David and Goliath

David vs Goliath

David was a shepherd at the time he faced off against Goliath.  He went to take food to his older brothers who were in the Israelite Army.  At the time it was a common custom for the armies to have two champions face of against each other to fight to see who won the battle.  Goliath was a huge Philistine soldier who was mocking the Israelite Army.  David was offended by Goliath's mocking of the People of Israel.  David felt like it was an affront against God.  To David's surprise, his brother got angry at him and even called him naughty.  But David;s complaining about Goliath was passed on to the King of Israel, Saul.  Saul and his soldiers were at their wits end.  Goliath was challenging the Israelite king to send a "champion" out to fight Goliath to decide who won the battle.  None of the Israelite soldiers wanted to fight Goliath.   David told King Saul that he, David, would kill Saul.  

Goliath was at least 9 feet tall.  He also was clothed in armor from head to foot.  David was facing off against what most reasonable people would consider impossible odds.  Even so, David was incensed at Goliath for mocking 

King Saul tried to have his servants put armor on David.  David said that he was not proved with that so he went out to face off against Goliath with nothing but his shepherd clothes and a sling.  David was a good shot with the sling.  He had previously faced off a lion and a bear that attacked his flock of sheep.  

David had faith in God that He would protect him from Goliath.  Goliath mocked David as David approached.  Goliath saw that David had his shepherd's staff and said, "Am I a dog that you come at me with staves?  Come to me and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the fieldT!"  Then  David told him that he, David, was coming against him in the name of the God of the Armies of Israel and that he, David, would kill Goliath.   David also said that he Lord saveth not with sword or spear.  David ran toward Goliath.   David then placed a smooth stone from the brook (creek) and put it in his sling.  He swung the sling around and let the rock fly.  I wonder if David had practiced for hours out while tending the sheep.  But David also had his faith in God and in my opinion God's help.  

David's rock sank deep into Goliath's forehead.  It definitely knocked Goliath out, but maybe killed him.  To be sure, David took Goliath's own sword and lopped off Goliath's head.  The Children of Israel or Israelite Army must have cheered and charged the Philistine Army.  The Philistines would have been so disheartened at the loss of their champion that they fled in terror.  

Years later David himself became the most famous of all the Kings of Israel.  

See 1 Samuel chapter 17 for the whole story.