10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 37 David said moreover, “The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said unto David, “Go, and the LORD be with thee.”
1 Samuel 17:10:10; 32; 37 (KJV)
This battle between a shepherd boy and the hero of the Philistines made the shepherd boy famous in Israel. Saul’s army had forgotten the power of their God. They were quaking in fear because they failed to trust God in whom Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had trusted. They were looking at a man’s size instead of trusting God’s power. They were overcome by the reality that confronted them and it was bigger than anything they could fathom. But then a shepherd boy came on an errand from his father and showed them that God was still able to deliver them from the enemy.
How often do our realities seem insurmountable? If we only consider what we see, the challenge will always seem bigger than anything we can comprehend. We will quake in fear because we forget the God of victories. Yet, if we remember past deliverances — times when God has made us victorious — then we can say, “The Lord that delivered me from that other enemy, he will deliver me out of the grip of this one.”
Like that young shepherd from Bethlehem, we can rise up in faith, unafraid of the challenge because we know the Deliverer. Also like him, we can say to those around us, “Let not your heart be troubled because of this challenge, I am walking with God and I am not afraid of this enemy.” And perhaps someone will say to us: “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
Dear Father, thank you for delivering us from the enemy. Empower us with faith that overcomes all our fear. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today as you confront your challenges,