Week 2
No doubt, David had faced formidable opponents before. I would not want to go up against a
lion or a bear without a high-powered rifle. All he had was a stick (shepherd’s staff), a sling, and
a few stones.
But this was different. David was going up against a hardened warrior. Goliath had killed many men in battle, and there was no one in the entire Israelite (Hebrew) army that had the courage to face him. This giant of a man was over 9 feet tall, wore heavy armor, had a shield and a spear with an iron point that weighed 15 pounds! Everyone’s knees knocked together when they saw him. Everyone except David.
King Saul finally agrees to allow David to go out and face Goliath, simply because he was afraid to do it, and he had no one else. King Saul probably had no hope that David would last very long, so he gives David his armor. That should buy him a few more minutes of life. This is what happens next.
But this was different. David was going up against a hardened warrior. Goliath had killed many men in battle, and there was no one in the entire Israelite (Hebrew) army that had the courage to face him. This giant of a man was over 9 feet tall, wore heavy armor, had a shield and a spear with an iron point that weighed 15 pounds! Everyone’s knees knocked together when they saw him. Everyone except David.
King Saul finally agrees to allow David to go out and face Goliath, simply because he was afraid to do it, and he had no one else. King Saul probably had no hope that David would last very long, so he gives David his armor. That should buy him a few more minutes of life. This is what happens next.
1 Samuel 17:39-40 (NIV)
39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine [Goliath].
39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine [Goliath].
David takes the armor off. It does not fit him. He goes out against Goliath with his staff, sling
and stones that he had used as a shepherd. The battle is over as quickly as everyone expected –
only it is Goliath who is lying on the ground.
How often does the world, which includes family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors, try to fit us with their armor in doing battle with life. We need the armor of the right job, income, car, house, or even toothpaste to live a happy life. Or perhaps we need the right connection of people or activities to be involved with to make it through life. All of which seems to “fit” them, but we know that it does not fit us. None of these things provides true happiness or make us fit for life.
Only God’s ways truly fit us and make us fit for life. David knew that and went into battle with the resources God had given him to use in the past. David trusted that it would be God who would deliver him and not armor, shields or spears. God’s ways and his promises may not seem like much of a match against the power and might of the ways of the world, but they are more than enough. God designed the world, and he has designed us. He truly knows what fits us. He will deliver us, if we trust and follow his lead.
What “Goliaths” are you facing? What giant is laughing at you, and telling you that you do not stand a chance? Listen for the voice of God. Enter his house. Not just to hide, but to know how to do battle. He will teach you and fit you for battle. You will be able to stand tall and know that you are not alone. For you are never alone, when the Father is by your side.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.
How often does the world, which includes family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors, try to fit us with their armor in doing battle with life. We need the armor of the right job, income, car, house, or even toothpaste to live a happy life. Or perhaps we need the right connection of people or activities to be involved with to make it through life. All of which seems to “fit” them, but we know that it does not fit us. None of these things provides true happiness or make us fit for life.
Only God’s ways truly fit us and make us fit for life. David knew that and went into battle with the resources God had given him to use in the past. David trusted that it would be God who would deliver him and not armor, shields or spears. God’s ways and his promises may not seem like much of a match against the power and might of the ways of the world, but they are more than enough. God designed the world, and he has designed us. He truly knows what fits us. He will deliver us, if we trust and follow his lead.
What “Goliaths” are you facing? What giant is laughing at you, and telling you that you do not stand a chance? Listen for the voice of God. Enter his house. Not just to hide, but to know how to do battle. He will teach you and fit you for battle. You will be able to stand tall and know that you are not alone. For you are never alone, when the Father is by your side.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.