Year 4, Day 303: 1 Samuel 17

Theological Commentary: Click Here 

Discipleship Focus: Identity

• Identity: Our true identity comes from the Father.  Only when our identity comes from God can we be obedient in ways that satisfy our person to our core.

This chapter – while long – is a really neat chapter about identity.  You see, David knows his identity.  David hears about the battle when he is asked to bring some supplies to his brothers.  While he is there, he hears Goliath and becomes indignant.  He takes offense at Goliath’s insults leveled to God and sets out to resolve the issue.  He knows that he is God’s child and that he will find protection in the Lord.

This is a great perspective of identity.  Goliath is huge compared to this young David.  But David doesn’t get his identity from the world’s perspective.  David gets his identity from God and what God can do through him.  He could have easily believed that he was powerless against Goliath.  But through God, David knows that he is powerful.

Notice also that David refuses to wear the armor of King Saul.  David knows what his identity is not, too.  David knows that he is not a warrior.  David knows that he hasn’t tested the armor.  It doesn’t fit quite right. He cannot depend upon it.  So David casts off the armor and instead picks up 5 stones.  He only needs one – that’s how powerful God is.  But here is a clear case of David being successful because he knows what he is not.  He is not a warrior.  He doesn’t try to be one.  He focuses on his identity from God and lives that out.  And he finds success, because he is living as God would have him live.

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