Read: 1 Samuel 17:24-37
The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. (v. 37)
Something about being the youngest sibling pulls you, almost magnetically, toward your older siblings. Part admiration, part obsession, the youngest can somehow track the whereabouts of their elders, overhear the whisper of their conversations, and sense when they are on the verge of missing out.
The more we get to know David, the more it seems everything he does is truly directed by God. Of course, his older brother didn’t see it that way; Eliab assumed David just wanted to get in on all the excitement of the battlefield that he missed by having to tend the sheep. But we hear in the plaintive voice of David expounding to King Saul the stubborn pride of a young boy used to being scorned by his elder brothers. For once, he had something significant to offer—his calm assurance that God would deliver him from the menacing Philistine. Neither the disgust of an older brother nor the skepticism of a king would undermine God’s might.
The very best we can bring to any difficult situation is the knowledge that God will deliver us. Plenty of people will doubt; many more will waste away with worry. But we are called to stand firm in our faith, courageous and strong, an example of God’s love to all around (1 Cor. 16:13-14).
As you pray, express your deep trust in Jesus, and ask for boldness in displaying it.
About the Author
Katy Sundararajan is a specialized minister in the Reformed Church in America. She has garnered her pastoral perspectives from posts as a college chaplain, a missionary, an international student advisor, and a higher education and leadership ministries program coordinator.
