I Samuel 21:9-10
“The priest said, ‘The sword of Goliath, the Philistine you killed at Oak Valley—that’s here! It’s behind the Ephod wrapped in a cloth. If you want it, take it. There’s nothing else here.’ ’Oh,’ said David, ‘there’s no sword like that! Give it to me!’”
“‘I only have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah,’ the priest replied. ‘It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here.’ ‘There is nothing like it!’ David replied. ‘Give it to me!’”
Real life hits David in the face as he escapes. Hungry and weaponless, he was powerfully afraid. Now his trust in God must make a quantum leap, and he fails his first attempt. In preceding verses, he lies instead of telling Ahimelech the truth and it will have grave consequences. Finding Goliath’s sword and its memories was God’s reminder of faithfulness. He provided then, in the face of overwhelming odds, and would again. Even in this failure to trust, God provided David a reminder of his trustworthiness. Our God is powerful, more than a match for real life.
Lord, I see in creation your power and majesty. Sometimes it’s hard to translate that into the dark recesses of my life. Grace me to trust you no matter my circumstances. I need to remember you, who set them upon me for your good purpose, are far greater than they. Fear gets in the way. Please help.