call:
The Lord be with you.
response:
And also with you.
call:
Today’s symbol is the sling. When everyone else in Israel was afraid, David trusted God to deliver him. David grew to be a king who showed Israel how to love and trust the Lord.
response:
Thanks be to God!
Scripture reading : 1 Samuel 17:3-11, 32-50
All of Israel’s army was trembling before the mighty Philistine warrior, Goliath. Every day, Goliath came out of his tent and shouted taunts at the Israelite army: “Send a champion to ght me! Are you all too afraid?” In those days, armies would sometimes choose champions to ght for them. They believed their gods would go with the champions, so that whichever god was stronger would win. Goliath was laughing at Israel, and at
Israel’s God: he was sure that he, Goliath, was stronger. Israel’s army and Israel’s King Saul agreed! They were too afraid to go out and ght Goliath, because they did not trust God to help them defeat him. It seemed impossible. But David believed that God was mightier than Goliath. He was able to be brave because he knew that it was God who would protect Israel, not armies and weapons. He showed the people of Israel that they should not be afraid, but to trust in the Lord.
pray:
Mighty God, if you are for us, who can be against us? Help us to trust in you. Help us not to be afraid. Help us to wait for you to save us, because you are faithful and strong. Amen.