1 Samuel 17:31-37 / WHO & WHOSE.

1 Samuel 17:31-37 / WHO & WHOSE.

There is a true story in 1st Samuel about a shepherd boy and a giant. The boy was David – the future king of Israel. The giant was Goliath – standing over nine feet tall, he went to the battlefield each day to mock the Israelites and the God they served.

One day, David came down from watching his family sheep and heard what Goliath said. As the giant insulted God, David took great offense and told those around him that he would fight the barbaric soldier across the field.

Then we come to verse 31:
31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”37 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.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

I just want to point out two things about David’s exchange with King Saul in regard to our identity in Christ.

First, David knew who HE was in God.

David said, “I went after him (a lion or bear)…I caught him by his beard and struck and killed him…”

David recognized that there were moments that God had used him to do powerful things and he had the faith to believe God would use him again to defeat the giant.

David wasn’t bragging, as much as he was reflecting on the different times he had seen God working in his life. And when faced with a challenge that tests your confidence in your identity in Christ, I would challenge you to do the exact same thing.

Take some time to think and pray back through your life and see where God has worked in and through you. And then ask Him for the confidence to believe He will do it again.

Second, David knew who GOD was in him.

After reflecting on what God had done through him, David was quick to point out that it was God who had accomplished it.

“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.”

David knew who he was in God, but he also knew who GOD was in him! Even at a young age, David had seen God’s faithfulness and power in his life. It was then through that power that David knew he could take on the giant.

As you face your next challenge – spend some time reflecting on who God is.

What have you seen Him do in your life and others? How have you seen His power displayed? If not personally, how do you see it displayed in Scripture?

Don’t let the gravity of your situation overshadow the omnipotence of God.

What you are facing might be daunting. It might be very heavy and hard to carry.

But don’t lose sight of the awesome God who loves you and loves to display His power and kindness in and through His children.

Know WHO you are. Know WHOSE you are.

With much love,

Pastor Dave