|
Read along
as you listen to the story!
The Israelites and the
Philistines were at war. The Philistines had a champion; a
giant over 9 feet tall!
Every day for 40 days he had
called out," Choose a man to fight with me. If he wins, we
will be your servants, but if I win, you must serve us!"
He did this every morning and
again in the evening. The soldiers of Israel were terrified
at the sight of the giant.
David was a shepherd boy. He
had already been chosen by God, and anointed by Samuel to be
the next king of Israel.
His father, Jesse, sent David
to take some food to his brothers who were soldiers in the
army of Israel. So David got someone to watch his sheep and
he set off to see about his brothers.
His brothers told him about
the giant. "The king will reward the man who conquers the
giant. He will give him great riches, and he can marry the
king's daughter. Also his father will not have to pay taxes
anymore.
David said, " Who is this
Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living
God?"
King Saul thought David was
too young to fight the giant. David told him how he had
killed a lion and a bear when they had tried to harm lambs
in the flock.
"The Lord who delivered me
from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He
will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine," said
David.
The king put his armor and
helmet on David, but they didn't fit him. David took his
staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the brook,
and put them into his bag. He had his sling in his hand.
Goliath, the giant, cursed
David in the name of his false gods.
David said," You come to me
with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of
the Lord of hosts. The battle is the Lord's, and He will
give you into our hands."
David took out a stone, slung
it and struck the giant in the forehead. He fell on his face
to the earth.
When the Philistines saw that
their champion was dead, they turned and ran away. The Lord
won a great victory for the Israelites that day.
|
