Good morning. Today is Sunday, October 4th!

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— 1 Samuel 17:48

David didn’t just fight Goliath.

He ran toward him.

Put yourself in David’s shoes for a second. You’re about to run toward perhaps one of the scariest humans in history.

Goliath was huge, covered in heavy armor, carrying a massive spear. He even had another man walking in front of him carrying his shield.

Then Goliath looked at David, “despised him,” cursed him and said, “Come here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

Everything about this situation says keep your distance.

And David actually had a weapon that allowed him to do that. He had a sling. He didn’t need to get close to Goliath.

But then Goliath started moving toward him.

Watch what David did.

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.” 1 Samuel 17:48

He ran.

Not away from Goliath.

Toward him.

He didn’t stand there and wait for Goliath to come within range. He didn’t slowly walk toward him. He didn’t back up to give himself more room.

David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.

And the Bible has already shown us how unusual that was.

Earlier, when the Israelite soldiers saw Goliath, “they all fled from him in great fear.”

They ran too.

They just ran the other way.

For forty days, Goliath had been coming out every morning and evening. Israel saw him and backed down. Then David saw the same giant, heard the same threats, and ran straight toward him.

Why?

Look at what David says immediately before he runs.

“I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty.”

Then:

“The battle is the LORD’s.”

And then David ran.

That order is important. David didn’t say those things after the stone hit. When he started running, Goliath was still standing. David hadn’t thrown the stone yet. He hadn’t won anything yet.

In fact, verse 48 says David ran, and verse 49 says he reached into his bag and took out the stone.

He ran before he even took out the stone.

That’s how ready David was.

David had already remembered how the Lord rescued him from the lion and the bear. He believed “the LORD… will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Then he put that trust into motion.

The army saw Goliath and ran from him… David trusted God and ran toward him.

So yeah, the famous part of the story is the sling and stone, but don’t miss the run.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Father, You are greater than anything we face.

Confession: Forgive us for letting fear control us.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for being with us in every battle.

Supplication: Help us trust You enough to move forward when we are afraid.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

“Something About That Name” by Anne Wilson

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See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God