September 5-11
Slaying Giants
Memory Verse:
Psalm 27:1 (NLT) The LORD is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
Day 1
1 Samuel 17
What made Goliath to be so intimidating (17:4-7)?
What was the Israelite response to the giant’s challenge (17:8-11)? Who should have rightfully fought Goliath (see 1 Samuel 9:1-2)?
Goliath kept coming back for 40 days (17:16) to challenge the Israelites. What are the giants that keep coming back in your life that will not go away?
What was the only way Goliath would go away?
Why do you think Eliab (David’s brother) was so critical of David (17:28)?
Why did David have such confidence to fight Goliath (17:34-37, 45)? Why is David ultimately the one “most qualified” to fight Goliath?
How is Saul’s trying to help David, by giving him his armor, actually hurting David (17:38-39)?
What was Goliath’s greatest weapon against the Lord’s anointed (17:41-44)? How did David counteract this (17:45-47)?
Why do you think it is significant David “ran” to meet the giant in 17:48?
Day 2
Psalm 27
What are the three ways David describes God in verse 1? How does this give David (and us) confidence?
What does David acknowledge happening in verses 2-3?
If you could have one thing from the Lord, what would it be (27:4)?
What is David’s response to God’s deliverance (27:5-6)?
David talks about seeking (27:4,8) and waiting (27:14). What is the relationship between seeking and waiting for a follower of Jesus?
How do we learn the ways of the Lord (27:11)?
Day 3
Psalm 121
As I read this Psalm I think about David lifting his eyes to the hills and I wonder what he would have seen. Two things come to mind. The first is the armies of the enemy. The battle of David and Goliath was fought in the Elah Valley. The Israelites would have formed ranks on one side of the valley. The Philistine army would have then formed ranks on the opposite ridge. So at this particular point in time, as David lifted his eyes to the hills on the other side, he would have seen the Philistine army.
Another thing David potentially saw when he lifted his eyes to the hills was the altars dedicated to false gods. Throughout ancient Israel there were “high places.” The high places were holy sites used for the purpose of worshipping and sacrificing to fertility gods known as Baals and Ashteroths.
In light of this, it makes sense for David to ask the question, “where does my help come from?” What is David’s confident response (121:2)?
What is the time of day that you normally sleep? Why is it significant God does not sleep during this time (121:3-4)?
Describe a time when the Lord protected you or intervened in your life?
Where is you coming – the places you are called to serve (121:8)? Where is your going – the place God is taking you both now and eternity (121:8)?
Day 4
Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Fame of Faith. List all the perfect people in this chapter:
Write your definition of faith:
What are they trusting in? Is faith for the present or the future or both? Why?
What was the result of these people’s faith?
God responded in amazing ways to these people’s faith. Yet at the end of this chapter he says he is not done. What is the something better planned for us (11:39-40)?
Day 5
1 Samuel 18
What were the blessing David received as a result of defeating Goliath (18:5-7)?
What were the consequences (18:8-9)?
Why was Saul so jealous of David? What did his jealousy drive him toward (18:10-16)? What are the negative consequences of jealousy you have seen in your own life and in the lives of others?
Why did Saul really send David to kill the Philistines (18:25)?
Do you think that at this point in time, David might have longed to go back to the shepherd’s field? What does all of David’s success bring him?
Life is filled with hills and valleys. David went from one of his highest highs to his lowest lows in a matter of days. But through it all, what was the one constant in David’s life?
