1 Samuel 17:1-31
Now that David had been appointed king, God took his Holy Spirit from Saul and replaced it with a tormenting spirit. When he was troubled and depressed - as he now, often was - members of Saul's court suggested calm music to sooth him, so he called for a musician to come play for him. His servants suggest, none other then, David because he was a skilled harpist and warrior. So Jesse sent David, bearing gifts and David played for Saul when he was troubled. Saul enjoyed it so much, he asked Jesse to let him just stay there to serve in his court permanently; and so he did.
So, Saul's reign is on the downslope and he has his successor working for him...he just doesn't know it yet. Meanwhile, the Philistines are ready to war, again, against Israel. The two forces lined up on opposite sides of a valley and waited for each other to make the first move. At that time, a common battle tactic was to let the strongest warrior from each side fight each other and the loser's side would surrender to the winner's side.
Well, the Philistine's best warrior just happened to be Goliath. As I'm sure many of you know, Goliath was a formidable creature. He stood somewhere between seven and ten feet tall (depending on your source) and he wore massive armor, including a helmet, chest and leg plates, and a heavy, weighted javelin. Every day, he would come out and taunt the Israelites, daring them to come over and challenge him. But, they were afraid and dared not move. They just sat there in cowardice and took it, day after day after day - for forty days!
So one day, as David was bringing his brothers some food, per his father's instruction, he witnessed this embarrassment for himself. Goliath came out and did his usual taunting and threatening, and David couldn't believe his eyes - more about that later. Then the men told him about the king's reward for defeating him; his daughter for a wife and a tax free life for the whole family!
That caught David's attention. He began to ask around, getting verification from other troops that what he had been told was correct. It was true, but his inquiry angered his brothers and word of it got back to Saul, who then sent for him.
Sometimes, issues in our lives can seem like Goliath did to Israel; too big to defeat, too strong to challenge. We can't even think about the problem, much less face it, without cowering in fear or running from it. It seems insurmountable and makes us feel hopeless. Even the prospect of some reward for overcoming is not enough to push us into a fight against it. But, that is just a matter of perspective, which will be covered in the next lesson.
Lord, we know that you have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Please help us to walk in your Spirit; by faith and not sight. Remind us, when we forget, of your love and promise of protection and victory. Let us not be afraid of the arrow by day, nor terror by night for you are our refuge and safety. Thank you, God, that we can trust completely in you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Now that David had been appointed king, God took his Holy Spirit from Saul and replaced it with a tormenting spirit. When he was troubled and depressed - as he now, often was - members of Saul's court suggested calm music to sooth him, so he called for a musician to come play for him. His servants suggest, none other then, David because he was a skilled harpist and warrior. So Jesse sent David, bearing gifts and David played for Saul when he was troubled. Saul enjoyed it so much, he asked Jesse to let him just stay there to serve in his court permanently; and so he did.
So, Saul's reign is on the downslope and he has his successor working for him...he just doesn't know it yet. Meanwhile, the Philistines are ready to war, again, against Israel. The two forces lined up on opposite sides of a valley and waited for each other to make the first move. At that time, a common battle tactic was to let the strongest warrior from each side fight each other and the loser's side would surrender to the winner's side.
Well, the Philistine's best warrior just happened to be Goliath. As I'm sure many of you know, Goliath was a formidable creature. He stood somewhere between seven and ten feet tall (depending on your source) and he wore massive armor, including a helmet, chest and leg plates, and a heavy, weighted javelin. Every day, he would come out and taunt the Israelites, daring them to come over and challenge him. But, they were afraid and dared not move. They just sat there in cowardice and took it, day after day after day - for forty days!
So one day, as David was bringing his brothers some food, per his father's instruction, he witnessed this embarrassment for himself. Goliath came out and did his usual taunting and threatening, and David couldn't believe his eyes - more about that later. Then the men told him about the king's reward for defeating him; his daughter for a wife and a tax free life for the whole family!
That caught David's attention. He began to ask around, getting verification from other troops that what he had been told was correct. It was true, but his inquiry angered his brothers and word of it got back to Saul, who then sent for him.
Sometimes, issues in our lives can seem like Goliath did to Israel; too big to defeat, too strong to challenge. We can't even think about the problem, much less face it, without cowering in fear or running from it. It seems insurmountable and makes us feel hopeless. Even the prospect of some reward for overcoming is not enough to push us into a fight against it. But, that is just a matter of perspective, which will be covered in the next lesson.
Lord, we know that you have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Please help us to walk in your Spirit; by faith and not sight. Remind us, when we forget, of your love and promise of protection and victory. Let us not be afraid of the arrow by day, nor terror by night for you are our refuge and safety. Thank you, God, that we can trust completely in you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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