God's Grand Story: David’s Faith in God
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
32 “Your Majesty,” he said, “this Philistine shouldn't turn us into cowards. I'll go out and fight him myself!” 33 “You don't have a chance against him,” Saul replied. “You're only a boy, and he's been a soldier all his life.” 34 But David told him: Your Majesty, I take care of my father's sheep. And when one of them is dragged off by a lion or a bear, 35 I go after it and beat the wild animal until it lets the sheep go. If the wild animal turns and attacks me, I grab it by the throat and kill it. 36 Sir, I have killed lions and bears that way, and I can kill this worthless Philistine. He shouldn't have made fun of the army of the living God! 37 The Lord has rescued me from the claws of lions and bears, and he will keep me safe from the hands of this Philistine. “All right,” Saul answered, “go ahead and fight him. And I hope the Lord will help you.”
1 Samuel 17:32-37
Memory Verse
1 Samuel 17:37
37 The Lord has rescued me from the claws of lions and bears, and he will keep me safe from the hands of this Philistine. “All right,” Saul answered, “go ahead and fight him. And I hope the Lord will help you.”
Have you ever been treated like you were too young or small to do certain things? Maybe you were the last one picked to join a team on the playground, or a bully picked on you because of how you look. Maybe a grown-up sized you up and decided you couldn’t handle a job that needed doing. It hurts when others don’t see all the great gifts God has placed inside you. But instead of staying sad or mad about it, be like David.
David was the youngest son, caring for his dad’s sheep. Though a lion and a bear were much bigger than David, they were no match for the God watching over him. With God’s help, David protected himself and the sheep from these wild animals. So, when a giant human named Goliath from Philistia tried to attack David’s people from Israel, David was sure that God would protect him again. Yet no one believed him. Why? Because they saw him as just a little shepherd boy.
But there was more than meets the eye. Although David was just a boy, he had more faith in God than his big brothers, his dad, the soldiers, and even King Saul! That’s why God chose David to be the next king—not because he was the biggest or the strongest, but because he trusted God with all his heart. And with that giant-sized faith, David defeated the mighty Goliath! So here’s a fun saying to remember: “Little becomes much with Father God’s touch.”
Prayer
Father God, thanks for choosing me to be your child. Help me to believe that you can do great things through me, even if others don’t believe in my abilities. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.Related Resources
Jenée V. Giles-Hamilton
Jenée V. Giles-Hamilton is a wife, TV writer, and homeschools two of her four sons (ages five years old to 21). She loves searching for the perfect picture books to read to her younger sons and Bible devotions to share at family dinners. She also enjoys caring for their two cats: Nano-Rex and Santi Cat.