October 13 I Saturday

Isaiah 41-42

1 Thessalonians 1

"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.”

—1 Samuel 17:47

Both Saul and David were chosen by God for leadership, anointed by His Spirit, and demonstrated His power when they stepped out in obedience to Him. But in the story of David and Goliath, Saul was on his way down and David on his way up. Where Saul’s fear undermined His obedience, David confidently trusted God.

Forty days into a battle with the Philistines, David’s father sent him to bring food to his brothers and their commanders. Not long after David arrived on the battlefield, Goliath issued his challenge and the Israelites fled. David asked around why no one was fighting, and when this was reported to Saul, he was brought before the king where he offered to fight.

Saul dismissed David as a young man, but David replied, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth” (1 Samuel 17:34-35). David knew that if a lion or a bear got a sheep today, it would be back for another tomorrow, and as a good shepherd, David refused to let that happen. He then assured Saul of the source of his confidence, saying, “This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them...The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:36-37).

We do not catapult into spiritual maturity. What goes on between us and God in private will either weaken or strengthen how we trust Him in public. If we depend on our own ability or choose to disobey in little things, we will struggle to trust and obey God when we face big things. But when we prove God in small, personal moments of trial, we will be equipped with confidence in Him to face Goliath-sized crises when others are watching.

Goliath scoffed when an unarmoured young man approached him on the battlefield, but David was far from unarmed. He had no sword or spear, but he faced Goliath confident that God would grant him victory. His confidence was not misplaced. Using a sling and a stone, he defeated Goliath, and when the rest of the Israelite army saw, they “surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines...” (1 Samuel 17:52). It is not only our faith that is bolstered when we step out in obedience and dependence on God, but as others who are hungry for His strength and presence see our faith, they will also be emboldened to find their confidence in the Lord.

Prayer: Thank You, God, that confidence in You is never misplaced. Let others see and believe as I increasingly trust You as the source of my strength and victory.