David caught sight of a
bear which had snuck into the flock of sheep and grabbed one in its strong jaws.
David rushed after the bear and using a club he carried, killed it and saved the sheep’s life. Another time a lion ran and snatched a lamb
in its mouth. David did the same thing. This happened many times. God helped
him kill the bears and lions which took his sheep. He practiced using his sling
shot and was not afraid of chasing and killing a wild beast. David showed great
determination. Determination means quality of resolute and firmness of purpose.
He had a job to do and he wanted to do it to the best of his ability. He made sure he was strong, brave, and had skill in using weapons to take care of them.
David arrived in
the Israel camp and he found his brothers. As they talked, he
heard someone shouting. The man in anger provoked anyone to fight him.
His voice sounded ferocious and scary. All the men in the Israel army were
frightened by this man with the thunderous nasty voice. David got closer and saw him.
He looked like a giant. The Philistine army called Goliath their champion. 1 Samuel 17: 4-11 says: And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named
Goliath, from Gath, whose height was
six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head,
and he was armed with a coat of
mail, and the weight of the coat was
five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And
he had bronze armor on his legs
and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now
the staff of his spear was like
a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed
six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of
Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the
servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then
we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you
shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And
the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that
we may fight together.” 11 When
Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and
greatly afraid.
He was huge! No one had the guts to fight him. David
understood someone should, and though the youngest and had never fought in an
army before, he believed God would help him kill this ferocious man. King Saul
found out David asked many questions about the giant. Saul asked for David.
David came to Saul’s tent. Saul didn’t think David capable of killing the
giant Goliath, but he gave him his own armor for protection. David tried it on
and took a few steps. Right away he took the armor off.
He said, “I have not tested it and cannot wear it.”
David took
his trusty sling shot instead of King Saul's sword and armor. He hurried to the brook and gathered five smooth stones
which he placed into his pouch. David ran out to meet Goliath face to face.
David answered, “You come to me
with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name
of the Lord of host.”
David ran at Goliath with a stone
in his slingshot. He whipped the sling shot around his head gaining speed and let the stone
fly. The stone sailed through the air hitting Goliath right in the middle of
his forehead. Goliath landed with a thunderous crash. David ran up and grabbed
Goliath’s sword and cut off his head.
As soon as the Philistine army witnessed their champion die, they ran away. The Israelite army chased them and conquering
the whole army.
David’s dedication and
determination helped him kill Goliath. He practiced his skill with the
slingshot. He determined to trust the Lord. He determined to kill
Goliath. David’s faith in the Lord got him through the fight. God directed the
stone to land in the exact unprotected place to knock him down unconscious.
David is a great example of good
qualities to have. He demonstrated courage, faith, and determination. Do you
show courage? Do you have faith in the Lord? Are you determined to do your best
in whatever you are asked to do? Do you practice your skills? Being determined
is a great quality to have. You can demonstrate determination in many ways. In
your schoolwork, chores, sports, music, and in obedience you can determine to
do your best in all of those areas in your life.
Memorize: 1 Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come
to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the
name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of
Israel, whom you have defied.
Verses in NKJV unless
otherwise stated.
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