Wednesday, March 23, 2011

1 Samuel 17
On opposite sides of the vally of Elah, the Philistine and the Israilite armies gathered and prepared battle lines. A standout champion warrior in the Philistine camp, Goliath, shouted words of defiance against the army of Israel, which caused the Israelites to be "terrified and deeply shaken". For forty days, Goliath continued his defiance and offered a challenge to fight anyone from the Israelite army, but each time "as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright". One day, David was visiting his older brothers on the Israelite battle line and observed Goliath's threats. David asked, "Who is this pagan Philistine, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the Living God?" Later, David reported to King Saul, "Don't worry about a thing. I'll go fight this Philistine.. the Lord who has saved me from the claws of lions and bears will save me from this Philistine". Goliath sneered at David in comtempt and cursed him by the names of his pagan Gods, but David replied, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty... Today, the Lord with conquer you...and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel .. and that He does not need weapons to rescue His people. It is His battle, not ours." Using a simple stone hurled at his forehead, David killed Goliath.