There was once a giant soldier who was over nine feet tall. He towered over the other Philistines in his army. This giant stood alone in the valley between two armies and shouted at the army of his enemies, the Israelites. Every day he shouted to the Israelites to send him one soldier who would fight him, but none of the Israelites were brave enough to take his challenge.
The Israelites worshiped God. They knew about the many miracles that God had performed for them in the past. They had eaten manna in the desert that God provided. They saw God part the waters for them to cross the Red Sea and 40 years later he parted the waters of the Jordan River for them to cross into the Promised Land. And they saw the walls of Jericho tumble down when the Israelites followed God’s instructions to march around them seven times and then shout. But King Saul and his entire army trembled in fear of this giant soldier.
David was a young shepherd boy who guarded and protected his father’s sheep. He had learned how to fight off bears and lions that came to attack the sheep. He also passed the time singing praises to God and worshiping him. One day David’s father asked him to take food to the soldiers. When he arrived in the army camp he saw the giant and heard his murderous threats.
How dare he defy the army of the Almighty God? David thought. Then he said it out loud and began asking questions. When his three older brothers heard him they made fun of him and told him to go home and take care of his few sheep. But the king heard that David wanted to fight the giant and asked the soldiers to bring David to him.
When the king put his armor on David it was much too big and heavy for him. “I can fight this big bully as easily as I fought the Lion and the Bear,” David said. Then he took off the armor and gathered five smooth stones to put in his bag.
The giant laughed at David when he saw he was only a boy, but David shouted at him, “I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel.” As the giant ran toward his young challenger, David reached into his pouch, grabbed a stone, and placed it in his slingshot. He swung it around his head and released it so that the stone sunk deep into the giant’s forehead and he fell to the ground. David then used the giant’s sword to cut off his head.
Who or what are the giants in your life? Have you ever been bullied because of your faith? How can David’s courage help you to feel stronger and braver?
This story really happened. It is usually called the story of David and Goliath, and it is recorded in the Bible in 1 Samuel 17. Read it for yourself for even better understanding.
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