1 Sam 17:38-58
Saul tries to contribute to David’s success by giving him his armor. But after trying them on, he says to Saul: “…’I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.’ And David took them off.” (39) David did not trust in great armor, but in who God is and who the enemy is comparatively. So he took his stick, five stones in his shepherd’s bag, and with his sling in hand faced Goliath. While Goliath came with confidence in himself and his weapons, David came with confidence in His God: “…’You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you taunted.’” (45b). David not only killed the Philistine, but the fate he was threatened with became the fate of the Philistine army. Saul missed the key factor in victory by asking: “…’Abner, whose son is this young man?’…” (55c). This victory was not attributed to his heritage, his skill or his personal gifting, but to his trust in God! Where is our faith today? As we face giants today we cannot put on the armor of our enemies or predecessors, but advance by confidence in our God?
