David: Youngest but Bravest

"David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem." (1 Samuel 17:14-15)

David was the youngest but as we can see from 1 Samuel 17, he was the bravest among his siblings and as a matter of fact, among all the Israelites on the battlefield. David also is a responsible young man. Even though he probably preferred to be in the battlefield with the big boys (I can imagine it looked all exciting to him), he still kept up his responsibility of tending his father's sheep. The future king (already anointed by Samuel) was still willing to do such lowly tasks. That's humility, integrity, and obedience.

Since David was the youngest, his family didn't expect much from him. King Saul certainly didn't expect him to be able to fight Goliath. However, David did not let other people's low expectation of him deter him from doing what he knew as the right thing to do. David was zealous and concerned about honoring God and resented Goliath for defying the armies of the living God. Do you listen to naysayers and get discouraged? Instead, you and I must listen to our Shepherd's voice and follow His leading and His calling for our lives, regardless of what mockers or enemies say.

In the world's eyes, a shepherd boy is not equipped to fight a fierce warrior like Goliath. But God has equipped and prepared David in the fields of his everyday life for this fight. David recounted how God helped him kill both the lion and the bear in order to rescue the sheep. "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." (1 Samuel 17:37a) David's experiences as a shepherd were his building blocks to become a great warrior and king. More importantly, they displayed God's power and faithfulness to him upon which he would rely throughout his life. Remembering God's faithfulness in our lives is one way to strengthen our faith. Bloom where God plants you. David was overlooked by everyone else but handpicked by God! Despite how other people viewed him, David had God-confidence and that was enough.

Prayer: Lord, please give me strong faith, courage, humility, and integrity of heart like David's! Thank You for Your faithfulness in my life! Help me to overcome any giants in my life with faith and confidence in You. May You be glorified and magnified in my life, my marriage, my children, and my ministry!