April 2, 2025
1 Samuel 17:28-40 (HCSB)
28 David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”
29 “What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.” 30 Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before.
31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him. 32 David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”
33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”
34 David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
38 Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor. 39 David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.
Chris Bray
One of the lessons we should glean from David is the value of preparation. Because of his meticulous preparation and practice, he achieved major accomplishments throughout his life. He sought excellence in everything he did, including the use of the weapon that took Goliath down! If David’s preparation had involved more TikTok than scripture memorization, God would still have loved him, but he wouldn’t have experienced everything God had for him. If his earbuds were delivering more country music than positive ancient messages, God would still have loved him, but He would have given the huge opportunities to live abundantly to someone else. If David had allowed a fear of missing out to overwhelm him while he tended his sheep, he would have missed out on the truly awesome. He was as resolute in his preparation for life as he was indignant about sin in his world. As a result, God recognized him as a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). We will encounter giants in our lives. With the gifts and tools we have been offered, we can be victorious over them. Surely, the benefit of preparation is one of David’s greatest lessons to us.
28 David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”
29 “What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.” 30 Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before.
31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him. 32 David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”
33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”
34 David answered Saul: “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
38 Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor. 39 David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.
Chris Bray
One of the lessons we should glean from David is the value of preparation. Because of his meticulous preparation and practice, he achieved major accomplishments throughout his life. He sought excellence in everything he did, including the use of the weapon that took Goliath down! If David’s preparation had involved more TikTok than scripture memorization, God would still have loved him, but he wouldn’t have experienced everything God had for him. If his earbuds were delivering more country music than positive ancient messages, God would still have loved him, but He would have given the huge opportunities to live abundantly to someone else. If David had allowed a fear of missing out to overwhelm him while he tended his sheep, he would have missed out on the truly awesome. He was as resolute in his preparation for life as he was indignant about sin in his world. As a result, God recognized him as a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). We will encounter giants in our lives. With the gifts and tools we have been offered, we can be victorious over them. Surely, the benefit of preparation is one of David’s greatest lessons to us.
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