1 Samuel 12 - 24 : The giant vs. the runt

- I'm taking this:  Samuel preached a sermon to the Israelite people and said this: "God took delight in making you into his very own people" (1 Samuel 12:22). This is for me and for you today. God takes delight in making us into his very own people!

- War & peace:  The good judges in the book of Judges brought peace to the people. Unfortunately, King Saul did not. "All through Saul's life there was war" (1 Samuel 14:52). It was a "bitter and relentless" time, says 1 Samuel. Not good.
- Disappointing God:  Saul didn't listen to God, even when God let it be known that obedience was better than sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22-23). "God was sorry he had ever made Saul king in the first place" (1 Samuel 15:34-35). Saul got worse as he got older and became angry, depressed, bitter, and murderous.
- The boy who would be king:  As a result of Saul turning away from God, Samuel went and anointed David, at God's direction. David was the runt of the family, out tending the sheep. An unlikely candidate for a warrior king. (1 Sam 16:11).
- A rush of wind:  On the day of his anointing, the Spirit of God entered David like a rush of wind, "God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life" (1 Sam 16:13).
- The giant:  David volunteered to fight Goliath. This was crazy, for many reasons.

• David was young and inexperienced
• He had no armor
• He was tiny compared to Goliath, who was ten feet tall
• No one supported his decision
• No one else was foolish enough to go up against the giant
• Everyone was watching

- He did not walk:  But none of those things mattered to David, who was filled with the Spirit and empowered by God. And of all the amazing facts on this story, this hits me the most:  David ran to the field of battle to meet Goliath (1 Sam 17:48-49). What tremendous courage and surrender to God's call. Lord, give me that kind of courage.
- Saul didn't get it:  This amazing man, David, was first appreciated by King Saul. But later, when David began to win the hearts of the people, Saul hated him and tried to kill him.



Elena's verse of the day:  "Does the Lord really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He wants you to obey Him" (1 Samuel 15:22).