Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 90: David and Goliath

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read 1 Samuel 15-17.

I'm going to skip over the next thing Saul does wrong, and get right into Goliath's story.

So, Goliath is a giant Philistine warrior, who challenges anyone in Israel to come and fight him. But none can stand against him.

Now, Samuel has just anointed Jesse's youngest son, David, as the next king over Israel. David is just a young shepherd boy, but he has already killed both a lion and a bear that stole lambs from his flock, through God's help.

So, as per his father's wishes, David goes to see how the battle is going and to bring his brothers some food.

There, he hears Goliath's challenge.

And David says "who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" - 1 Samuel 17:26

David goes to Saul, who has promised his daughter's hand in marriage to the man who can slay the giant, and tells him that he will go out against the Philistine warrior.

Saul tries to give David his own armor and sword (in those days not everyone would have their own), but they don't fit, and David refuses them.

He says that he only needs God, who has already delivered him from the hand of the bear and the lion.

He takes his sling, and five smooth stones, and goes out against Goliath.

And when Goliath taunts him, David says this:

1 Samuel 17:45 - Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you..."

Goliath rushes David, but he stands firm.

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh, goes his sling.

And then he lets one stone fly. It hits Goliath between the eyes, and he falls to the ground. 

And so David won the battle against the Philistine who had struck such terror into the hearts of the Israelites, without even a sword in his hand.

Then, David cuts off Goliath's head, and the Israelite army rushes to fight the remaining Philistines.

It doesn't matter how big you are, or how much experience you have. It doesn't matter how big your enemy is or how much experience they have. Remember how big your God is, and that when He fights for you, no one can stand against you. That doesn't mean there will never be challenges. Only that He will see us through them.

Remember David's story when you're in the midst of trouble. Remember that he only believed that his God was bigger than the giant he faced, that his God could, and would see him through the challenge and give him what he needed.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read 1 Samuel 18-20.