Daily Devotions

Fjeldberg – Devotion for July 16, 2024

READ (1 Samuel 17:41-50) 41 The Philistine (Goliath) came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.  42  When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.  43  The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  44  The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.”  45  But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and 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.  46  This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head, and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel  47  and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.” 48  When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.  49  David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. 50  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand.

REFLECT I recently saw a small bird attacking a large hawk’s tail feathers. I suppose the hawk had gotten too close to the small bird’s nest but whatever item of bird etiquette the hawk had violated the little bird was chastising him for it. The hawk still hadn’t gotten away from him as they flew from sight. Put me in mind of David and Goliath. Goliath, the champion warrior of the Philistines, had been mocking Israel’s army demanding someone come fight him but none took the challenge. Then David, a young shepherd boy, stepped out to meet him with only a staff and a sling. With his trust in God and with the Lord’s help David won. The lesson for us is no matter how desperate a situation seems if we keep our trust in God it will work out in ultimate victory.

PRAY: Lord help us to remember, that just like David, You are on our side to help us deal with whatever situation we encounter. Amen

Devotions by Larry W