Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 17:1-11.
“Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines. The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.” Again the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” 1 Samuel 17:1-11.
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“The fear of man brings a snare,
But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.” Proverbs 29:25.
Israel had to fight Goliath in that day, and “they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” Verse 11.
Today, we too have to fight our own Goliaths, so to speak.
But, there was hope for Israel in that day, and there is hope for us today.
Remember God’s Word. There is hope no further away than the prior chapter. “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; …” 1 Samuel 16:7. Although this was the LORD’S reply to Samuel who thought the LORD was going to choose Jesse’s son Eliab to be the next king, we can apply this Scripture to Goliath. In other words, we should not fear man, but rather, we should fear God.
There is also hope in the Scripture that was quoted in the prior devotions such as the following Scripture that was in the devotion two days ago.
“12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.
13 The LORD looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
“16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.” Psalm 33:12-22.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 