1 Samuel 17; 1 Chronicles 2; Acts 12

He had the title. They had the training (and the equipment and each other). Yet, they were scared. Goliath was big and loud and threatening.

¹¹ When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken. (1 Samuel 17:11, NLT)

But David ran.

⁴⁵ David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! ⁴⁷ And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

⁴⁸ As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. ⁵¹ Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. (1 Samuel 17:45-51, NLT, emphasis mine)

He did what he could with what he had, knowing that he had trained, and knowing who’s battle it ultimately was. And to finish the threat, he used Goliath’s own weapon against him.

Father God, give me courage and faith in you to run. I am afraid of so many big and threatening things. Please equip me to stand in you, to run in because of you, to speak your truth. I hate that fear paralyzes me, silences me, pushes me down. Help me to train and be ready. Help me remember whose battle it really is.

Courtney (66books365)