It Wasn't David's Strength

1 Samuel 17:49 (NKJV)

49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

Reading this verse alone would allow our imagination to run wild with the image we had of this guy named David. By itself, we may think of a professional wrestler type, six and a half feet of steroid aided muscle with aggression to match. Maybe a superhero type with a cape and funny looking underwear on the outside of their spandex pants… why wear those on the outside anyway? Well, that is another devotional I guess. Maybe we think of a soldier with sparkling armor decked out with the latest in weaponry. All of course would be far from the truth. David, a youth not even strong enough to walk in armor, is anything but the image we would suppose if this verse sat alone.

Where Does Our Strength Come From?

Ephesians 6:10–11 offers us the following… (10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… David in his youth was not strong enough to battle and defeat a giant, let alone Goliath the champion, his strength came from the Lord. The question is, how often do we rely upon our own strength versus the times we depend on His? If you are anything like me, you come to the end of your strength before asking for His.

He Will Not Forsake Us

The Lord promises us time and time again that He will not leave us nor forsake us. Why is this delivered to us over and over? Because, at the heart of the matter, we are people of little faith. Our walk can be going well, maybe even for years, but what happens when hit a trial or tribulation? Our faith dwindles to a mustard seed, does it not? When we should be depending on God the most, is usually the time we are most likely to doubt His great strength and plan. Instead, we ought to follow David’s example in 1 Samuel 17:37… (37) Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

Seek His Strength

1 Chronicles 16:11 reminds us… (11) Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! You see, His strength is waiting there for us, but we must seek it! When your back is up against the wall, when you feel there is no way out, when you have come to the end of your strength (preferably before), we ought to be on our knees begging for His strength instead of measuring our own.

Closing Thoughts:

By himself, with his own strength, with his own intellect, with his own plan… David probably loses. How foolish are we when we head into a fight or trial with our own strength when His is sitting there for those who seek it? Seek the Lord in all we do and He will be faithful to deliver!

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”