April 3, 2025

1 Samuel 17:41-49  (HCSB)
41 The Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!”
45 David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel’s armies—you have defied Him. 46 Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, 47 and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.”
48 When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

Chris Bray
David’s victory over Goliath is greater than an example of ‘faith in God.’ It shows what faith in God does when applied appropriately. Fruitful faith entails doing that which grows and matures your spiritual self and refraining from things that will stunt it. Any other shepherd boy, with no experience in a fight, who never had his courage tested, and who never mastered his weapons, who attempted to defeat Goliath, would have been part of a totally different story regardless of whether that shepherd boy claimed he had “faith in God”. David had faith in God, no doubt. However, he put his hands, feet, and mind to his faith and, as a result, was a blessing to himself, his people, and God. If we believe that our faith in God will benefit us or those around us without putting that faith into practice, we are mistaken and on a path of disappointment. If, however, we have faith and link up with God, His spiritual laws, and His people, we, too, can honor Him and be a blessing to others and ourselves. Be a David! Use his example and resolve to work toward participating in and witnessing great things from your faith!