Living By Faith: Lessons from David's Life

By Gabi Bemis

“What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.’ Saul replied, ‘You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.’ But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’ Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you.’”—1 Samuel 17:31–37 (NIV)

Before Katniss Everdeen uttered the phrase, “I volunteer as tribute,” David, a humble teenage boy from Bethlehem, bravely lived this out when he told king Saul he would fight against Goliath.

David saw a problem—God’s reputation had been challenged by His enemies—and he felt compelled to rise up, defend His people, and honor the name of God. While Israel’s army cowered in fear as Goliath tormented and ridiculed them for forty days, forgetting who their helper was, David was willing to stand up to his enemy. But how could David be so confident and bold in facing this giant?

David understood what many men in this story seemed to forget: Israel belonged to God, and an affront against them was an attack on Yahweh, the one true living God. David knew who God was, which allowed him to place his full trust in Him.

In the Book of Exodus, God reveals Himself to Moses as “I am who I am,” or in Hebrew, “I will be what I shall be,” meaning that God is the source of all our provision. David knew God intimately—he understood God’s character and trusted He would supply everything the Israelites needed to overcome their enemies.

David also had personal experiences with God. When Saul listed reasons why David couldn’t fight Goliath, David pushed back, recalling the times God had been with him in the past. He had seen God’s strength displayed in previous challenges, and he knew this time would be no different. David’s past experiences with God built his trust and taught him about God’s faithfulness and what He could do through him.

In our days of trouble, when we face opposition from culture, family hardships, or any other attack, may we boldly declare what David professed: “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Friend, God wants to use you boldly to do mighty things for Him. As you face the giants before you, choose to see them through the lens of faith and with God’s character in mind. Face your battles knowing that God will show up and work on your behalf, confident that “the righteous person will live by his faithfulness” (Habakkuk 2:4b NIV).

When opposition comes against us, may we remember that we belong to God and trust that He’ll be faithful to deliver us. May we seek experiences with God that strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with Him. Let our trust be wholeheartedly in the Lord, and may our faith rest in the one who is able to do exceedingly more than we could ask or imagine.

Pause: What experiences have you had with God that marked your relationship with him?

Practice: Look for an opportunity to share that experience with someone in need this week, and ask God how He might be using your current situation to deepen your relationship with Him.

Pray: Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. You promise to never leave or forsake me, so I know that no matter what I face, I can trust You to be my help and to provide. Give me more experiences with You, ones that will deepen my faith, refine my heart, and teach me more about You. I love You Lord. Amen.