God Delivers the Faithful
The rejection of a king after the people’s heart (Saul) sets the stage for the choice of a king after God’s own heart (David).A young shepherd with a disposition more suited to the pasture than the palace, David possesses few claims to fame. He is a good marksman with a sling, an excellent lyre player and the youngest of eight sons from an insignificant family in Bethlehem. But his heart attitude is one of undivided devotion; a quality readily visible in the way David dispatches the Philistine giant Goliath and handles Saul’s jealous attacks.
Lord,we Remember Yr Deliverance: Saul said to David: You are not able to go against this Philistine; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth…(But) David said: The Lord Who Delivered me from the paw of the bear, He Will Deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (1 Sam 17:33-37). Then David said to the Philistine, You came to me with a sword, with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to You in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel whom you have defiled… So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone and… killed him (1 Sam 17:45-50)
Father God, just as You taught David to trust You when he killed the bear and the lion, prepare me for the battles I will face one day. And when I reach those battles, remind me I had overcome in other situations and that as You were with me then, You will be with me again. Give me the courage of David to take up the armour of God, for with it I can overcome anything. Amen.
Lord, help us remember our past deliverance and know that You will continue to be our Deliverer. Help us have the same perspective of David where size of the giant is irrelevant, for Goliath was puny when compared with almighty God. Help us to be trained in the power of God, fixing our eyes on You God, then we’ll not fear the giant. Amen.
Lord, remind us that prayer is not something that only happens in the quietness of a moment. Prompt us to cry out to You whilst in battle & desperate moments for deliverance may be a prayer away. Strengthen our faith in You so that we’ll not forget or give up praying. And enable us to stand strong in prayer, giving thanks for Your presence and deliverance. Amen.