The Book of 1st Samuel - Trust During the Battles

“It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” – 1 Samuel 14:6b

First Samuel is a book filled with stories about people who trusted God amid challenging times.  The prophet Samuel, the shepherd boy David, and the unsettled King all provide the reader with a picture of lives that were not easy, and yet God remained steadfast and faithful to these men during the storms of their life.
 
In the book of First Samuel we not only encounter the storms in the life of these three men, but also in the life of Israel.  The Ark of the Covenant falls into Philistine hands and this key moment is what ultimately sparks young David to battle the Philistine giant, Goliath.  

The stories contained in this book, provide encouragement for us today as we face the difficulties and trials of modern life.  Throughout the book, the Israelite people long for a king to be their ruler, despite God’s protests.  This theme along with King Saul’s lack of trust in God, and young David’s bold confidence in God’s saving work all serve to remind us that God can be trusted. In fact, God wants to be trusted.  As David says, as he rushes into battle against Goliath, “…it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s…” (1 Samuel 17:47a).  May we learn to trust God during the battles we face.