Fri.’s Devo - God is the Victor!

Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; Proverbs 15:11 The Philistines were camped in Socoh which was in Judah, about 14 miles southwest of Jerusalem. It was situated on a mountain and Saul and his men were on another mountain with the valley of Elah between them. The Philistines sent out a champion to represent their whole army. He challenged Israel to send out their champion to fight him. Whoever won, their nation would rule over the other nation. They sent out Goliath who was 9 feet tall and covered in metal armor and equipped with a spear, a sword and a javelin. The only people on Israel’s side that had a spear was Saul and Jonathan. Neither of them volunteered to go. *** David had been sent to the battlefield by his dad to bring food to his three brothers and find out how the fighting was going. He got there just in time to hear Goliath come out, as in times before, and threaten the army of Israel. David learned that whoever killed this Philistine would be given great riches and the king’s daughter in marriage. Also, his family would be exempt from paying taxes. *** David kept asking about Goliath and who this uncircumcised Philistine was that should defy the armies of the living God. He stirred up so much attention that Saul heard about him and had him brought to him. *** David told Saul that they should not be afraid of Goliath because he would go out and defeat him. Saul asked David who he thought he could take down Goliath. David explained that he had had to fight both lions and bears in defending his sheep, and this would be just like that. *** Saul had to admire David’s confidence and finally agreed to let him go. He first wanted to dress David in his own armor. When it only served to weigh David down, David insisted on going with what he had. He took his staff and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his pouch. With his sling in his hand he went out to meet Goliath. *** When Goliath realized what Israel had sent out to fight him he was so disappointed. He tried to intimidate David by cursing him and his gods. He told David that he was going to give his flesh over to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. *** David told Goliath that Goliath may have a sword, a spear and a javelin, but he had the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel who Goliath had defied. This was a battle between Goliath and his God, and his God would win. Then he proceeded to tell Goliath what he was going to do to him. He was going to strike him down, then cut off his head. He would give the armies of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts. Then all the earth would know that there is a God in Israel. *** David ran to meet Goliath and drew a stone from his bag and put it in his sling. He slung it and hit Goliath between his eyes. Goliath fell face down. David ran and took Goliath’s own sword and killed him and cut off his head, just as he had described to Goliath he would do. *** When the Philistines saw that their champion was killed, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah gave a shout and pursued them as far as Gath and Ekron. David took the head of Goliath and brought it back to Jerusalem along with Goliath’s armor. *** David was brought before Saul and was introduced to Jonathan who loved David immediately. Jonathan made a covenant with David and loved him as his own soul. He gave David his robe, his armor and even his sword, bow and belt. This was a prophetic act giving David his place as the next king. *** The biggest takeaway I get from this historic story is that like David told Goliath exactly what he expected to happen, we need to tell the devil just what is going to happen in our lives. We can declare our destiny when we know what God’s destiny is for our lives. David knew that the Philistines were not to rule over them. We know that Satan is not to rule over our lives, also. *** In John, Jesus did the same thing to his enemies. He told them that he was leaving and they would not be able to find him but they would die in their sin. They thought that Jesus was thinking of killing himself and go to hell but he told them that they were the ones from hell and he was from heaven. Unless they believed that he is, they will die in their sins. *** They didn’t understand what he was saying, so he told them that when they lift him up, they will know that he came from his Father and spoke for him, and did his will. Many did believe in him. *** Lord, may we declare our victory over sin and death. May we speak truth over our lives, our family and our nation. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.