In the days of King Saul, the Israelites were at war with the Philistines. The Philistine army had a champion named Goliath, a giant over nine feet tall, who challenged the Israelites to send out a warrior to fight him. Goliath’s challenge struck fear into the hearts of the Israelites.
1 Samuel 17:4-7:
“A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.”
For forty days, Goliath taunted the Israelites, but no one dared to face him. David, a young shepherd boy, was sent by his father to bring food to his brothers who were in the army. When David heard Goliath’s challenge, he was filled with righteous anger.
1 Samuel 17:26:
“David asked the men standing near him, ‘What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?’”
David’s faith in God gave him the courage to volunteer to fight Goliath. Despite his youth and inexperience, he convinced King Saul to let him go.
1 Samuel 17:37:
“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
David refused to wear the king’s armor, choosing instead to face Goliath with his sling and five smooth stones. As he approached Goliath, the giant mocked him, but David stood firm in his faith.
1 Samuel 17:45-47:
“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’”
With a single stone from his sling, David struck Goliath on the forehead, and the giant fell face down to the ground. David then used Goliath’s own sword to kill him and cut off his head, securing a great victory for Israel.
1 Samuel 17:50-51:
“So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.”
This story is a powerful reminder of how faith in God can help us overcome even the greatest of challenges.
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