TOPIC: YOU CAN SET YOUR FAMILY FREE
📖 TODAY'S TEXT:
1 Samuel 17:12-15; 23- 27
🔑 KEY VERSE:
the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches... and make his father's house free in Israel (1 Samuel 17:25).
🖊️ COMMENTARY
1 Samuel 17:12-15:
"Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul's time he was very old. Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem. For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand."
1 Samuel 17:23-27:
"As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear. Now the Israelites had been saying, 'Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.'
David asked the men standing near him, 'What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?' They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, 'This is what will be done for the man who kills him.'"
In these verses, we see the introduction of the young shepherd David and the context in which he confronts the Philistine champion, Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:12-15 provides background information about David and his family. David is described as the youngest son of Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem. At the time, David's three oldest brothers were serving in King Saul's army, while David himself was tending to his father's sheep in Bethlehem. The passage also mentions that the Philistine champion, Goliath, had been challenging the Israelite army for forty days.
In 1 Samuel 17:23-27, David arrives at the Israelite camp and hears Goliath's taunts. The Israelite soldiers are filled with fear and retreat in the face of Goliath's threats. David, however, is moved by Goliath's defiance and questions why no one is willing to stand up against him. He inquires about the rewards that would be given to the one who defeats Goliath, expressing his willingness to take on the challenge.
These verses set the stage for the famous encounter between David and Goliath, which unfolds in the subsequent verses of 1 Samuel 17. It showcases David's courage, faith, and reliance on God as he faces the seemingly insurmountable giant.
Let's delve deeper into the story and its significance:
The Context:
The Philistines and Israelites were at war, and Goliath, a giant champion from Gath, stepped forward as the Philistine representative. Goliath was an imposing figure, described as being over nine feet tall, and he challenged the Israelites to send out a champion to fight him in single combat. The Israelites were filled with fear and had not found anyone willing to face Goliath.
David's Arrival:
David, the youngest son of Jesse, was sent by his father to bring supplies to his brothers who were serving in Saul's army. When David arrived at the camp, he heard Goliath's taunts and witnessed the fear among the Israelite soldiers. David's heart was stirred with a desire to defend the honor of God and his people.
David's Confidence in God:
David's faith in God was evident as he expressed his willingness to fight Goliath. He shared his experience of defeating lions and bears while tending his father's sheep, emphasizing that God had delivered him from their attacks. David believed that the same God who had protected him in the past would deliver him from Goliath's hand.
Saul's Doubt and David's Persistence:
Saul initially hesitated to allow David to face Goliath because of David's youth and lack of experience in battle. However, David persisted and convinced Saul by recounting his past victories and expressing his trust in God. Saul eventually agreed and permitted David to fight Goliath.
David's Victory:
Armed with his slingshot and five smooth stones, David confronted Goliath. As Goliath approached, mocking and belittling David, David declared his trust in God and launched a stone from his sling. The stone struck Goliath in the forehead, causing him to fall to the ground. David then used Goliath's own sword to kill him, securing a resounding victory for the Israelites.
The story of David and Goliath teaches us several key lessons:
a) Faith and Trust in God:
David's unwavering faith and reliance on God enabled him to face and overcome seemingly impossible circumstances. It demonstrates the power of trusting in God's strength rather than relying on human abilities.
b) Courage and Obedience:
David's courage to step forward and confront Goliath, despite the overwhelming odds, inspires us to be bold and obedient to God's call, even in the face of adversity.
c) God's Deliverance:
The story showcases God's faithfulness and His ability to deliver His people from their enemies. It reminds us that no challenge is too great for God to overcome.
d) God Uses the Weak to Defeat the Strong:
David's victory highlights the principle that God often uses the weak and unlikely individuals to accomplish His purposes. It demonstrates that our perceived limitations do not limit God's ability to work through us.
e) The Battle Belongs to the Lord:
The story emphasizes that the ultimate victory belongs to God. David's success was not due to his own strength or skill, but because he placed his trust in God and allowed Him to fight on his behalf.
The story of David and Goliath serves as an enduring reminder of the power of faith, courage, and trust in God. It encourages us to face our own giants with confidence, knowing that God is with us and can grant us victory in any situation.
We all come from families and do face specific challenges. Many families are poor and relatively known in the land. Such families are in dire need of someone to bring them out of obscurity into limelight. There is no way David, the youngest member of Jesse's family, who kept the sheep in the bush, could have been expected to be the one that would cause the family to become free and well known in Israel.
His father had eight sons, the family was not a prominent family. But David feared the Lord and the Lord helped him to kill Goliath, a terror to King Saul, the army and the Children of lsrael. David's victory over the Philistine was the beginning of a new feat for David and His father's house.
You maybe the one your family has been waiting for. God can use you to set your family free. You can begin by introducing your family to Jesus and begin a chain of events that will completely transform your family. Do Something that will make a difference in your life and family. In fact, the choice to be the best in your place of assignment can be the lift that will take your family to the next level.
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🎚CONTROLLING THOUGHTS
My destinies are tied to yours. If you fail they will struggle, if you make it in life those attached to you will also make it.
🙏🏿 PRAYER TODAY
Father, help me to be an instrument in your hand to set my family free.
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