The Life Of David
Pt. 10 Pick Up Your Stone!
1 Samuel 17:22-54

CHALLENGES are a gift to you from God
Once Samuel anointed David as the next king of Israel, David went back to protecting his father’s sheep (1 Sam. 16:13). Later, when the Philistines invaded Israel at Socoh to control a major trade route, King Saul led Israel to battle them in the Valley of Elah. God creates challenges to test the faith of the faithful (James 1:2-4). With Israel’s army on one side and the Philistines on the other, their champion Goliath, who was over 9 feet tall, came out for 40 days to challenge any Israelite to fight him. When David arrives to see his brothers in the army, he hears Goliath mocking the God of Israel. David is angered that God is blasphemed and His people treated with contempt. God does great things in the world with those who are concerned for His greatness in the world! Hearing David’s passion, his oldest brother Eliab, reacts in jealous anger and tries to belittle him, telling him to go back to the sheep. Leaders will often find themselves alone, even from those who are on the same team!

FAITHFUL action is a gift from you to God
Once David is brought to king Saul, he tells him he will kill Goliath like he killed lions and bears when they tried to kill his sheep. God often builds off a believer’s previous faith and expands it to do something more amazing. Believers should have a divine résumé of God’s work in their life. Saul agrees to let David fight and tries to fit him with his armor, but because David is not used to them, he refuses to wear any. The tools of the faithless won’t work in the battles of the faithful! As David left to fight Goliath, he picked up five stones from the stream not knowing how many he would need. Seeing David without armor or sword, Goliath curses him by the Philistine gods and claims he will tear his limbs off. When you are discouraged or fearful, keep in mind that God waits on the other side. You can’t lose when you live for God! As David runs toward him, he puts a stone in the sling and hits Goliath in the head, killing him with one shot. He then takes Goliath’s sword, cuts off his head, and brings it back to faithless king Saul. A stone is worthless until it finds the hand of the faithful! Even the chosen must choose to do God’s work. God does what we can’t, we are to do what God won’t! When your goal is to use your gift for God’s glory, God is glorified, and you are satisfied. God can use small faith to do huge things!