1 Samuel 17:31–40- June 6th- Reading the Bible Daily with Dave
In today’s episode, Dave Jenkins walks us through 1 Samuel 17:31–40, where David stands before King Saul and recounts God’s faithfulness in his past battles with a lion and a bear. As Saul doubts David’s ability to face the giant Philistine, David confidently declares that the Lord who delivered him before will also deliver him from Goliath.
David refuses Saul’s armor and instead chooses to trust in God’s preparation—not man’s strength. This passage reminds us that victory comes not from appearances or tools, but from faith in the living God.
Reflection and Themes
Before facing Goliath, David first had to overcome Saul’s doubts and unbelief. Saul, Israel’s king, had been bested by the Philistine and was paralyzed by fear. David’s bold faith and trust in God contrasted with Saul’s reliance on worldly strength and appearance.
David’s readiness was grounded in past experiences of God’s deliverance and his conviction that the Lord would again save him. Rejecting Saul’s armor symbolized his refusal to trust in human power, choosing instead to rely on God’s provision and faithfulness.
Key Themes:
- God prepares His people through real-life trials
- Courage is based on God’s past faithfulness, not human reassurance
- Spiritual battles are not fought with worldly weapons
- Trust in the Lord is our greatest strength
Subscribe and Listen
Thank you for joining today’s episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave. May the Lord richly bless you and keep you as you trust Him to fight your battles.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
