David: A Faith That Meets Adversity Head-On

David: A Faith That Meets Adversity Head-On

We make decisions every day. Some of those decisions lead us to be more like Christ, while others lead us away from the heart of God. We make decisions that lead us to an easier path or a path that requires much from us. Then are times when obstacles stand in our way. We can either remember that God isn’t surprised by what seems like an insurmountable obstacle and step toward it, or we can retreat. David saw his “giant” obstacles as an opportunity to trust God.

The Point: Faith moves with in God.

When have you experienced an experienced an unexpected roadblock or detour?

Read 1 Samuel 17:3-8

³ So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.

⁴ Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet^[a] tall! ⁵ He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds.^[b]6 He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. ⁷ The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds.^[c] His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.

⁸ Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me!

provides the opportunity to display our faith.

How do you typically respond when you’re up against a situation that seems impossible to overcome?

Read 1 Samuel 17:32-37

³² “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

³³ “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

³⁴ But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, ³⁵ I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. ³⁶ I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! ³⁷ The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

Past can grow our faith.

How has God’s faithfulness in the past helped you face challenges today?

Read 1 Samuel 17:45-47

⁴⁵ David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! ⁴⁷ And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

In the face of adversity, faith moves us .

What are some giants you’ve faced in your life?

If the battle is the Lord’s, what is our role in conflicts?

We make decisions that lead us to an easier path or a path the requires much from us. Then there are times when obstacles stand in our way. We can either remember God isn’t surprised by what seems like an insurmountable obstacle and step toward it, or we can retreat. David saw his “giant” obstacle as an opportunity to trust God.