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DAVID PROMISED TO KILL THE PHILISTINE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21
1 Samuel 17:1-28

Psalm 101:1-5

 

“I will behave myself wisely

in a perfect way…”

 

DAVID PROMISED TO KILL THE PHILISTINE
 
At the battlefront, Goliath drew near every morning and evening and presented himself for forty days. The army of Israel was kept in suspense as they did not know what to do. When Jesse sent David to bring food to his brothers, he obeyed and left the sheep with the keeper and went his way. He did not realise the significance of that trip.
 
David came to the place where the army of Israel was facing the Philistines. The threat of defeat for Israel was real; he heard what the Philistine champion said. The men of Israel were greatly frightened and they fled from the Philistine. All in Israel remained at the battlefront not because they hoped to win, but because they were simply obeying orders from their commander. They had already surrendered in their hearts. They did not know that courage to the end was needed for success in any war. David was not enlisted in Saul’s army. However, when he heard the words of Goliath, he wanted victory for Israel. His secret was his faith in God.
 
David was told that any man who could kill the Philistine, the king will enrich him with “…great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel” (1 Sam 17:25). It was a generous offer, but none of them in Israel was willing to take up that challenge. David saw beyond the fear that filled the hearts of the army of Israel. He was determined to take away the reproach from Israel. He called Goliath the uncircumcised Philistine who defied the army of the living God.
 
David pinned his hopes on God, not on external might. His trust in God was his hope, and he saw victory for Israel. He spoke to the people that stood around him to confirm what the king had promised as a reward for the person who would kill the Philistine giant, and take the reproach away from Israel. The people affirmed the king’s promise. His brother, Eliab, was not supportive. He chided him with bitter words, but David was not discouraged.
 
THOUGHT: I must always fear God.
PRAYER: Father, may I always see hope in difficult circumstances, for Thou art my source of comfort and assurance.

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