Sun.’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 the Israelites on opposite hills. In the valley below, their champion, Goliath would come out every day and taunt Israel. He challenged an Israelite to come fight him. The one who won would rule over the other nation. Goliath was a nine foot giant armed and suited with armor. Goliath means “stripped as a captive”. This would be his fate. None of the Israelites had the courage to fight Goliath so this had gone on for forty days. Meanwhile, back in Bethlehem lived Jesse whose son, David had been secretly anointed by Samuel to be the next king. Jesse had three sons fighting in the army and often sent David to check on them and see how the fighting was going. He sent David with food to his brothers. When he arrived, he assessed the situation and kept asking what reward the person would get who fought Goliath and won. He was told that the victor would be given Saul’s daughter in marriage and his whole family would be exempted from paying taxes. Word got to Saul that David was asking about the reward and Saul sent for him. Remember that David had been Saul’s armor-bearer and Saul had been told that David was a warrior. He had just never seen him in battle. David convinced Saul by telling him of how he killed a lion and a bear with his bear hands. Saul had no other offers. He tried to dress David in his own armor with his own sword since he and Jonathan were the only ones with swords. David wasn’t used to having them so he refused them. He went out to face Goliath with five smooth stones and his shepherd’s staff. Goliath met him with a sword, a spear and a javelin. Goliath laughed and taunted him for coming out with a stick. David taunted Goliath for coming out in full gear. He told Goliath exactly what was going to take place. The Lord was going to conquer him and he, David would kill him and cut off his head. Then the Israelites would defeat his army. Goliath started slowly approaching David, but David ran toward Goliath and hurled one stone with his slingshot. It sunk into his head and he fell face down. David ran over, took Goliath’s sword and killed him and cut off his head. The Philistine army then ran in fear and the Israelite army took off after them killing them as they fled. Saul watched in amazement and asked who David’s father was. When the battle was over, Abner, Saul’s commander brought David to Saul carrying the head of Goliath. He asked David who his father was. He told him he was Jesse and they lived in Bethlehem. David was introduced to Jonathan and they had an immediate bond between them. David came to live with Saul and wasn’t allowed to return home. Jonathan made a pact with David because he loved him. He took off his robe and gave it to David to seal the pact. He also gave David his tunic, sword, bow and belt. Jonathan, who was a mighty warrior himself realized that one more honorable than himself was standing before him. The story of David and Goliath is such a powerful story. David proclaimed what God was going to do and his faith was much more powerful than the greatest weapons and defense the world could muster. Goliath was the epitome of the world’s strength. David was the example of great faith. David annihilated Goliath with one stone. One word, spoken by God can put a giant on his face. David came with that one word. Jonathan was like John the Baptist who realized he must decrease and Jesus must increase. In John, Jesus kept teaching them that he was going back to his Father where he came from. They wouldn’t understand but if they only believed they would be able to follow him and be where he was. Some did believe. He said that others would believe when they saw him on the cross and many would never believe. The same is true today. Lord, help us to be a warrior like David and tell the devil just what God is going to do to him. May we never fear what may happen but proclaim what your Word says will happen.