David and Goliath
Open Your Bible
1 Samuel 17:1-58, Ephesians 6:12, Hebrews 2:14-18
BY Rebecca Faires
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-58, Ephesians 6:12, Hebrews 2:14-18
We recently celebrated our 5th birthday here at She Reads Truth, and I’ve been feeling nostalgic about the early days. Thinking back over the years, I can remember a lot of mistakes I’ve made, not to mention the mistakes I made today. Seriously, I don’t seem to be able to make it though one day without putting my foot in my mouth just a little bit.
But I have learned so much, and there is one simple thing for which I am most grateful: I have learned about the Bible. The more I read, the more I’m able to make connections and see the echoes of one passage in another. More than the research and the commentaries, the focused act of reading my Bible has given me confident hope for the future.
I have learned that my own resolutions to achieve and do better will absolutely come to nothing. I know that all good things come by the power of God’s grace, not the resolve of my earnest soul. I’ve learned that fear and worry serve no purpose in God’s economy. And another great perk of knowing your Bible is knowing what God has promised.
This is exactly where David was when he heard that Goliath the Philistine was threatening the troops of Israel. He was just totally outraged that no one had taken up the challenge because he knew that God had already promised to preserve and protect Israel. Not only that, but God had already delivered the giants into Israel’s hands before: when Abraham conquered Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14), and when Israel entered the land of promise (Numbers 13:17-33).
David knew God’s covenant promises to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. He’d heard the stories of God’s amazing protection over Noah and his family. And he’d read the heroic tales of Joshua’s obedience to God. He knew, most of all, that God is faithful, and that He cannot be mocked (Galatians 6:7).
David knew his Bible. He knew God’s promises. So when he was confronted with a threatening Philistine giant, he said, “ Today, the LORD will hand you over to me” (1 Samuel 17:46). Those sound like brave words if you don’t know the end of the story. But the pattern of redemption is always the same: the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain… but the Lord is enthroned in heaven (Psalm 2). The Bible tells us we will always have troubles, but Jesus is the hero and He always slays the dragon in the end.
Know His Word. Know who God is. Remember the history of His providence. Lay hold of His unfailing promises. David wasn’t doing anything new, but he was a man who knew his Bible.
I don’t know that I’m ready to face any giants, but knowing God’s Word and His promises were exactly the foundation for David’s confidence before Goliath. It wasn’t his sling and stones, or his history of bear-fighting. It was simply God’s Word.
102 thoughts on "David and Goliath"
-
Reading about David and Goliath makes me think about what armors I carry as my defender instead of God. The worlds way of winning is not always Gods way, the weight on David’s back of the heavy armour made him feel less capable not more. Sometimes when we use our own devices as our tool for victory we are only left seeing those devices fail us. The Lord gave David the tools in his belt, the lord prepared David. I pray Lord I would trust you and your word more. Help me to lay down my man made armour and run to the shelter of the most high.
-
THIS LESSON BLEW MY MIND!!!!!!!
-
Yes. THE essential… Abide in Him. Why do I wander!? Thank you, Father for your faithfulness. My weakness is so great, yet your mercies are new every single morning. You are beyond compare… Great is your faithfulness. Thank you, Father.
-
I needed this today(and every day). I suffer from anxiety, and at times the issues that cause my anxiety seem so big but my God is bigger. When life gets tough we need to go deeper in His word and remember His promises.
-
Praying for your anxiety Susan. Max Lucado had a new book I plan to read about anxiety…… blessings as you walk through that.
-
-
Glad that the Lord layer the message on my heart. Is it not amazing that a familiar passage can reveal something new just when you, or someone else needs it! Praise Him!
-
Something I noted for the first time, and this is one of my favorite passages, especially when I am feeling overly burdened; David left the sheep with a keeper while he fought the giant. Is that not what we are to some degree? Are we not the keepers of His sheep while He fights are battles? As Christian women, mothers, sisters, daughters, we should be covering those we love and treasure with prayer while the Lord fights the battles. In my kitchen window is a small wooden cross and five stones. I named them, Faith, family, friends, future and forever. All of them are important to me, but I remind myself, David only needed one. Faith. One small stone took down a large giant. And faith can take down our giants as well. Let the battle belong to God. Blessings to all!
-
Anita, thank you for that. I’ve been feeling an incredible burden and I don’t know how to throw it off, despite my faith. But I really needed a reminder to stop fighting, and let the Lord fight these battles. We are not the heroes of the story and it’s okay not to be the fighter. We can’t do anything at all in our own strength.
-
-
For me, 1 Samuel is a book about the heart. What are the intentions of your heart? David did not enter this battle to glorify himself. Not even a little bit. He did it for the glory of God. He did not boast in his own strength. He did not tell the giant about the lions and bears. He told the Giant about his God. He made clear he was not using his strength, but the strength of the Lord. His heart was pure and God was with him. My prayer is that God helps us surrender so that we may have a pure heart like David’s.
-
Dang!! Yes!!! So good. Thanks for sharing!
-
-
I’m catching up on readings today, and as I read this chapter, and all of your responses, I kept coming back to one conclusion: we all face different battles, but should all have the same battle plan – God’s Word. I’m reminded today that His Word is so much more than just a book. It is full of truth and grace and redemption. It is our greatest defense against the enemy and the battles we face in this world. Grateful. Thankful. Looking at my own ‘battles’ through a new lens now.
Post Comments (102)