1 Samuel 17:38-50
38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 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.
41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
Related Text:
2 Samuel 21:15-22
Psalm 27
Hebrews 11:32-34
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Facing a giant warrior and certain death, David knows the Lord will be victorious; and if victory comes from the Lord through a young boy, then so be it. I always get goose bumps when I read 1 Sam. 17:45, “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’”
David isn’t guessing that the Lord will be victorious. He isn’t hoping that God will be mightier than this giant Philistine that stands before him. He knows. He knows without any doubt in his mind or heart that God will be victorious. Man I wish I could live like this 24/7. It seems like life is a constant battle between worries, fears, uncertainties and plain old tough decisions vs. our faith and trust in God Almighty. Accepting Jesus as our savior is an overall lifestyle change. Complete reversal of how we were living before we came to Christ. Part of the new life Jesus has given us (it’s s Huge part) is to live our life trusting in God, knowing without any doubt that He is in control.
I know that is easier said than done. And it may take small steps at first. But we must live in faith and hope and trust in our Savior. We must be in communication and a relationship with the one who died for us. He will give us His strength when we seek Him.
