1 Samuel 17:33-37: a reflection

33Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” 34David said to Saul, “Your servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35I went out after him, struck him, and rescued it out of his mouth. When he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, struck him, and killed him. 36Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37David said, “The LORD, who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go! The LORD will be with you.”

When David offers to face Goliath and Saul doubts that a youth could stand against a seasoned warrior, David's confidence rests not on his own prowess but on remembering how God had delivered him before. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear, he says, telling how God had rescued him when wild beasts attacked his flock. And then he draws the conclusion: the LORD, who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. David faces the present challenge by remembering God's past deliverances; the God who saved him before, he trusts, will save him now. His confidence is not in himself but in the God whose faithfulness he had already known, whose past rescues gave him ground to trust for the present. Remembering how God delivered him before, David trusts him for the challenge at hand.

Notice how David faces the present challenge: by remembering God's past deliverances. He does not boast of his own strength or skill; he recalls how God delivered him from the lion and the bear, and reasons that the same God will deliver him from the Philistine. His trust for the present rests on God's faithfulness in the past. He had already known God's rescuing hand; and that memory gave him confidence for the new and greater challenge. The God who proved faithful before would prove faithful again. David's remembering was not mere nostalgia; it was the ground of his present trust, the reason he could face Goliath unafraid. Past deliverances, remembered, build present faith; the God who saved us before is the same God we face our challenges with now. Remembering how God has helped us before strengthens us to trust him now.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can face present challenges by remembering God's past deliverances. When a new and daunting challenge confronts us, we can feel we have no ground to stand on, no reason for confidence; but David remembered how God had delivered him from the lion and the bear, and trusted that the same God would deliver him now. The God who has proved faithful to us before is the same God we face our present challenges with. Remembering his past deliverances can build our trust for what lies ahead. When a challenge daunts you, remember how God has delivered you before, and trust him for the present, as David did. Face your present challenges by remembering God's past deliverances, trusting that the God who has helped you before will help you now, as David said the LORD who delivered him from the lion and the bear would deliver him from the Philistine; for the God who has proved faithful to us in the past is the same God we face our challenges with now, and remembering his past rescues gives us solid ground to trust him for what lies ahead.

Lord, when David offers to face Goliath and Saul doubts that a youth could stand against a seasoned warrior, David's confidence rests not on his own prowess but on remembering how you had delivered him before. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear, he says, telling how you had rescued him when wild beasts attacked his flock. And then he draws the conclusion: the LORD, who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. David faces the present challenge by remembering your past deliverances; the God who saved him before, he trusts, will save him now. His confidence is not in himself but in you, whose faithfulness he had already known. Show me how David faces the present challenge: by remembering your past deliverances. He does not boast of his own strength or skill; he recalls how you delivered him from the lion and the bear, and reasons that you will deliver him from the Philistine. His trust for the present rests on your faithfulness in the past. He had already known your rescuing hand; and that memory gave him confidence for the new and greater challenge. Past deliverances, remembered, build present faith. Take that to my heart, for I can face present challenges by remembering your past deliverances. When a new and daunting challenge confronts me, I can feel I have no ground for confidence; but David remembered how you had delivered him before, and trusted that you would deliver him now. You who have proved faithful to me before are the same God I face my present challenges with. When a challenge daunts me, help me remember how you have delivered me before, Lord, and trust you for the present, as David trusted you who delivered him from the lion and the bear.