1 Samuel 17:12-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
1 Samuel 17:32-37 English Standard Version (ESV)
32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “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.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
DEVOTIONAL
SOAP: 1 Samuel 17:14-15
David learned to trust in God as He tended sheep. Because God had faithfully delivered him from evil in the fields, David never doubted that God would help him defeat the giant on the battlefield. David understood that the power to defeat the enemy came from God, not his own cunning. His job was to humbly obey God and stay faithful to the task. Whether he was tending sheep, running errands for his father, or facing a giant, David’s desire was to please God, not to gain acclaim.
Right now, you may feel insignificant in the world’s eyes, but God sees your willing heart. Ordinary acts of obedience like David’s can make an extraordinary difference. As we choose to trust God and obey in small ways, God is pleased with our sacrifice and often multiplies our impact.
Lord, help us to shepherd well whether we are in a small field or large one. May our heart’s desire be to please You alone. Amen.