Daily Devotions
Fjeldberg – Devotion for July 16, 2024
READ (1 Samuel 17:41-50)
41 The Philistine (Goliath) came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer
in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for
he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 The Philistine said to
David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed
David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give
your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.” 45 But David
said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I
come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel,
whom you have defied. 46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and
I will strike you down and cut off your head, and I will give the dead bodies of the
Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the
earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel 47 and that all this
assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear, for the
battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
48 When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the
battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone,
slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his
forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the
Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand.
REFLECT
I recently saw a small bird attacking a large hawk’s tail feathers. I suppose the hawk
had gotten too close to the small bird’s nest but whatever item of bird etiquette the hawk
had violated the little bird was chastising him for it. The hawk still hadn’t gotten away
from him as they flew from sight. Put me in mind of David and Goliath. Goliath, the
champion warrior of the Philistines, had been mocking Israel’s army demanding
someone come fight him but none took the challenge. Then David, a young shepherd
boy, stepped out to meet him with only a staff and a sling. With his trust in God and with
the Lord’s help David won. The lesson for us is no matter how desperate a situation
seems if we keep our trust in God it will work out in ultimate victory.
PRAY: Lord help us to remember, that just like David, You are on our side to help us
deal with whatever situation we encounter. Amen
Devotions by Larry W