David and Goliath Part 4 A Time of Testing

# 240 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 17:12-16, “Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.” ( 1 Sam 17:12-16) Nothing new here, just another recap of Jesse's family. His three eldest having been called into the service of Saul's army. David, who had been called into the kings court as a musician and gopher boy did not follow Saul into battle. The implication being that he was too young, not yet fit for battle. A little wet behind the ears. I am reminded of Paul's charge to young Timothy, “”let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim 4:12) A word for any young people reading this: Seek to be an example in these things, and don't worry, your time will come, and your age will not have anything to do with it. So David is tending the sheep, meanwhile Goliath is presenting his challenge twice a day for forty straight days. There's that number again. 40. It usually signifies a complete time of testing or judgment. Well guess what, the Israelites and Saul failed the test, and they were judged as lacking in trust of the Lord and lacking in zeal. Each one of us will be faced with trials and testings in our own lives and the question always boils down to this: Will we trust God or not? Listen again to Paul's advice to Timothy in 1Ti 4:15,16, “ Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” Meditate and continue in the doctrine, that is the Word of God and victory will come.