The Great Shepherd

But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him.” 

1 Samuel 17:34-35 

Because of his disobedience and rebellion against God, Saul lost his place as Israel’s first king. The very God who had appointed him rejected him and instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king. God chose David, a young shepherd tending his father’s sheep. Samuel obeyed the Lord and anointed David with oil in the presence of his family. Yet David did not immediately take the throne. Instead, he returned to the fields, faithfully caring for his father’s flock.

Sometime later, David encountered Goliath, a mighty Philistine warrior who openly challenged Israel and defied the living God. While Israel’s soldiers trembled in fear, David stepped forward with unwavering faith. He had no military training, no impressive armor, and no experience fighting on a battlefield. But David knew something the others had forgotten: victory does not depend on human strength but on the power of Almighty God. Though Saul doubted the young shepherd’s ability, David trusted that the same God who had protected him in the past would deliver him once again.

Throughout history, Israel has faced enemies greater in number, stronger in military might, and determined to see her destroyed. Yet time and again, the Jewish people have endured, overcome tremendous adversity, and continued to flourish.

Today, Israel still faces extraordinary challenges, but she does not stand alone. The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David remains faithful to His promises.

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