King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Defeating The Giant
Date: Monday March 26, 2012
Today's Chapters: 1 Samuel 17-18

Hello My Friend,

It is not always easy being a Christian, especially when temptation and trials seem to engulf us the more faithful we are to God. However, those who endure receive more than eternal life they will be blessed abundantly. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him...Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves...But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” - James 1:12,21,22,25.

It was not long ago that the Philistines were defeated by Israel and they would have had a complete victory if it were not for Saul's strict ration during the battle. It did not take long for the war to pick up where it left off, this time the Philistines were determined to take back control of Israel. Their secret weapon, a giant named Goliath. He challenged Israel to produce a man who would decide the war by a single combat with him. “And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” - 1 Samuel 17:8-11.

Quite often when we are faced with a difficult challenge we see it as they saw Goliath, impossible to defeat, but that is because we are looking at the surface of the difficulty. However, if we just take our eyes off the surface and look to God we can find hope and perhaps even victory if we simply have faith in Him. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Hebrews 12:1,2.

David, had been sent into the camp by his father, Jesse, with provisions for his elder brothers who were serving in the army, as soon as he heard the challenge he accepted it himself. Of course, everyone, including his brothers thought he was crazy for even being there, but he would not listen. His secret weapon, God.

“Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army...And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid...And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?..David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” - 1 Samuel 17:19-21,24,26,37.

David's armor, a shepherd's staff, a shepherd's bag, a sling shot, and God. Along the way he sought out five smooth stones from the brook-valley, and put them in his bag. He then took the sling in his hand, and went up to Goliath. As Goliath boasted of his strength, David boasted of the strength upon the Almighty God in Israel, whom would deliver him.

“And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine...And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel...And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.” - 1 Samuel 17:40,44-46,49.

The battle is God’s battle. If our confidence is purely in the power of God, rather than in any armor or power of our own, we may be certain that we can face the challenge and win with God's armor. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” - Ephesians 6:10-13.

Of course, often with victory comes one more challenge, those who had no faith that we would be conquerors. As soon as David returned and Saul saw the fame he got for defeating Goliath, he began to be jealous of him. The occasion for his jealousy was the celebration of victory at the close of the war with the Philistines. Saul had now, in effect, proclaimed war with David.

“And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward...And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.” -1 Samuel 18:6-9,28-30.

How did David respond to Saul's attacks? He behaved himself. Saul knew that God was with David and that made him even more jealous, people really hate to see Christians prospering, especially when they are doing the right thing. We are not going to get anywhere or prove anything by bringing ourselves down to their level, but we can give it all over to God and let Him take care of it. David went through a lot of trials before and after he became king, but he would have never gotten as far as he did without his faith in God. “On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” - Job 23:9,10.

Today's Psalm: 1:3 - “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Today's Proverb: 27:6 - “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Today's Prayer: God, It's not always easy to do the right thing when faced with difficult circumstances, but I know that as long as my eyes are on You I can endure them and even see blessings come out of them. Lord, walk with me, give me Your power to face the giants before me, I know I cannot defeat them alone, but I can see victory when I put my faith and trust in You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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