Devo for Beaverdam 2022

Unintentionally Awesome

The setup

1 Samuel 17:1–2 ESV

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:3–4 ESV

And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

Generational enemies, one more round in years of conflict

Enter the champion

Goliath was a monster, 9 feet or so tall

…and strong

125 pounds of chain mail

a 15 pound spear point!

Enter the hero

David…we know the story

He was the kid of Jesse’s family

Had already been ordained by Samuel to be the king after Saul…but never had moved toward the position—that was in chapter 16

He’d also been in Saul’s service as a musician

…music hath charms, doeth soothe the savage breast

We know how it ends

David kills the giant—but those little things in the middle we may miss

Things we must note

David never came to with the intent to be a hero

He was on a mission of mercy—bringing supplies to his brothers

He saw a problem

His character began to show through

He was offended on behalf of glory of God, the person of God

…who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God

Upon the death of Goliath, the army of Israel rallied, routed the dreaded Philistines

Takeaways

Most of our lives may be spent in relative obscurity

We may be doing the most menial of things when the opportunity for greatness arises

We should be alert for the opportunities to serve—and expect that God might use our actions for amazing, awesome things