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By his father's direction he was to carry a message and a gift to his elder
brothers and to learn if they were still in safety and health。 But； unknown
to Jesse； the youthful shepherd had been entrusted with a higher mission。
The armies of Israel were in peril； and David had been directed by an angel
to save his people。
As David drew near to the army； he heard the sound of commotion； as if an
engagement was about to begin。 And 〃the host was going forth to the fight；
and shouted for the battle。〃 Israel and the Philistines were drawn up in
array； army against army。 David ran to the army； and came and saluted his
brothers。 While he was talking with them； Goliath； the champion of the
Philistines； came forth； and with insulting language defied Israel and
challenged them to provide a man from their ranks who would meet him in
single combat。 He repeated his challenge； and when David saw that all Israel
were filled with fear； and learned that the Philistine's defiance was hurled
at them day after day； without arousing a champion to silence the boaster；
his spirit was stirred within him。 He was fired with zeal to preserve the
honor of the living God and the credit of His people。
The armies of Israel were depressed。 Their courage failed。 They said one to
another； 〃Have ye seen this man that is come up？ surely to defy Israel is he
come up。〃 In shame and indignation； David exclaimed； 〃Who is this
uncircumcised Philistine； that he should defy the armies of the living God？〃
Eliab； David's eldest brother； when he heard these words； knew well the
feelings that were stirring the young man's soul。 Even as a shepherd； David
had manifested daring； courage； and strength but rarely witnessed； and the
mysterious visit of Samuel to their father's house； and his silent
departure； had awakened in the minds of the brothers suspicions of the real
object of his visit。 Their jealousy had been aroused as they saw David
honored above them； and they did not regard him with the respect and love
due to his integrity and brotherly tenderness。 They looked upon him as
merely a stripling shepherd； and now the question which he asked was
regarded by Eliab as a censure upon his own cowardice in making no attempt
to silence the giant of the Philistines。 The elder brother exclaimed
angrily； 〃Why camest thou down hither？
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and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness？ I know thy
pride； and the naughtiness of thine heart； for thou art come down that thou
mightest see the battle。〃 David's answer was respectful but decided： 〃What
have I now done？ Is there not a cause？〃
The words of David were repeated to the king； who summoned the youth before
him。 Saul listened with astonishment to the words of the shepherd； as he
said； 〃Let no man's heart fail because of him； thy servant will go and fight
with this Philistine。〃 Saul strove to turn David from his purpose； but the
young man was not to be moved。 He replied in a simple； unassuming way；
relating his experiences while guarding his father's flocks。 And he said；
〃The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion； and out of the paw
of the bear； He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine。 And Saul
said unto David； Go； and the Lord be with thee。〃
For forty days the host of Israel had trembled before the haughty challenge
of the Philistine giant。 Their hearts failed within them as they looked upon
his massive form； in height measuring six cubits and a span。 Upon his head
was a helmet of brass； he was clothed with a coat of mail that weighed five
thousand shekels； and he had greaves of brass upon his legs。 The coat was
made of plates of brass that overlaid one another； like the scales of a
fish； and they were so closely joined that no dart or arrow could possibly
penetrate the armor。 At his back the giant bore a huge javelin； or lance；
also of brass。 〃The staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam； and his
spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron； and one bearing a shield
went before him。〃
Morning and evening Goliath had approached the camp of Israel； saying with a
loud voice； 〃Why are ye come out to set your battle in array？ am not I a
Philistine； and ye servants to Saul？ choose you a man for you； and let him
come down to me。 If he be able to fight with me； and to kill me； then will
we be your servants： but if I prevail against him； and kill him； then shall
ye be our servants； and serve us。 And the Philistine said； I defy the armies
of Israel this day； give me a man； that we may fight together。〃
Though Saul had given David permission to accept Goliath's challenge； the
king had small hope that David would be successful
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in his courageous undertaking。 Command was given to clothe the youth in the
king's own armor。 The heavy helmet of brass was put upon his head； and the
coat of mail was placed upon his body； the monarch's sword was at his side。
Thus equipped； he started upon his errand； but erelong began to retrace his
steps。 The first thought in the minds of the anxious spectators was that
David had decided not to risk his life in meeting an antagonist in so
unequal an encounter。 But this was far from the thought of the brave young
man。 When he returned to Saul he begged permission to lay aside the heavy
armor； saying； 〃I cannot go with these； for I have not proved them。〃 He laid
off the king's armor； and in its stead took only his staff in his hand； with
his shepherd's scrip and a simple sling。 Choosing five smooth stones out of
the brook； he put them in his bag； and； with his sling in his hand； drew
near to the Philistine。 The giant strode boldly forward； expecting to meet
the mightiest of the warriors of Israel。 His armor…bearer walked before him；
and he looked as if nothing could withstand him。 As he came nearer to David
he saw but a stripling； called a boy because of his youth。 David's
countenance was ruddy with health； and his well…knit form； unprotected by
armor； was displayed to advantage； yet between its youthful outline and the
massive proportions of the Philistine； there was a marked contrast。
Goliath was filled with amazement and anger。 〃Am I a dog；〃 he exclaimed；
〃that thou comest to me with staves？〃 Then he poured upon David the most
terrible curses by all the gods of his knowledge。 He cried in derision；
〃Come to me； and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air； and to the
beasts of the field。〃
David did not weaken before the champion of the Philistines。 Stepping
forward； he said to his antagonist： 〃Thou comest to me with a sword； and
with a spear； and with a shield： but I come to thee in the name of the Lord
of hosts； the God of the armies of Israel； whom thou hast defied。 This day
will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand； and I will smite thee； and take
thine head from thee； and I will give the carcasses of the host of the
Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air； and to the wild beasts of
the earth； that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel。 And
all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear：
for the battle is the Lord's； an