1 Samuel 17:34-35 There came a lion…and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him…and smote him, and slew him.
Read 1 Samuel 17:32 – 37.
If you want to avoid responsibility, an alibi is always handy. In David’s case, all he would have needed to report was that a lion had appeared, snatched a lamb from the flock, and ‘how sad, too bad!’ David, however, was built of sterner stuff. ‘I went out after him!’ he said. Next came Goliath: nine feet tall, heavily armed, and seemingly unbeatable. David, who had just arrived at the military encampment with food for his brothers and for their captain, heard the giant’s cursing challenge and immediately asserted himself: ‘Who is this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?’ (17:26) Saul and his people were saying, ‘He’s too big to kill!’ David was saying, ‘He’s too big to miss!’
David combined several qualities which we may well emulate. First, he faced challenges with God. ‘The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear . . . will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine’ (17:37). God did it before; He could do it again! Second, our young hero was wise enough to work with familiar equipment. When King Saul pressed the royal suit of armor upon him, David said, ‘I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them’ (17:39). Instead, he ‘took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had…and his sling was in his hand’ (17:40). Why five stones? Someone suggested that David believed in being prepared: the giant had four brothers! (2 Sam. 21:19) Third, David used his skill (aiming at the one unprotected place on Goliath’s exterior, his forehead) while depending on God: ‘The battle is the Lord’s!’ he said (1 Sam. 17:47).
Small thought here. In any crisis, there is always a way to win. Use your human best, while depending absolutely on your blessed Lord!
This devotional was written by Dr. Robert A. Cook. You can subscribe to his free email articles at Walk With The King Today and listen to his Spirit-filled 15-minute messages. Used with written permission.
