1 SAMUEL 16-20: DAY 94 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
April 4, 2023
1 SAMUEL 16-20
DAY 94 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
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Focus Verses For Today: 1 Samuel 17:45-47
Today’s journey through 1 Samuel 16-20, is a study in contrast, contrast in character, contrast in faith, between King Saul and the shepherd boy, David of Bethlehem. As we consider these two men as we journey through the Old Testament, we learn that neither of these men were sinless before the Lord. It was how they responded to their sin that set them apart. It is what transformed shepherd boy David into a man after the Lord’s own heart.
Take some time to ask the Lord to reveal the true meaning of His word to you as we journey today through 1 Samuel 16-20. Read 1 Samuel 16-20, carefully listening for what the Lord may be sharing with you. Let’s journey!
1 Samuel 16-20: Following the direction of the Lord, Samuel anoints David, a 16-year-old shepherd boy, to be king of Israel, and the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David. David, anointed by the Lord but not yet king, takes on the Philistine giant, Goliath, killing him with a single pebble from a nearby creek bed, as the army of Israel cowered in fear. Shepherd boy David is set apart from King Saul and the men who comprised the army of Israel through his faith in the Lord. King Saul grows concerned over the intentions of shepherd boy David, turned soldier of Saul’s army. The Lord informs King Saul, through the prophet Samuel, that he would not remain king. Saul’s actions show that he had no comprehension of God and God’s power. Throughout the rest of our reading, a fickle King Saul tries to entice David into his control through bribery, marriage to King Saul’s daughter Michal, and, when that didn’t work, King Saul decided shepherd boy David must be killed. The Spirit of the Lord had left King Saul and Saul had given himself over to unrepentant sin. (1 Samuel 16:1-20:42)
Our focus verses for today:
45David 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. 46This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
(1 Samuel 17:45-47, NIV)
David wasn’t fighting for himself – he was fighting for the Lord. David knew the power of the Lord, shouting out that the Lord, not David or through David’s own strength, shall defeat not only Goliath but the armies of the Philistines that day. David knew his purpose. David knew his weaknesses. David knew his purpose was to serve the Lord. David knew his weakness was a life lived without serving the Lord. David knew the Lord would provide whatever was necessary to serve God’s purpose throughout his life. David knew the Lord. David, as we shall see later, was not perfect, but David knew, David knew, David knew the Lord. Do you serve the Lord with every fiber of your life? Do you know the Lord?
Godspeace!
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