Sun.’s Devo - The Read Underdog

Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11
Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath but it is so much more than a story of a giant and the underdog. It wasn’t David that was the underdog and David was the only one that recognized this. He understood who God was and what he was capable of and David knew who he was in God. Goliath means “an exile” which is one that is banished from their own country. Goliath stood for Satan. Satan was banished from heaven and sent down to earth to dwell until his time is over. While he is here he does exactly what Goliath did; he taunts God’s people. He uses fear and intimidation to keep us from getting victory over different areas of our lives.
David spent his time in the fields watching sheep and playing his harp. He spent his day in the presence of the Lord and God was bigger to him than any lion or bear or giant. He had seen God’s power in his life and was not afraid of God’s enemy. We should not be either.
David convinced Saul to let him fight Goliath for the whole nation of Israel. If David lost, then Israel would be subject to the Philistines but if he won, the Philistines would be under Israel’s control. Saul had no other choice and since he wasn’t willing to sacrifice his life to fight Goliath, he sent David. All Israel’s army watched David walk out armed with only five stones and a sling. When Goliath saw David, he taunted him and told him what he was going to do to him. David did not give in to fear, he proclaimed exactly what he was going to do back. He was going to strike him down and cut off his head. Then he was going to throw his body to the birds and beasts to eat because he had defied the army of Israel. But first, David told him the name in whom he was going to do this in - the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel. Then David ran toward him and sent his stone. His stone was the Word of God. We know what happened.
After Israel won that day, Saul asked what David’s name was. He hadn’t even asked him because he didn’t think it would matter. Saul took David into his family. Saul’s son, Jonathan and David became best friends.
David had eyes to see who God was. Jesus spent his life trying to teach that concept to Israel but they couldn’t grasp it. They were too steeped in tradition and what they thought God was. Jesus concluded that they would die in their sins. Our Proverbs sums this up: “Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord - how much more the hearts of men!”
Lord, open our hearts to see your truths and who you are.