Like smooth stones, they’re all we need. 1 Samuel 17.40-45
Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Samuel-Chronicles (2)
Pray Psalm 78.1-5
Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children…
Sing Psalm 78.1-5.
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
Give ear, O my people, attend to my word,
dark sayings and parables sent from the LORD,
things we have before by our Fathers been told,
which we would not dare from our children withhold.
The glorious deeds of our God in His might,
and all of the works He has done in our sight,
together with all of the words of His Law,
would we on ourselves and our children bestow.
Read 1 Samuel 17.4-11, 38-51; meditate on verses 40-45.
Preparation
1. How did David prepare to fight Goliath?
2. What was the outcome of his victory?
Meditation
We are focusing on kings in this installment of our study of Jesus throughout the Scriptures. We’re taking this tack because the kings of ancient Israel and Judah—well, some of them, at least—not only point forward to Jesus but this entire period reminds us that two kingdoms define our world and two rulers claim sovereignty over it. The false and foolish kings of Israel and Judah ruled for self and unto the destruction of their kingdoms, just as Satan is all about himself, and his kingdom is in its death throes. Meanwhile, the good kings of Judah—several of whom we will consider in this series—point to Jesus and His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. His is the Kingdom that prevails, the Kingdom into which we have been conveyed and on behalf of which we are ambassadors.
But how is such an unlikely victory accomplished? After all, Satan has nations, institutions, and mega-billions of forces, spiritual and human, enlisted in his cause. The weapons of our warfare (Eph. 6.10-20) seem paltry by comparison. The world mocks and scorns them. But, like David, we have the Name of the LORD upon us, and we trust in His might and His Word. We are committed to His agenda and to strong and courageous obedience to our King. We seek daily victories by small steps and in every small area of our lives, because we know the giants of wrong-belief can be tumbled by the humblest gesture of love or the merest Word of truth. As Luther wrote, teaching us to resist the devil, “One little Word shall fell him.”
The wrong-believing world and its demonic monarch flee the Presence of the Lord Jesus. And He makes that Presence known in, to, and through us as we walk in obedience to His Word.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands” (1 Sam. 17.47). So said the youth David to the giant Goliath.
And so says God, to all His children through all of history—even now.
The world is armed with sword, spear, and javelin; but we are armed with a shepherd’s staff, five smooth stones, and a sling through His Word and Spirit.
When Jesus was born, His people were still expecting a King on a big white horse, wielding weapons of earthly warfare, to rescue them. Would they never learn? Will we?
We do not serve a God Who will rescue us through tanks or bullets or bombs.
We do not serve a God Who means to rescue us through politics or governments or judges.
We do not serve a God Who desires to impress with fiery speech or eloquent tongue.
We serve a God Who rescued us for Himself through His perfect Son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 6.23; 5.8; Eph. 2.8,9).
And He gifted us with His Holy Spirit to enable us to fight the good fight with His armaments (Eph. 6.10-20).
“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6.10).
And why does God choose to do it this way?
“That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Sam. 17.46).
The same is true for today.
Why is God victorious through fruits of the Spirit instead of guns and knives and other forms of mayhem? Because this is the way of righteousness.
This is the way of peace.
This is the way of holiness.
This is the way God chooses to win.
Because the battle is not of this world.
The battle is a spiritual one.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6.12).
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 Jn. 5.4, 5).
There is no law against “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5.22, 23). Let us, as God’s children, sling these smooth stones out into our Personal Mission Field to see the many victories He will win on our behalf. That all the world may know there is a God in all the earth—wherever we reside—for He is everywhere (Ps. 139.7-12).
These are the weapons—This is the victory of King Jesus.
Reflection
1. What are the weapons God has given us to make progress in His Kingdom (Eph. 6.10-20)? How adept are you at wielding these?
2. How do you experience the Lord being with you throughout the day? What can you do to enhance your awareness of His Presence with you always?
3. What “Goliaths” are you facing today? How should you prepare to do battle with them?
The security and presumption of fools destroy them. Nothing can excel the humility, faith, and piety which appear in David’s words. He expressed his assured expectation of success; he gloried in his mean appearance and arms, that the victory might be ascribed to the Lord alone. Matthew Henry (1642-1714), Commentary on 1 Samuel 17.40-47
Pray Psalm 78.56-72.
Thank God that He provides for all your daily needs and seek forgiveness for any times you have failed to be grateful for His provision. Look to Jesus, meek and lowly but exalted and glorious, and call on Him to equip you for today’s battles in the spiritual warfare.
Sing Psalm 78.56-72.
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
Yet over and over they turned from His love
and scorned Him Who ruled them from heaven above.
His glory departed, they fell to their foes
and suffered His wrath in uncountable woes.
While they were still suff’ring, He rose in His strength
and fought for His people and saved them at length.
From Judah a king He set for Israel,
a temple He built with His people to dwell.
Now Jesus, God’s servant, is King evermore,
and we are His people, and He is our Lord.
His heart is upright as He leads by His hand
and causes us ever before Him to stand.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
