Cartoonology Devotional 04-15-09

Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics.

The story of David and Goliath is one of the most favorite stories from the Bible. It is found in 1 Samuel 17:40-52. David, the shepherd boy, was able to slay the giant, Goliath, with a simple slingshot and one stone. None of Israel’s finest soldiers were willing to take him on. None of David’s older brothers were even brave enough. This story holds many lessons for us.

1. No one is too young or too small to be used by God.
2. God often chooses to use unlikely, common people for His purposes.
3. God often uses unconventional means to accomplish His will.
4. No challenge is too big for God’s people when they trust in Him with simple faith.

I like what one person said, “The great army of Israel thought Goliath was too big to hit, but little David though he was too big to miss.” While David was tending his father’s sheep, his brothers were off fighting the Philistines in King Saul’s army. Their lives seemed the more noble and important. However, God was preparing David for this historic event. David had fought and killed lions and bears with his bare hands in order to defend his father’s flock.

1 Samuel 17:36 (NKJV)
36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."

David realized that he did not have to depend on his own strength. Notice to whom he would give the glory for this great victory.

1 Samuel 17:37 & 45 (NKJV)
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!"
45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

David was no great warrior, but he only did what he knew to do with what he had. His faith in the one, true living God is what inspired him. As a result, God blessed David to later become a great warrior and to one day be Israel’s king. God will do the same for you and me. We might not become kings, etc., but we will find purpose and meaning for our lives and God will bless us.

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 04-15-09

edrynn@verizon.net