1 Samuel 17:16, 20-24
Verse 23 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.
David wasted no time in obeying his father, early the next morning he left his flock with another shepherd, gathered all the supplies and headed off on his 15 mile journey. This would have taken him a few hours and we don’t know if he traveled with a group or had a donkey or such because it is unlikely he was going to carry the 36 pounds of grain, ten loaves of bread and ten cheeses all by himself for 15 miles.
Upon arriving at the warzone David hands over the supplies and then hurries to find his brothers. Like any little boy he was excited to see his big brothers and like most young boys, he was likely curious about war. But his timing was not what the brothers would have wanted. As he was talking the giant, Goliath, came out for his battle cry. He had already been doing this for 40 days, twice a day, morning and evening.
To this young man it must have been both exciting and terrifying. For his brothers, they were annoyed and terrified. Why did the kid have to come at this moment? The giant’s bellow came and as the other 80 times the men of Israel retreated from fear. David may not have been in a warzone before but this was not likely what he expected. Wasn’t war about fighting each other, not running?
After 40 days you would think that the Israelites would stop lining up against the Philistines but each time they lined up. While not engaging the enemy, they were not giving up the line either. This can be how we are in life sometimes too. We keep having the enemy call us out to battle but we don’t always actively fight the temptations. We may just stand there and look at them, contemplating what we should do or maybe we give in.
There are times in life when we struggle with what we should do. We are willing to fight the temptation but when it comes, it seems bigger than we can handle. But there was a young shepherd boy who knew something each of us should learn, we aren’t alone in the battle.
Making It Personal
What temptation in your life seems like a daily battle? How do you deal with it? Do you see God there with you in the struggle?
Making It Personal Kids
What are some things that tempt you? What do you do when you are tempted? Have you asked Jesus to help you fight temptation?
Closing Prayer
Father, temptation is something we all deal with. Help us remember how Jesus dealt with it through quoting Scripture. Father, help us learn more of Your Word so we can see how You want us to fight against temptations. In Jesus’ name, amen.