READING: 1 Samuel 15-17
In this year’s devotional studies, we’re focusing on spiritual warfare in the Bible — a theme that resounds through today’s readings.
First, there is the evil spirit that God allowed to attack Saul after He had removed the kingdom from the king (1 Sam 16:14-23). Saul had already tended to ignore his sin and blame others for his wrong — and now God gave the enemy permission to taunt him. While God is not the author of the evil, and nor does He tempt Saul with evil, He does sovereignly use an evil spirit to accomplish his plan as he takes the kingdom from Saul and transfers it to David (in fact, it is through these demonic attacks that Saul is acquainted with David). Here we see again what we will learn throughout the Scriptures: the devil is NEVER outside of God’s control. God may give him a much longer leash than we would like, but the leash is ALWAYS in God’s hand. That’s good news for us when the battle is intense.
Second, it’s David the shepherd boy who takes on Goliath the giant, knowing clearly that “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam 17:47). In the power of the One who delivers “not by sword of spear” (1 Sam 17:47), the shepherd takes down the giant who had called on his own Philistine gods for power and protection (1 Sam 17:43). The giant was huge, but He was no match for David’s God; his false gods of his own culture could do nothing to protect him from the only true God.
Finally, we learn in these chapters the greatest enemy we face: our own self. A demon may have haunted Saul, but it was Saul who chose to disobey God by not destroying all the spoils of war. He was the arrogant one, the rebellious one. He wrongly assumed that his religious rituals were more significant than a heart of obedience. He was his own biggest problem — not a tormenting spirit.
We have the same issue, so don’t blame the enemy for your sin.
ACTION STEPS: Consider these steps:
- If you find yourself under spiritual attack today, trust that the enemy cannot do more than God allows — and God always has a purpose.
- Evaluate this question in your life: do you let God fight your battles, or do you fight them on your own first?
- Recognizing that we’re our own biggest problem, spend some time confessing sin today.
PRAYER: “God, I’m grateful that the battle is yours, not mine. Grant me grace to remember that truth today and be obedient to You even in times of spiritual warfare.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Samuel 18-20