I Samuel 17:1-54
Dear RTB’ers,
I said yesterday that God choosing David over his seven brothers was a great Sunday School story. However, I don’t think there are any Old Testament stories that can beat today’s reading. When our son was just learning to read (well enough!) he was fidgeting badly in church one Sunday, so I opened the pew bible to I Samuel 17 and had him read that story. He loved it! The next week he asked me for that same chapter, and the next week, and after that he would find it on his own without asking. He then continued reading further in I and II Samuel until he became a “David scholar”. He even joined me one Sunday in helping me to lead our Adult Forum group when the topic was David. Sweet memories!
The story is what it is for children. But it also has a message for us adults. A couple of verses stand out. First, And David said to the men who stood by him, “ … For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v. 26) The Israeli soldiers were looking only from their own perspective, not at all looking to God for deliverance. Sadly, his words of encouragement fell flat, especially with his older brother. But David has confidence in his Deliverer: 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.” (v. 37) Finally, David speaks his most famous words directly to Goliath: “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a 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. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and … all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and … that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hand.” (vv. 45-47)
So, the question adults typically ask when we discuss this chapter: “Why did David take five stones?” I’ll leave you with that!
Blessings!