14 David was the youngest. The three oldest followedSaul,
15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend hisfather‘s sheep at Bethlehem. - P136
20 Early in the morning David left the flock in the careof a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had direct-ed. He reached the camp as the army was going out toits battle positions, shouting the war cry. - P138
23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistinechampion from Gath, stepped out from his lines andshouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. - P138
24 Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fledfrom him in great fear. 25 Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see howthis man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who killshim. He will also give him his daughter in marriage andwill exempt his family from taxes in Israel." - P139
26 David asked the men standing near him, "Whatwill be done for the man who kills this Philistine andremoves this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncir-cumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies ofthe living God?" - P139
Jesse‘s three oldest sons followed Saul to the battlefield while David tendedhis father‘s sheep at Bethlehem. - P137
Jesse tells David to take grain, bread, andcheese to his brothers‘ camp. As David talks to his brothers, Goliath comesout and shouts insults at the Israelites. - P137
David expresses outrage that thisuncircumcised Philistine dares defy the armies of the living God. - P137
Even in the small details of David‘s life we see a foreshadowing of hisgreatest descendant, our Lord Jesus Christ. David obeys his father‘swill by taking food to his brothers on the battlefield, but he does notneglect his duties as a shepherd. - P140
He makes sure his sheep are cared forin his absence. Like David, Jesus was obedient to His Father‘s will. - P140
HisFather sent Him into the world to provide something far greater thanphysical nourishment-He gave His own life as the ultimate remedyfor sin. - P140
When God called Jesus back, He ensured that His sheep wouldbe taken care of by His disciples and, even more importantly, He gavethem the Holy Spirit to guide and protect them. - P140
There is a clear contrast between how Saul and his army react to Goliath‘s taunts and how David responds. - P140
While the army cowers in fear,David is filled with righteous anger against this man who defies theLord. - P140
King Saul has offered a sizable reward to the man who kills Goliath, but this is not the reason David wants to challenge him. His mainmotivation is defending God‘s honor. - P140
When we see God‘s name publicly dishonored, it is all too easy to hide in fear like the Israelite army. - P140
But if we remain silent, we are letting the enemy win. Let us insteadbe like David and boldly speak up, taking decisive action whenever wesee God‘s truth attacked. - P140
Father God, thank you that You have appointed shepherds over me, to care forme and protect me. - P140
Please give me boldness to speak up when Your name isdishonored and the wisdom to know how to respond. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P140
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