Sat.’s Devo - David and Goliath

Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11 The Philistines met Israel with a valley between them. The Philistines sent out a champion to fight one of Israel’s champions. The Philistine’s champion was a giant named Goliath. Goliath means “stripped as a captive.” Saul would have been the most likely candidate since he was Israel’s giant - head and shoulders taller than any other Israelite. Goliath was over 9 feet tall and Saul was over 7 feet tall. Day after day, Golath would stand and taunt the Israelites challenging them to send someone to fight and settle who was going to reign over the other. The Israelites were terrified. David was the youngest of nine children and had three brothers in the army. You had to be 20 to join the army, then David would have been around 12 or 13 years old. David was sent by his father to take food to his brothers in the army and find out how it was going. When he arrived, he assessed the situation and walked around asking what the reward would be for fighting Goliath. The winner would be given a huge reward, Saul’s daughter to marry and his whole family would be tax-exempt. David’s brothers heard his questions to the troops and got upset with him. He didn’t listen to them but volunteered to fight Goliath. When asked why he thought he could fight the giant, David told stories of protecting his sheep from lions and bears. He told them that this uncircumcised giant would be like them. Saul, finally consented but asked him to wear his armor. David tried it on, but it was too big so he went uncovered. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them in his bag and took his shepherd’s staff and sling and went to face Goliath. Goliath was indignant when he saw who the Israelites had chosen to fight him. He teased him because he came to fight him with a sheperd’s staff. David stood up to him and declared that it was him that was under armed. Goliath only had a sword, a spear and a javelin but he came in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s armies, the God of Israel. Then, David told him exactly what was going to happen. He was going to kill him and cut off his head. He would feed the bodies’ of his army to the birds and wild animals. The whole world would know that there was a God in Israel when that day was over. As Goliath approached David, he took out his stone and slung it at Goliath, hitting him in the forehead. He fell face down to the ground. David ran over and used Goliath’s sword to cut off his head. Goliath’s army fled with Israel on their heals. David was brought before Saul and made to stay with him. Jonathan met David and formed an immediate bond with him. In John, Jesus told them again that he was leaving but they would not be able to find him or go where he was going. This was confusing to them. When they asked where he was going he told them that he was not from this world but from heaven and would return there. They would not understand until he was sifted up on the cross. Then they would understand that God had sent him and that everything he did was what God had told him to do. Lord, everything you do declares your glory and majesty. May we see your hand print in our lives and on our nation.