Devotion
The Strongest of Them All...
The contest between David and Goliath is one of epic proportions. In fact, these names have made their way into our modern language describing situations where one party appears to hold all the advantage over the other one.
Goliath, a champion in the Philistine army, was nearly 3 metres tall (We think our Mr English is tall at just under 2 metres!) With his strength and height, Goliath was quite the imposing figure. He was intimidating with his threats and confident that he could outmatch anything that would come against him. So, when little David turned up, he sneered at the prospect of someone so insignificant even being in his presence!
He didn’t have any understanding of what he was really facing.
You see David knew God! As a shepherd, he spent hours with God out in the open. God showed him how to protect his flock from lurking dangers. David grew in confidence and faith that God was with him and would meet all his needs. David knew that God was bigger, stronger and more powerful than anything he would ever face, including Goliath!
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel 17:45 NIrV
David’s superpower was God himself! The result was swift and decisive.
We may not ever meet someone as big and threatening as Goliath... but perhaps we might experience ‘Goliaths’ in different ways.
Take, for example, our concerns about situations we may face... If left unchecked they can grow into worry. Worry that steals our peace. Before we know it, worry can morph into a ‘Goliath of fear’. And fear can be intimidating. It demands attention, robs us of rest, negatively impacts our relationships and health and is downright destructive. It can leave us overwhelmed and helpless.
What can we do?
We can take a leaf out of David’s book. We can remember that God is bigger, stronger and more powerful than anything we will ever face. We can hand these things over to Jesus who, through the cross, destroys them. And then we can receive what he wants us to live with... His peace, love, hope and promise to be with us always.
David, after his encounter with Goliath, faced many other challenges through his life... But he met each one, secure in his relationship with God who loved him. As a musician he wrote many songs describing his relationship with God.
From Psalm 18:1,2
I love you LORD, my strength. The LORD is my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. NIV
Our invitation, like David, is to live in the security of God’s love, protection and provision.
How might this influence your day today?
God bless you,
Georgie
Sunday Service Times at Good Shepherd
2025 Worship Song Playlist
Do you find yourself wondering what songs we sing in Wednesday Worship? Do your children come home singing some of the songs? We would like to invite you to our Good Shepherd School Worship Song Playlist on YouTube. To find a selection of songs that we sing, click here and start singing along!