Day 1133: Past victory, present faith. - 1 Samuel 17 vs 32 -40

32-33 And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”

34-36 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” 1 Samuel 17:32-40 English Standard Version

David is perhaps best remembered for being the man who wrote so many of the Psalms. And one of the most well known of these is Psalm 23 where David says that: “The Lord is my shepherd.” He goes on to say: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” How is it that David knew God's care in such a personal way, and when he was so young? We see the answer to that question in David's interaction with King Saul.

“Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Those were the bold words that David spoke to the King. While all of Israel cowered and trembled at Goliath's daily challenge, David was not afraid. Saul points out David's young age and inexperience as good reasons why he should not attempt to fight Goliath. But what was David's response in vs 34-36?

David spoke of past victories over foes that were seemingly stronger than he was. He speaks of taking wild beasts 'by the beard', and striking them down. That was no simple task. It took courage, and confidence in God. And David acknowledges God's hand by saying that:“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” He knew that it was God who had given him strength and skill to slay the lion and the bear, and God would give him the skill to slay Goliath. What a wonderful lesson to have learned in his youth!

Chapter 16 had ended by telling us that David was already skilled in playing the lyre. On many an evening while watching the sheep he must have passed the time making music to the Lord. And I wonder if any of the Psalms had their beginnings in those days of David's youth. The lesson is clear, we are never to young to put our trust in the Lord. We hear of many today who look back with sorrow at their 'misspent youth', and days given over to wild abandon.

So what preparation did David make? 1 Samuel 17:38-40 says: “Then Saul clothed David with his armour. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armour. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.”

David found the armour Saul offered him too heavy. He was not used to fighting with such gear. So he took his sling and chose five small stones from the brook. Though it would only take one stone to win the battle, he was not presumptuous. As Cromwell was reported to have said: “Trust in God, and keep the powder dry.” It's not wrong to plan for the battle that lays ahead, as well as to put our trust in God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.