May 27

1 Samuel 17

Goliath the Philistine challenges Israel’s army.

INSIGHT

When God goes to war, there are no accidents. Just as He uses Gideon and an army of only 300 to rout the Midianite army that was “without number,” so He uses a boy with a slingshot to rout the Philistine army. In 2 Chronicles 18:33, “a certain man drew a bow at random,” but it “struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor.” There are no accidents when God goes to war. We can take comfort in this fact in relationship to the spiritual warfare in which we all find ourselves. The obstacles may seem insurmountable. But if we are on God’s side, no foe is too great.

PRAYER

Offer to the Lord this psalm of praise as you rejoice in the power He uses in controlling the events of history:
We have heard with our ears, O God,
Our fathers have told us,
The deeds You did in their days,
In days of old:
You drove out the nations with Your hand,
But them You planted;
You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
Because You favored them (Psalm 44:1-4).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord-how long? (Psalm 6:1-3).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me (Psalm 138:7).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater courage in the midst of trials
• Your pastor
• Whatever else is on your heart

Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands (Psalm 138:8).