would give him success again, this time against this Philistine braggart who had defiantly mocked all God’s people.
Perhaps David had in mind the one miraculous scene from Exodus 14, when the Israelites’ backs were against the Red Sea and all the balance of military power, weaponry and great chariots was on the side of the onrushing Egyptian army.
Back then, in those ancient of days when the people had all cried out in fear,
Steadfast and firm in his faith in God Moses had replied, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:13-14).
And that is exactly what God did.
Yahweh, the living God who had delivered His people by pillar of fire and parted waters, visible pathway through, was the same Lord who would deliver David.
Later, when David penned his poems and provided songs for worshipers, he recollected,
“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us” (Psalm 124:2-3).
He then concluded with this great hope-filled declaration: “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (v 8).
On what basis, on what measure of faith, are we able to take on all that comes against us like a giant in the day or any monster in our sleeplessness at night?
How do we believe the stricken nation Israel, will again overcome its enemies?
How do we know that you and I, stricken down by our sins, will succeed?
If our courage is founded strictly on your ability to be steadfastly afraid, then sooner or later we will inevitably meet and greet our own “King Saul” match.
Rather, let our confidence in the Lord , be as David’s confidence in the Lord—because the Lord had delivered for David, and the Lord will deliver for us too.
And if God is for us, who, ultimately, what Goliath, can long stand against the nation of Israel and can long stand against us (Romans 8:31)?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 121 The Message
121 1-2 I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
3-4 He won’t let you stumble,
your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
Guardian will never doze or sleep.
5-6 God’s your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.
7-8 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.
Dear Lord, please help Israel to be brave. It is a scary time for the people, the nation of Israel, and they need your divine help to be brave. We know you can do all things and provide bravery to fill their bones and souls. Thank you for being with Israel, and please give them the bravery to face the days ahead. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
Father, the battle is yours alone, we are your servants. Our faith is in you as we face terrifying and fearful things in our lives. We will not fear, for you are with us. Amen.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 