Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading –Thursday October 27, 2022

Theme: THE END OF THE WICKED

Text: “This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.”

– 1 Samuel 17:45-47.

Comment: When David a mere shepherd-boy volunteered to fight the giant, King Saul was quick in dismissing his offer saying, “…Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33) But David related to the king how God had given him strength to kill a lion and a bear, saying, “…The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…” (1 Samuel 17:36, 37) Unable to carry the heavy armour of soldiers, David had to fall back to the sling and stones which he was familiar with. “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” He continued with the words of faith as in the text for today.

 

When David slung the stone at the giant, it sank into his forehead and he fell. (1 Samuel 17:50) It could be seen how frail and uncertain life is, and that trust in power and strength rather than in God is vanity. See Jeremiah 9:23,24; Psalm 62:6-8.